Does God Care Who Wins?
Does God care about sports? Although God, as creator of the world and everything in it, is infinitely greater than and exists wholly apart from this universe, God is also omnipresent in the world. He sustains it and everything in it by His power: “For in him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) This we know and seek to experience daily. How though does this translate into the world of professional sports?
An article posted today on CNN titled “When did God become a sports fan?” asks this very question, from a secular perspective. Often winning athletes will thank God during post-game interviews. I saw an example just last night when an NBA player (I can’t recall who, I’m not a huge NBA fan) thanked God for helping his team with their playoff game.
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The CNN article gives numerous other examples, such as Rich Franklin (a mixed-martial arts fighter in the UFC) thanking God after his matches, or tennis star Michael Chang (whose testimony you can read on our site) similarly thanking God when he proclaimed “I thank the Lord Jesus Christ, because without Him I am nothing” after winning the 1989 French Open.
Certainly we should thank God for how He has blessed us, as these athletes have done. But what role does God play in sports? How should a Christian athlete pray before their matches? And how should athletes use their privileged position to be witnesses to God’s truth? Let us know what you think!
If you are a Christian athlete or just interested in sports, check out Athletes in Action, a sports outreach ministry which is part of Power to Change Canada.
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Ofcourse we can ask God to help us to perform as best as possible, but my questions is, how can God support somebody who’s doing Martial arts, as we all know that these sports have their roots in boedism and other non christian cultures? The bible says there are only two options eighter you serve God or you serve satan. Not choosing for God is also choosing for satan
I do think it’s important that Christian athletes pray before they play….but pray, not so much to win, but that He might help them to play to the best of their abilities, that they may honor Him in their playing. Their prayers should be an acknowledgement that He is Lord of their lives, and Lord of all they do….including sports…and to leave the results in His hands. Afterwards it should be to give thanks for the opportunity to have played, and for His help in doing their best…..whether they won or lost. I don’t think God is so much interested in whether we win or lose…rather in our attitudes towards what we do, and in our character…that we reflect Him and bring Him glory through our lives, that others might come to know Him.
Lynn : )