aia918 Explained in Fewer than 140 Characters

Posted by Atilano on June 1st, 2021

Through my years of playing within Christian Athletics in high school and college I always had the impression that sports were about sportsmanship and winning. The two can be in any order and they were always in different order as I moved from coach to coach. But what if sports were meant for a bigger purpose than handshakes and scoreboards. What if sports were meant for a collective audience (fans, coaches, referees, athetes, etc.) to be drawn closer to Jesus Christ? If I were to answer the latter, then I believe our current outlook on Christian Athletics should change.

Matthew 28:19-20, the Great Commission, calls Christians to, 'go out and make disciples of all the nations by baptizing and teaching.' The passage never specifically states how we are to teach. In fact we know that Jesus, Himself, taught in many different ways - i.e. Parables (Luke 15:4-7), Miracles (Genesis 1 and John 4:46), Questioning (Mark 12:35), Drawing (John 8:1-11), History (John 4:1-27) and Using Children (Luke 18:16) just to name a few. Is it too much of a hail-mary to believe that God wants those whom He has gifted athletically to teach via their sport? Absolutely Not. Since God truly equips His servants with the proper gifts needed to do His good will (Hebrews 13:20-21),

He will not hold one of His players back from dishing out the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, here is what I am contending: Christian Athletics should serve solely as a means of reaching out to a hurting world for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I understand that statement carries with it many questions, such as:

Is there a point to practicing your sport?

How do you honestly coach like that?

Will kids accept this philosophy?

Should the scoreboard and stats go extinct?

I am not wishing to aboloish the scoreboard or render athletes free of practicing, rather I believe we as Christian Athletic Servants should be directing our disciples' focus to a goal that carries eternal value. If one is truly going to pursue that goal, then one must work with all their might to be the best that they can be for the Lord's service (Colossians 3:17,23 + Ecclesiastes 9:10). Picture God up in heaven with a giant toolbox next to His throne. Inside of His toolbox are many tools that represent different ways to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and help a hurting world - i.e. Church Congregations, Missionaries, Youth Groups, Christian Education, Music, Art, etc. - Athletics is one of His instruments. As a community of Christian Athletics we should desire to give the Lord our best effort at all times so that we can be useful for His Glory.

So, does God care about Sports? Without a shadow of a doubt - Yes - if done with a right heart, the Lord can spread His Word far and wide due to the great popularity of sports on this planet. Now we are playing for eternal crowns not earthly trophies that just collect dust and are soon forgotten. As a follower of Christ, how could you not be excited about that philosophy?

It's no big secret that exercise should be a top priority for children of all ages, especially given the fact that childhood obesity is on aia918 the rise. Yet many parents today are reluctant to enroll their children in organized sports because of the fierce competition.

In many cases, parents are likely to take sports competition even more seriously than their kids do. One recent parent brawl at a Little League game was caught on tape in Columbus, Ohio.

The fight started when one parent asked another parent to turn down the loud music they were playing to celebrate a win. Moments later, words were exchanged, fists were flying, and a full-on brawl had ensued. Police were called to the scene to arrest parents that had set a terrible example for their children.

The Pros of Children's Sports Teams

Beyond peer competition and brutal fights between parents, organized children's sports provide a long list of benefits that include:

• Regular exercise. Kids on a sports team, like an Austin soccer team, will be able to run, jump, and play with friends. Exercising in a group environment will teach kids to appreciate physical activity at a young age, likely reinforcing the habit for life. Keeping a child active is one key to preventing a sedentary lifestyle that could lead to serious health conditions like type II diabetes, stemming from childhood obesity.

• Learn sportsmanship. When children play an organized sport, they'll learn to work together as a team to better understand respect and sportsmanship. Even though a soccer team may win a game, kids will be taught to congratulate the losing team and vice versa when the tables are turned.

• Relieve stress. Children that have difficulty coping with day-to-day stress at school or at home can use group sports for much-needed stress relief. Even more importantly, children with a bad home environment can use team sports as an outlet instead of turning to drugs or crime as a result of peer pressure.

The Cons of Children's Sports Teams

For a fair comparison, it's important to explore the potential disadvantages of enrolling your child in organized sports, like:

• Too much competition. A young child may not be able to handle the pressure of playing on a highly competitive team, especially if their parents are pushing them into it. If a coach is more focused on winning than on the love of the game, a child may be more susceptible to performance pressure that could stick with them throughout their future career.

• Strain or injury. A child may be too timid to ask for a break if they feel overexerted. Children are also more prone to dehydration and heat stroke caused by exposure to hot weather during a long game. Kids should be encouraged to take breaks regularly and drink water and sports drinks to stay balanced and hydrated in both practices and games.

If you're on the fence about enrolling your child in organized sports, it's clear that the good outweighs the bad. When approached with a healthy attitude, a sports team will give your child the opportunity to exercise, spend time with friends, and learn respect for others.