Why We Compete

In the 2011 Stanley Cup finals it should have been a night of celebration. It was a great series between two excellent teams: the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks. Instead, the nation woke up the next morning to news about massive violence in Canada as a result of their team’s defeat.

What a great reminder of why we as Christians are called to bring Christ to the world of sports. It’s not called the “universal language” for nothing. Sports are a huge part of our culture, and they impact it in so many ways. Even a single game can impact an entire city like Vancouver and have results that ripple through the lives of both sports fans and bystanders.

That night was just one example. This kind of thing happens on every level from little league to the pros. Our world takes its sports seriously, and that makes it an avenue of high impact. Thank God that He raises up Christian athletes and coaches to bring His truth to the athletic world!

Today, let's remember why we compete. Sports are for His glory, His truth and His love. There is no other reason. Competition is not about personal glorification. It’s not about stats and records. It’s not even about just having fun (though, that is certainly part of it). It’s about Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). While we can and should enjoy the competition, we need to remember that our purpose is to bring Him to the world around us.