Sports and sinners.....

         

Those who know me, know that I love sports, both playing and watching.  I cut out clippings of the Minnesota Vikings in the 70’s and made scrapbooks.  I died a thousand deaths during the Vikes Super Bowl losses.  I screamed shouts of joy when the Twins won the World Series in ‘87 and ’91.  If Bud Grant would run for president I think I would vote for him.  We need some of his no nonsense leadership.  My dream when I was younger was to play a sport professionally. Then my talent (lack of) got in the way. I just gave up the dream a year ago.  Some of us are slow to accept the facts.

            I believe athletics, all competition for that matter, reveals character- it shows us ourselves.  I remember  getting so angry at losing the game of Monopoly to my cousin’s or siblings when we would play as kids.  The world domination game of Risk reveals my love of winning like few board games.   During competition we tend to blame others. We think we deserve special treatment.  We think something is okay if we can get by with it. (sorry.. it is a foul even when it is not called…) We think wearing a pair of sneakers allows us to speak harshly to another person with a whistle.  I don’t see that the Bible allows us to act one way on the basketball court and another way in the church lobby.  Do we tell our kids to “go ahead and cheat on the test... the teacher is letting you get by with it today”   Really?  "Go ahead and steal the candy.. the clerk is blind...."   Huh??  Aren’t we called to love our neighbor… even when we are competing against them?  Isn’t the referee our neighbor?

            The temptation for some followers of Jesus is to abandon sports.  I would encourage God’s people to redeem them. Keep them in their place, sports are not God. We don’t let sport dictate our families worship patterns.  We say no to a traveling team. People have done it before. What will it profit a man if he should gain the whole world (a good jump shot) and then forfeit his soul?

              Talk with your kids about what is going on in a game, look beyond the final score and see what is happening in your own soul and the soul of your children.  Issues of pride, grace, patience, fairness are there– then talk about how games show us our need of a Savior.  Sin is revealed.  That is okay.  In fact, I would argue that we are better for seeing what we are than pretending we are something we are not.  Tell your kids how thankful you are that Jesus has come for you. Then return to the game and treat as it is…. a game.