Toward a Theology of Competition and Sport

Chapter 5
Historical Models

By Dr. Greg Linville

The following is the fifth installment in a series outlining a Theology of Competition and Sport. 

So far our journey towards a full understanding and execution of the Theology of Competition and Sport has: 

• Chapter 1: Defined a Philosophical Foundation for Competition
  
• Chapter 2: Revealed a Theological Apologetic for Competition
  
• Chapter 3: Outlined a Biblical Basis for Christian Sport and Athletics
  
• Chapter 4 Established a Template for determining which individual sports are compatible with a Christian world-view and explained the six requisite mandates for Biblically defensible sports
  

This chapter introduces a new way to categorize and explain the age-old dilemma of integrating faith and sport. In addition it will offer suggestions for applying a newly constructed model to this endeavor. Three distinct historical eras provide the backdrop for my four-fold faith and sport integration paradigm. The historical overview begins with a review of ancient Greco-Roman athletics, moves to an exposition of the Muscular Christian Era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and ends with a summary comparison of the 21st Century Sports Outreach Movement. Through each historical era this four-fold faith and sport integration paradigm - Capitulation, Accommodation, Rejection, Redemption - is explained through the lives and experiences of athletes, coaches and organizations active during each time period. Finally, this schematic will outline and suggest ways future athletes and coaches can integrate their faith with their sport, based upon the models which emerge from this historical reflection. 

Subsequent chapters will feature expositions on: a) the Biblical Basis for Individual Participation in Sport and Athletics (Christmanship); b) a section on answering difficult questions about sport and faith integration; and c) a section discussing Lord’s Day issues. 

This article is broken up into component sections. Please choose a section below to read.

• Historical Models of Faith and Sport Integration 
  
• Roman and Jewish Models 
  
• Muscular Christianity Era 
  
• Sports Outreach Movement 
  
• Summary of Historical Faith and Sport Integration