| Are You Not Entertained? The Christian and Professional Sporting Events |
Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the
scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he
meditate day and night.
Should a Christian watch professional sports? Should he attend a professional
game? Anytime you watch it, you are a participant and give ratings to the
event. Professional sports is associated with drinking alcohol, gambling, high
emotions-- anger, frustration, loss of self-control, sadness, excitement; secular
music, immodestly dressed cheerleaders, lasciviousness, groupies, fans who
are idolatrous of their favorite team players, and above all: fans who curse
the name of our Lord Jesus-- when their favorite team is losing, etc. When
a Christian attends such an event, he is clearly in the habitation of the
ungodly, among blasphemers. Yet Christians are to avoid the very
appearance of evil.
(We are not speaking of the local church softball game. We are addressing the
dangers of the secular professional sporting event and the responsibility of
every Christian to follow Christ, and not the ways of the world.)
Many of the Ten Commandments are broken during just one professional
game. This alone should be enough to keep the Christian away from
professional sporting events but sadly many preachers do not address this
subject. In fact many preachers attend such secular events and see nothing
wrong with them. There is much wrong with them, as we shall examine. As
Christians, we are not to sit with the scornful.
Exodus 20:2,3 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of
the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other
gods before me.
The world worships the god of entertainment. The whole purpose of
entertainment is to excite the senses; keep the mind occupied. For many
Americans, it is the god of professional football and for much of the rest of
the world, it is the god of soccer. Yet for the Christian, our minds should be
occupied with Christ. We should not have fellowship with the world. We
serve the Lord God-- the Living God.
Ephesians 2:1-6 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses
and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now
worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of
the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as
others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved
us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made
us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Someone once said, "Everyone has a god. If a person won't accept the
Lord of Heaven as his God, he always finds a substitute to worship instead.
Whatever one can't live without becomes his god. Whatever takes first place
is his idol."
Charles S. Prebish, associate professor of religious studies at Pennsylvania
State University said, “Sport is America’s newest and fastest-growing
religion, far outdistancing whatever is in second place.�
Even the secular news media calls it "sports idolatry."
THE WAY OF IDOLATRY
Did you know that the pagan Roman stadium was considered a place of
idolatry by the ancient Jewish rabbis? Written in the Talmud, it reads:
"One must not go to the theatres and circuses, because at those places they
gather up money for the idols; ... In the places where they gather, it is
prohibited because of the suspicion of idolatry. And in those where they are
not gathering, it is prohibited, because they are considered places of
scorners."
And is it not true today?
Are not the gods of alcohol, lasciviousness, profanity, and of human idolatry
represented in the sporting arena? Yes, they are! And in addition, men and
even many women today in this country and abroad sacrifice their family
relationships to the god of sports. Instead of spending quality time with their
family, many professing Christians turn on "the game" and watch intently at
the screen, while the biblical warnings laid out in the Scriptures are not heeded.
Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work
of them that turn aside [Idolatry]; it shall not cleave to me.
How many sports-watching Christian parents are leading their own children
into the way of idolatry? Children learn by example. They see dad reading the
sports section rather than reading the bible; they watch with dad "the game"
and with it comes beer commercials, lascivious half-time events, and violence.
They see dad yelling at the screen...is that pleasing to God? Are you setting a
good example for your kids? The Psalmist says, "I will set no wicked thing
before mine eyes."
As Christians, we are not to love the things this world provides. We are not to
crave entertainment-- but rather should seek to do those things pleasing to
God. Time is very short and the Lord shall return for us. Our hearts must be
looking toward His appearing.
Christians today are in fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness by
watching or attending, and thereby participating in, an event where God's
name is blasphemed in the crowds; where alcoholic beverage companies
sponsor the event and where men are valued simply because of their athletic
ability, rather than their character.
The way of the Philistines was the way of amusement... Jdg 16:25 And it
came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson,
that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison
house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft,
hatred, variance [means quarreling], emulations [jealousy], wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings [rioting],
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
You won't find professional sporting events mentioned anywhere in the bible.
The Apostle Paul used the metaphor about "running the race" because the
Gentiles, who HAD been in the pagan world, were very familiar with sports
and races but he said, through inspiration, to run the race that is set before
us. We know this race is spiritual and requires a spiritual training.
Our future with the Lord is going to be glorious but nowhere do we read that
"football" will be a part of it; Many Christians cannot go even a day without
thinking about their favorite team or the next game that is on. Yet, there is
NOTHING godly or spiritual about watching professional sports because it
does not feed the spirit man but it feeds the flesh. It plays solely on the
emotions- which fluctuate depending on who is winning and who is losing.
Christians are to be sober and to have the mind of Christ.
1Peter 4:1-3 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm
yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh
hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the
flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life
may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in
lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable
idolatries:
From the Christian standpoint, we know that the devil is hard at work blinding
the minds of the unsaved to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ-- and as
these men sin, their conscience becomes numbed. As they reject God, they are
given a reprobate mind. And as they continue to sin, they desire more sin for
the same thrill and seek people to sin with. The devil is the prince of the
power of the air and whenever a crowd gathers for idolatry of any kind, the
devils
are at work among the people in attendance. Attending or viewing such events
leaves the mind open to demonic influence because as one is watching the
game, their "guard" is down. We, as followers of Christ are of the day and not
of the night. We have no business fellowshipping with the unfruitful works of
darkness.
1Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope
to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of
Jesus Christ;
Ever notice how much security and police are present at every professional
sporting event? Because the emotions of the crowd give way to instability and
the person in such an emotional state loses his ability to reason. James 3:16
says: For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
PAGAN ROOTS
Ecc 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is
done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Man, since the Fall, has been "sports" driven and entertainment-minded. The
Greeks created great sporting events to honor their gods. The historic roots
of professionally organized athletic competition can be traced as far back to
the Greek and Roman pagan cultures and such competitions were the
antithesis of God's design for man. On the Greek side, the athletes competing
were naked and in the Roman society, the arenas were filled with people
being torn to shreds.
2Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine unto them.
What drove Rome to murder innocent Christians in the Coliseum?
When reading historical records, we find that Christians were placed in the
arena without weapons to be torn to pieces by the wild beasts. The famous
movie, Gladiator, was to have a disturbing scene depicting the Christians--
women and children huddled together facing death-- but it was deleted from
the movie in the final cut.
Romans loved violence and they craved the excitement of watching people
fight and die. Did they just one day decide that bloodshed would be "fun" to
watch? No, it started with the craving to "be entertained". Their enter-
tainment was provided by watching sporting events. They, soon addicted to
the rush of watching such sporting events, craved more entertainment and
eventually craved and lusted for more violence, which escalated to the
murdering of thousands of innocent victims in public arenas. The desire to be
entertained: The devil kept them busy, lest they found at any moment a
longing in their soul for the Living God. The worldly are the same today. Sin
always escalates. How long till "fake blood" in the movies and the "mild"
violence on the playing field of the sports arena is not enough? The Roman
games were limited to one or two games a week. Today, with sports channels
fueling the sports addiction twenty-four hours a day, one can easily see how
swiftly our world is degenerating and heading toward the Tribulation Period,
when Christians will be publicly executed for refusing the mark of the Beast--
and this, most likely, will take place in the very same sporting arenas with
crowds looking on and cheering.
Just as the ungodly pagan society of the Greeks and the Romans were sports-
crazy and dedicated their games to the "gods," so it is no different today.
There is nothing spiritual about watching professional sports on TV.
One will not find many morals in modern professional sports and the "fan"
sitting in the sports arena has relinquished the capacity to reason because the
experience is completely emotional. As Christians, we are not to be
carried about with high emotions but rather soberly minded and
steadfast.
One secular website wrote: "Men like sports because the competitive urge is
built into them." Yes, the unregenerate man wants to be better than others...
but the godly man should think the opposite-- knowing that such thinking is
contrary to the Word of God:
Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
The same article wrote: "Men who participate in martial arts or other full-
contact sports are less likely to get into fights or be jerks than those who
don't, because they've "proven themselves" and gotten the aggression out of
themselves." Again, this may seem to be true to an unsaved man but the
CHRISTIAN is a follower of Christ, and therefore must abandon self-
rehabilitation and self-reliance and put his complete faith in the finished work
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Certainly Jesus would not endorse sports
because there is to be no competition among Christians. We are all
running the same race together-- We are a TEAM and we follow our Savior.
Matt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Do athletes on a playing field, "Do unto others?" Do athletes seek to lose that
they might win? Are professional athletes meek? Are they humble? Are they
gentle? Are "Christian" athletes despised and rejected, as the Lord Jesus was
while He walked this earth?
Jam 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil
work.
Psalm 147:10,11 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh
not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that
fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Psa 84:12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
COMPETITVE OBSESSION
Cain was a worldly-minded man and craved recognition-- he was a man filled
with pride in his own accomplishments. This mindset is contrary to Scripture.
The Lord hears the cry of the humble. Humility is not really found on the
"playing field" because most sports are about "look at me" and "look at my
team" and "we'll prove we're better"-- but it's not about being humble before
God, nor humble before men.
CHRISTIAN YOUTH AND SPORTS IDOLATRY
One does not have to look very far on the internet to find that the "Christian"
youth are obsessed with sports. They blog about their sports teams and leave
messages about their team. Whether it's the Cowboys or the Giants, these
kids are idolatrous and God is not first in their thoughts. And is it any
wonder when many of their parents and pastors are exactly the same way?
Sadly, today, many Christian children are not being trained in the ways of the
Lord, but rather the ways of the world. They look up to their favorite athlete
in hero worship. They make altars in their bedrooms to their favorite team by
hanging posters on their walls and reading ungodly sports magazines. When
the focus in the home becomes that of sports-- the modern entertainment that
this world provides-- rather than setting affections on things above, Christians
are not obeying God's Word. Our focus must be stayed upon the Lord Jesus--
the Author and Finisher of our Faith. We are to have no other gods before
Him.
The bible tells us that because of sin, man is dead unto God. The wrath of
God abides upon the sinner but salvation is provided through the sacrifice of
Christ. Only in Jesus Christ-- the risen Lord, who died upon the cross for our
sins--can a person be saved from the wrath. Only when a person receives
Christ as their Savior can they have NEW life and truly become the man or
woman that God wants him/her to be. Christians are supposed to PRAISE the
Lord-- not their favorite sports team or favorite athlete. Unfortunately, even in
some Fundamental Christian circles, their occupation is with sports. There are
"Christian" websites popping up every day and some of them have entire
sections dedicated to sports news. Someone has to address this-- it is idolatry.
Psa 71:6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that
took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
Psa 71:8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour
all the day.
For this world, professional sports are a cheap substitute for filling the
emptiness within one's soul. That emptiness can ONLY be filled when one
receives the Lord Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. Apart from Christ, the
void remains and the craving for more cheap substitutes escalates.
Ecc 6:7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not
filled.
The Lord Jesus said in John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water
that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give
him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
The Lord calls us to grow in the grace of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Christians are dying in other parts of the world and yet many Christians in the
West are looking for when the "next game is on" TV. What would the Lord
Jesus say to such a generation?
God looks for those with a pure and contrite spirit. Sports calls for athletes
with physical strength, speed and endurance. Yet God looks for those who
are weak-- for when we are weak, He is strong.
Romans 13:13-14 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting [letting
loose] and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and
envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision
for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
1John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and
the world heareth them.
CONCLUSION
My Christian friend, do you still want to be entertained? Or do you want to
grow in the GRACE and the KNOWLEDGE of Jesus Christ? The world is
going in the opposite direction of God and there is a vast chasm between the
things of God and the things of carnal man. Which direction shall you follow?
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is
the first commandment.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
1Peter 1:13 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to
the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy,
so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye
holy; for I am holy.
We are to be in the world but not of the world. In the end, what will matter in
eternity?... Your hours of sports watching and sports-commentary? Your
hours taken away from prayer? Your hours away from your spouse? Your
hours away from your children? Or do you prefer to be "entertained"?
May we all, as true Believers in Christ Jesus, desire the things of God and
walk in His ways and allow Him to work a good work in us and may we
avoid the very appearance of evil.
1Thess 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you
unto his kingdom and glory.
Copyright © 2007 Cobblestone Road Ministries
All Rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The "final decline of agonistics in Olympia and ultimately the downfall of
the Olympic Games themselves" was completed with the proclamation of
Christianity as the state religion in the year 393 A.D., even if under the
"entirely changed social circumstances of the late imperial Roman period".
http://www.ioa.leeds.ac.uk/1980s/84121.htm
The Jerusalem Talmud tells us that at the time of the rebellion against the
Romans, a particular town was judged for destruction partially because the
residents used to play ball! http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Talmud/avodazara1.html
------------------------------------------------------------------
Jude 1:17-20 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken
before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there
should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own
ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not
the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Ghost.
Jamess 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without
partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Further Reading:
A Warning About Professional Sports - By David Cloud
Christian Sports Stars
Beware Of The Sin Of Pride
Have I Pleased God Today?
Living According to God's Word - Not according to The World
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the
scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he
meditate day and night.
Should a Christian watch professional sports? Should he attend a professional
game? Anytime you watch it, you are a participant and give ratings to the
event. Professional sports is associated with drinking alcohol, gambling, high
emotions-- anger, frustration, loss of self-control, sadness, excitement; secular
music, immodestly dressed cheerleaders, lasciviousness, groupies, fans who
are idolatrous of their favorite team players, and above all: fans who curse
the name of our Lord Jesus-- when their favorite team is losing, etc. When
a Christian attends such an event, he is clearly in the habitation of the
ungodly, among blasphemers. Yet Christians are to avoid the very
appearance of evil.
(We are not speaking of the local church softball game. We are addressing the
dangers of the secular professional sporting event and the responsibility of
every Christian to follow Christ, and not the ways of the world.)
Many of the Ten Commandments are broken during just one professional
game. This alone should be enough to keep the Christian away from
professional sporting events but sadly many preachers do not address this
subject. In fact many preachers attend such secular events and see nothing
wrong with them. There is much wrong with them, as we shall examine. As
Christians, we are not to sit with the scornful.
Exodus 20:2,3 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of
the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other
gods before me.
The world worships the god of entertainment. The whole purpose of
entertainment is to excite the senses; keep the mind occupied. For many
Americans, it is the god of professional football and for much of the rest of
the world, it is the god of soccer. Yet for the Christian, our minds should be
occupied with Christ. We should not have fellowship with the world. We
serve the Lord God-- the Living God.
Ephesians 2:1-6 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses
and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now
worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of
the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as
others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved
us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made
us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Someone once said, "Everyone has a god. If a person won't accept the
Lord of Heaven as his God, he always finds a substitute to worship instead.
Whatever one can't live without becomes his god. Whatever takes first place
is his idol."
Charles S. Prebish, associate professor of religious studies at Pennsylvania
State University said, “Sport is America’s newest and fastest-growing
religion, far outdistancing whatever is in second place.�
Even the secular news media calls it "sports idolatry."
THE WAY OF IDOLATRY
Did you know that the pagan Roman stadium was considered a place of
idolatry by the ancient Jewish rabbis? Written in the Talmud, it reads:
"One must not go to the theatres and circuses, because at those places they
gather up money for the idols; ... In the places where they gather, it is
prohibited because of the suspicion of idolatry. And in those where they are
not gathering, it is prohibited, because they are considered places of
scorners."
And is it not true today?
Are not the gods of alcohol, lasciviousness, profanity, and of human idolatry
represented in the sporting arena? Yes, they are! And in addition, men and
even many women today in this country and abroad sacrifice their family
relationships to the god of sports. Instead of spending quality time with their
family, many professing Christians turn on "the game" and watch intently at
the screen, while the biblical warnings laid out in the Scriptures are not heeded.
Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work
of them that turn aside [Idolatry]; it shall not cleave to me.
How many sports-watching Christian parents are leading their own children
into the way of idolatry? Children learn by example. They see dad reading the
sports section rather than reading the bible; they watch with dad "the game"
and with it comes beer commercials, lascivious half-time events, and violence.
They see dad yelling at the screen...is that pleasing to God? Are you setting a
good example for your kids? The Psalmist says, "I will set no wicked thing
before mine eyes."
As Christians, we are not to love the things this world provides. We are not to
crave entertainment-- but rather should seek to do those things pleasing to
God. Time is very short and the Lord shall return for us. Our hearts must be
looking toward His appearing.
Christians today are in fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness by
watching or attending, and thereby participating in, an event where God's
name is blasphemed in the crowds; where alcoholic beverage companies
sponsor the event and where men are valued simply because of their athletic
ability, rather than their character.
The way of the Philistines was the way of amusement... Jdg 16:25 And it
came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson,
that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison
house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft,
hatred, variance [means quarreling], emulations [jealousy], wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings [rioting],
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
You won't find professional sporting events mentioned anywhere in the bible.
The Apostle Paul used the metaphor about "running the race" because the
Gentiles, who HAD been in the pagan world, were very familiar with sports
and races but he said, through inspiration, to run the race that is set before
us. We know this race is spiritual and requires a spiritual training.
Our future with the Lord is going to be glorious but nowhere do we read that
"football" will be a part of it; Many Christians cannot go even a day without
thinking about their favorite team or the next game that is on. Yet, there is
NOTHING godly or spiritual about watching professional sports because it
does not feed the spirit man but it feeds the flesh. It plays solely on the
emotions- which fluctuate depending on who is winning and who is losing.
Christians are to be sober and to have the mind of Christ.
1Peter 4:1-3 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm
yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh
hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the
flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life
may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in
lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable
idolatries:
From the Christian standpoint, we know that the devil is hard at work blinding
the minds of the unsaved to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ-- and as
these men sin, their conscience becomes numbed. As they reject God, they are
given a reprobate mind. And as they continue to sin, they desire more sin for
the same thrill and seek people to sin with. The devil is the prince of the
power of the air and whenever a crowd gathers for idolatry of any kind, the
devils
are at work among the people in attendance. Attending or viewing such events
leaves the mind open to demonic influence because as one is watching the
game, their "guard" is down. We, as followers of Christ are of the day and not
of the night. We have no business fellowshipping with the unfruitful works of
darkness.
1Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope
to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of
Jesus Christ;
Ever notice how much security and police are present at every professional
sporting event? Because the emotions of the crowd give way to instability and
the person in such an emotional state loses his ability to reason. James 3:16
says: For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
PAGAN ROOTS
Ecc 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is
done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Man, since the Fall, has been "sports" driven and entertainment-minded. The
Greeks created great sporting events to honor their gods. The historic roots
of professionally organized athletic competition can be traced as far back to
the Greek and Roman pagan cultures and such competitions were the
antithesis of God's design for man. On the Greek side, the athletes competing
were naked and in the Roman society, the arenas were filled with people
being torn to shreds.
2Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine unto them.
What drove Rome to murder innocent Christians in the Coliseum?
When reading historical records, we find that Christians were placed in the
arena without weapons to be torn to pieces by the wild beasts. The famous
movie, Gladiator, was to have a disturbing scene depicting the Christians--
women and children huddled together facing death-- but it was deleted from
the movie in the final cut.
Romans loved violence and they craved the excitement of watching people
fight and die. Did they just one day decide that bloodshed would be "fun" to
watch? No, it started with the craving to "be entertained". Their enter-
tainment was provided by watching sporting events. They, soon addicted to
the rush of watching such sporting events, craved more entertainment and
eventually craved and lusted for more violence, which escalated to the
murdering of thousands of innocent victims in public arenas. The desire to be
entertained: The devil kept them busy, lest they found at any moment a
longing in their soul for the Living God. The worldly are the same today. Sin
always escalates. How long till "fake blood" in the movies and the "mild"
violence on the playing field of the sports arena is not enough? The Roman
games were limited to one or two games a week. Today, with sports channels
fueling the sports addiction twenty-four hours a day, one can easily see how
swiftly our world is degenerating and heading toward the Tribulation Period,
when Christians will be publicly executed for refusing the mark of the Beast--
and this, most likely, will take place in the very same sporting arenas with
crowds looking on and cheering.
Just as the ungodly pagan society of the Greeks and the Romans were sports-
crazy and dedicated their games to the "gods," so it is no different today.
There is nothing spiritual about watching professional sports on TV.
One will not find many morals in modern professional sports and the "fan"
sitting in the sports arena has relinquished the capacity to reason because the
experience is completely emotional. As Christians, we are not to be
carried about with high emotions but rather soberly minded and
steadfast.
One secular website wrote: "Men like sports because the competitive urge is
built into them." Yes, the unregenerate man wants to be better than others...
but the godly man should think the opposite-- knowing that such thinking is
contrary to the Word of God:
Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
The same article wrote: "Men who participate in martial arts or other full-
contact sports are less likely to get into fights or be jerks than those who
don't, because they've "proven themselves" and gotten the aggression out of
themselves." Again, this may seem to be true to an unsaved man but the
CHRISTIAN is a follower of Christ, and therefore must abandon self-
rehabilitation and self-reliance and put his complete faith in the finished work
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Certainly Jesus would not endorse sports
because there is to be no competition among Christians. We are all
running the same race together-- We are a TEAM and we follow our Savior.
Matt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Do athletes on a playing field, "Do unto others?" Do athletes seek to lose that
they might win? Are professional athletes meek? Are they humble? Are they
gentle? Are "Christian" athletes despised and rejected, as the Lord Jesus was
while He walked this earth?
Jam 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil
work.
Psalm 147:10,11 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh
not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that
fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Psa 84:12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
COMPETITVE OBSESSION
Cain was a worldly-minded man and craved recognition-- he was a man filled
with pride in his own accomplishments. This mindset is contrary to Scripture.
The Lord hears the cry of the humble. Humility is not really found on the
"playing field" because most sports are about "look at me" and "look at my
team" and "we'll prove we're better"-- but it's not about being humble before
God, nor humble before men.
CHRISTIAN YOUTH AND SPORTS IDOLATRY
One does not have to look very far on the internet to find that the "Christian"
youth are obsessed with sports. They blog about their sports teams and leave
messages about their team. Whether it's the Cowboys or the Giants, these
kids are idolatrous and God is not first in their thoughts. And is it any
wonder when many of their parents and pastors are exactly the same way?
Sadly, today, many Christian children are not being trained in the ways of the
Lord, but rather the ways of the world. They look up to their favorite athlete
in hero worship. They make altars in their bedrooms to their favorite team by
hanging posters on their walls and reading ungodly sports magazines. When
the focus in the home becomes that of sports-- the modern entertainment that
this world provides-- rather than setting affections on things above, Christians
are not obeying God's Word. Our focus must be stayed upon the Lord Jesus--
the Author and Finisher of our Faith. We are to have no other gods before
Him.
The bible tells us that because of sin, man is dead unto God. The wrath of
God abides upon the sinner but salvation is provided through the sacrifice of
Christ. Only in Jesus Christ-- the risen Lord, who died upon the cross for our
sins--can a person be saved from the wrath. Only when a person receives
Christ as their Savior can they have NEW life and truly become the man or
woman that God wants him/her to be. Christians are supposed to PRAISE the
Lord-- not their favorite sports team or favorite athlete. Unfortunately, even in
some Fundamental Christian circles, their occupation is with sports. There are
"Christian" websites popping up every day and some of them have entire
sections dedicated to sports news. Someone has to address this-- it is idolatry.
Psa 71:6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that
took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
Psa 71:8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour
all the day.
For this world, professional sports are a cheap substitute for filling the
emptiness within one's soul. That emptiness can ONLY be filled when one
receives the Lord Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. Apart from Christ, the
void remains and the craving for more cheap substitutes escalates.
Ecc 6:7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not
filled.
The Lord Jesus said in John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water
that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give
him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
The Lord calls us to grow in the grace of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Christians are dying in other parts of the world and yet many Christians in the
West are looking for when the "next game is on" TV. What would the Lord
Jesus say to such a generation?
God looks for those with a pure and contrite spirit. Sports calls for athletes
with physical strength, speed and endurance. Yet God looks for those who
are weak-- for when we are weak, He is strong.
Romans 13:13-14 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting [letting
loose] and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and
envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision
for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
1John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and
the world heareth them.
CONCLUSION
My Christian friend, do you still want to be entertained? Or do you want to
grow in the GRACE and the KNOWLEDGE of Jesus Christ? The world is
going in the opposite direction of God and there is a vast chasm between the
things of God and the things of carnal man. Which direction shall you follow?
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is
the first commandment.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
1Peter 1:13 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to
the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy,
so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye
holy; for I am holy.
We are to be in the world but not of the world. In the end, what will matter in
eternity?... Your hours of sports watching and sports-commentary? Your
hours taken away from prayer? Your hours away from your spouse? Your
hours away from your children? Or do you prefer to be "entertained"?
May we all, as true Believers in Christ Jesus, desire the things of God and
walk in His ways and allow Him to work a good work in us and may we
avoid the very appearance of evil.
1Thess 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you
unto his kingdom and glory.
Copyright © 2007 Cobblestone Road Ministries
All Rights Reserved.
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The "final decline of agonistics in Olympia and ultimately the downfall of
the Olympic Games themselves" was completed with the proclamation of
Christianity as the state religion in the year 393 A.D., even if under the
"entirely changed social circumstances of the late imperial Roman period".
http://www.ioa.leeds.ac.uk/1980s/84121.htm
The Jerusalem Talmud tells us that at the time of the rebellion against the
Romans, a particular town was judged for destruction partially because the
residents used to play ball! http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Talmud/avodazara1.html
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Jude 1:17-20 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken
before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there
should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own
ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not
the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Ghost.
Jamess 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without
partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Further Reading:
A Warning About Professional Sports - By David Cloud
Christian Sports Stars
Beware Of The Sin Of Pride
Have I Pleased God Today?
Living According to God's Word - Not according to The World
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