The Christian Athlete

Competing like a beast will win you the respect of the outsiders watching you. But practicing like a beast will win you the respect of your teammates and coaches.

After the workout, compliment one of your teammates for something that individual did well. When we see something commendable in others, whether in attitude or action, a Christ-honoring thing to do is point it out and praise it. Anything that even remotely mirrors one of Jesus’ many excellencies is deserving of affirmation.

I was reminded that day that joy is maximized when we can share it with others. That’s part of how God designed us. When things happen in isolation, there is a cap on our enjoyment of it. The celebration we had together on the golf course that day helped me understand another way sports can contribute to God’s glory and our enjoyment.

Anyone can talk about how awesome Jesus is on the heels of a win or outstanding performance. Our culture’s idea of happiness is attached to the blessings we experience in life. That’s why losing affords us an opportunity to show that our joy in Christ transcends outward circumstances. So stand out from the crowd when you’ve experienced a tough loss

Here are a few ways you can look different to a watching world when you lose: • Thank God for the opportunity to compete. • Lead both teams in prayer after the competition. • Shake your opponent’s hand. • Affirm your teammates with encouraging words. • Thank the referees or officials. • Honor your coaches by respectfully listening to what they have

Athlete, are you becoming excellent at your craft? Are you putting in the necessary preparation and practice time to maximize your abilities? God desires that you give your best effort, but he also wants you to maximize the skill set he gave you to steward.

What are some of these sins? In his book Game Day for the Glory of God, Stephen Altrogge names three temptations following a loss: we can be quick to criticize others, we can agonize over the defeat, or we can succumb to feelings of shame.1 I would add to the list that we can become short with our coaches, teammates, opponents, and fans. Basically,

The problem, however, is that we often believe God is more glorified through the person who hit the game-winning shot than through the defender who gave it everything he had but failed. We have made a dangerous link between earthly success and the primary way God is glorified.

It’s important to note that if we want to glorify God through a pursuit of positive mental health, we need to do it God’s way. Mental training in pursuit of God’s peace (which he wants us to have, by the way) involves filling our minds, not emptying them. And what do we fill our minds with?