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"Evangelistic-Disciplemaking" Sports Outreach
Strategically Relevant, Effective and Efficient
"Evangelistic-Disciplemaking" Sports Outreach
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This is the sixth in a series of blogs addressing the question: Is Sports Outreach Working and begins with the following premise: The Sports Outreach Movement that emerged in the mid-20th Century was touted as a most strategic tool for Evangelism, Discipleship and church growth. In addition, most Sports Outreach Ministers and many Lead/Administrative Pastors believed Sports Outreach to be the most strategic tool the church could employ to accomplish the Great Commission. Yet, these leaders are now beginning to doubt it can deliver the promised results. They wonder…if Sports Outreach is so effective then why is the Western Church losing ground. The following statistics combined with those presented in previous weeks provide evidence of the decline of the local church.
Source: djchuang.com The purpose of this series of blogs is two-fold: a) an explanation of why Sports Outreach has often been ineffective; and b) a proposal for how Sports Outreach can successfully meet its “Kingdom” oriented goals. The basis for this discussion flows out of the Six Sports Outreach Continuums of Tension and their impact on the current trends in Sports Outreach Ministry. The Continuums are:
This week focuses on Continuum of Tension #2: Christmanship / Sportsmanship / Gamesmanship. Gamesmanship and Sportsmanship need little definition. Conversely, Christmanship may be unfamiliar to some. Gamesmanship defines what athletes do and think to win a game. Adherents commit to winning at all costs. The ultimate goal of the “gamesman” is to win… by fair means or by foul. Most likely, those adhering to Gamesmanship are also committed to a worldview called Sportianity (defined in previous blogs). Sportsmanship describes a code of ethics for athletics based upon humanistic relativism. Humanistic because the athletic code of conduct emerges out of what humans determine to be ethical. "Relative," because the Sportsmanship ethic changes according to shifts in the societal morals and the specific group of people who are deciding what is ethical. "Sportsmen" drift towards Sportianity.  Conversely, Christmanship describes the value system and ethos of athletes, coaches and fans committed to pursuing Christ above all else, including competing in the image of Christ and worshipping Him through their competing. They strive to win and have an affinity for certain aspects of Gamesmanship/Sportsmanship but they evaluate their success from a Biblical foundation.
Gamesmanship, Sportsmanship and Christmanship all share areas of overlapping agreement, with Sportsmanship occupying a middle ground between the other two concepts. This does not mean however, Sportsmanship should be considered Aristotle’s highest ethic: the “Golden Mean.” Sportsmanship has many excellent characteristics but is far from being the perfect model for sporting ethics. The following graph illustrates Christmanship shares an affinity with Sportsmanship because both are based on a higher standard than Gamesmanship’s ultimate ethic of winning. But there remains a sharp, foundational distinction between Christmanship and Sportsmanship. Christmanship is founded upon the unchangeable final authority of the Word of God. Conversely, Sportsmanship is founded on the constantly changing ethic as determined by humankind. This does not mean Christmanship can’t affirm the overwhelming ethic of Gamesmanship – winning – or the basics of the Sportsmanship ethic – playing fair, striving for excellence etc. It does affirm these positive values but it also surpasses both, in its pursuit of not only playing to win and playing fair but more importantly, by playing in the image of, and to the glory of, Christ. Relevance of the Sports Outreach Christmanship, Sportsmanship, Gamesmanship Tension Continuum It’s not enough to choose Christianity over Sportianity. Individual Christian Sportspersons must compete in a Christmanship ethic and Local Church Sports must be conducted in a Christmanship ethic, both on and off the court, field or pitch. How you play will either glorify and honor Christ or it won’t. Local church Sports Outreach Ministries have the incredible opportunity to not only redeem the individual sports person but can also serve as a catalyst to transform and redeem the sports culture by “discipling” athletes of all ages in the Christmanship ethic. This is no little thing!
LAST WEEK’S BLOG POST ASKED THE QUESTION:
Is Sports Outreach Working? The conversation continues this week… The Sports Outreach Movement that emerged in the mid 20th Century was touted as a most strategic tool for Evangelism, Discipleship and church growth. In addition, most Sports Outreach Ministers and many Lead/Administrative Pastors believed Sports Outreach to be the most strategic tool the church could employ to accomplish the Great Commission. Yet, many church leaders are now beginning to wonder whether it has delivered the promised results. Why? The following statistics combined with those presented last week paint a bleak picture of the local church. A FEW MORE STATISTICS
Over the course of the next few weeks the question of whether or not Sports Outreach is effectively helping to grow the church will be addressed in this blog. The basis for this discussion will center on the following Six Sports Outreach Ministry Continuums of Tension and their impact on the current trends in Sports Outreach Ministry.
#1: CHRISTIANITY / SPORTIANITY Christianity needs little definition. Conversely, Sportianity is a term unfamiliar to most. Christianity is one of five major religions in the world. Adherents commit themselves to be Disciples of Jesus, pursuing their faith in Christ above all else. Sportianity is a term used to describe the ethos and value system of athletes, coaches and fans who commit themselves to pursuing sport above all else. For many athletes, sport becomes the highest priority in life and their involvement in sport takes on a spiritual essence and significance. It can be said, such athletes “worship at the altar of sport.” A life totally committed to athletic goals can thus be described as a “religion,” a religion called “Sportianity.” From these brief explanations the plight of Christian Sportspeople becomes apparent and is illustrated by the 1st Sports Outreach Continuum of Tension: Christianity-Sportianity. What does an athlete who desires both spiritual significance and athletic success do, when the two world-views collide? They must choose which will receive their allegiance and subsequent involvements. There can be no true ministry within a sports ministry if the so called Christians in the sports world choose sport to be their God. Subsequent blogs on the Six Sports Outreach Continuums of Tension will continue the discussion on the future of the Sports Outreach Movement. Next up: the four choices Christians make when their faith collides with their sport. |
