|
|
|
|
Resources
 Articles
Toward
a Theology of Competition and Sport
Chapter 3 - Biblical Principles for Determining Christ- Honoring Sport
By Dr. Greg Linville
Principle #5 - The use of Sport &
Competition for Evangelism & Discipleship
It is often stated: Sport and Athletics are currently the most
effective evangelistic and discipling strategy currently available to
the church. The current use of sports for outreach by churches, church
plants, mission boards, schools and para-ministries is unprecedented
and growing every year. The fifth principle is thus based upon both the
Great Commission found in Matthew 28.18-20 to use sports to attract
people to the gospel (evangelism) and also the Great Commandments as
expressed in Matthew 22.37ff to use sport to train people in their love
of God & people (discipleship). Obviously, neither of these
passages mentions sport directly, but are used to establish the
commands of evangelism and discipleship.
Rodger Oswald, one of Sports Ministry’s pioneers, has fleshed this
concept out by outlining a basic four step rationale justifying the
Biblically based methodology of Sports Ministry which has as its
underlying principle God’s loving redemption of humankind.14
Oswald’s first step recognizes God to be a God of
redemption. The
Gospel writer Luke was inspired by the Holy Spirit to record: “For the
Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19.10).
This is further verified by another inspired Gospel writer Matthew:
“…go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 20.19).
The second step demonstrates God’s desire to
involve His people in the
redemption effort. This is affirmed by yet another divinely
inspired
author in the correspondence of Paul to the Corinthians “…and [God]
hath given us to the ministry of reconciliation… now then we are
ambassadors for Christ” (II Corinthians 5.17-20). This partnership in
gospel ministry is shared by people who serve as God’s ambassadors.
This partnership is confirmed and verified by scores of other verses.
So the first two stops along this progression make it clear local
church bodies attempting to reach their communities for Christ are
obeying the biblical mandate. The question for them was not should they
reach people for Christ, but rather, how should they do it. It is to
this Oswald offers steps three.
The third step is also found in Paul’s letters to
the Corinthians: “I
have become all things to all men, so that I might reach some” (I
Corinthians 9.19-23). This passage indicates a biblical
principle of
freedom in methodology as it pertains to reaching people for Christ.
Paul states “though I be free…yet…I made myself servant to all,” “unto
the Jews I became as a Jew” and “to the weak I became weak” so: “that I
might by all means save some.” This passage makes it abundantly clear
the church has a lot of leeway when it comes to choosing a methodology
to reach the lost.
Step four is articulated in the ensuing verses of
I Corinthians chapter
nine. As Oswald insightfully points out, God is a God of
diversity as
is evidenced in his being, character, creation and commands to His
creation. (2002, 6,7) Furthermore, I believe I Corinthians 9.24-27,
which immediately follows the passage just discussed, demonstrates a
living example of what Paul was trying to communicate and Oswald
teaches. Having just stated “all means” can be used, Paul models this
principle by using a sporting metaphor which was relevant and
understood by those he was writing to. He wrote athletic metaphors to
those who lived in Corinth, the city that housed the Greek athletic
office and served as the home base for two of the four prestigious
“crown games.”
To summarize, Oswald’s rationale was based upon the Biblical mandate
for the church to use any means to work out its evangelistic efforts.
Caution relating to Principle #5
Even though Principle #5 is a strong support for establishing a
theological basis for Sport it must be understood this support is based
in pragmatism (what works) rather than being based on a Theological
foundation (what’s right or orthodox). By itself, such pragmatism could
not substantiate nor justify Sport as being Biblically defensible. If
sport was condemned in the Scripture than the use of it for spiritual
purposes would be sinful, even if it worked. If there were no other
Biblical justifications then competition and sport would be highly
suspect. Every human endeavor, even evangelistic methods, must be
rooted in and based upon Theology, not solely in pragmatics. Any
activity, even when evangelistically based, would be condemned if found
to be antithetical to orthodox Christian teaching. The Christian church
community should certainly condemn the use of ancient pagan religion’s
methods such as “temple prostitutes,” even if this methodology
successfully accomplished certain goals of the church such as worship,
growth, visibility or outreach. It would do so based upon the lack of
Biblical or Theological support and specific Biblical condemnations of
such relationships and sexual activity. Similarly, pragmatic, sport or
athletic based evangelism should be condemned if it does not have
Theological support. However, this is not the case with sport as it
clearly has Biblical support.
Summary of Biblical Principles
This is a brief summary of the Biblical defense for sport and
athletics. Although brief, it provides a cogent overview for a
Biblically based, Theological defense of sport. However, even if Sport
can be generally defended Biblically, it would be fallacious to assume
each and every sport, and each and every action within sport, is thus
automatically defended scripturally. The next step in our journey for
constructing a Biblical defense for sport and athletics is to assemble
a template which can determine what would make a particular sport
Biblically defensible and a worthy pursuit for a Christian’s
participation. The real question is: can it be assumed, because
competition is Theologically supported and sport, in general, is
Biblically defended, that sport is thus Biblically defensible?
Logically the answer is no. The next section creates a template for
determining which individual sports may or may not “make the cut.” 15
14Rodger
Oswald is a professor, author and recognized worldwide expert in local
church sport. In addition he founded and oversees Church Sports
International (CSI) – www.csi.org. Rodger teaches this basic outline
where ever he goes. It continues to be a strong foundation for
understanding the Biblical basis for sport. It should be understood
while I am indebted to Oswald for his wise insights, my restating them
are not nearly as eloquent nor should he be blamed for any misuse or
misguided notions I am guilty of.
15This
template has the same genesis and evaluative process (my classes / my
students) as previous sections of this book (see footnote #13). It too
was offered to and used by the ISC Egyptian manual writing team. The
same caveats mentioned in footnote #13 apply here.
This article is broken up into component sections.
Please choose a
section below to read.
Biblical
Principles for Determining Christ Honoring Sports
Principles
1 and 2
Principles
3 and 4
Principle
5 and Summary
For a full list of available articles, please click on Articles in the
menu above. |
|
All
rights reserved. Copies of this material not
permitted without express permission of the author.
For any reproduction right, including federal copying, computer
reproduction, etc. contact:
Dr. Greg Linville at CSRM International c/o The World Outreach Center
5350 Broadmoor Circle N.W., Canton, Ohio – USA 44709 or glinville@csrm.org
|
|
|