The Sports Idol

THE SPORTS IDOL​

By Bibleman​

Aside from an occasional harmless game with friends or family, sports has become an addictive 9/21/2014worldly pastime for millions of Christians. The definition of sports as derived from the dictionary describes it as a worldly pastime, activity, hobby, amusement, entertainment, distraction or diversion that gives pleasure and enjoyment. Many Christians today are consumed with sports. It is an addiction to them. They idolize teams and players. They waste countless hours going to sporting events and watching sports on TV. Should such a worldly entertainment be consuming the time and devotion of Christians? Can it be harmful to ones spiritual health? Is it pleasing and acceptable to God? Could it ever be God’s will for His people to enthusiastically love such a worldly entertainment? Can a Christian fulfill the commandment to love God with all of his heart if he is devoted to the things of this world? Can an addiction to sports be a sign of end-times corruption and defilement among the people of God? Let us take a closer look at some Biblical principles that will answer these questions.

THE ORIGIN OF SPORTS​

If you were to research the origin of sports from a source like “The World Book Encyclopedia†you would find that sports first originated from pagan societies such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome. These societies developed sports to train their people for warfare and survival. Later during times of peace sports festivals were created to please the spirits of the dead and as religious exercises to honor pagan gods. The pagan godless Mayan culture used sports to determine which group of people was to be killed and sacrificed to their false god. The team that lost the game was the ones chosen as sacrifices to their pagan god. In ancient Greece four national sports festivals were developed. Among these were the Olympic Games that are so popular today. “The Olympic Games, which ranked as the most important, honored Zeus, the king of the gods.†(“Olympic Games,†vol. 14, p. 570) In pagan Rome coliseums were built were people had to fight gladiators in a life and death situation and where Christians were thrown into the dens of wild beasts, all for entertainment. Today sports arenas and stadiums are nothing more than modern Idol Temples where obsessed fans and spectators enthusiastically praise and honor their favorite players and teams with jubilant cheers and shouts.

SPORTS IS A WORLDLY PLEASURE​

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.†1 Jn. 2:15
As Christians we are commanded to not be devoted to the pleasures of this world. Because it demands of your time and affections it competes with God in your life. Worldliness in the life of a Christian is dangerous. Those Christians who love the world and the things of the world will find that involvement in such pleasures will hinder their walk with God and cause them to be lukewarm and unfruitful (Mt. 13:22; 2 Tim. 4:10; Rev. 3:16). Christians are to separate themselves from the things of the world (Jam. 1:27; 2 Cor. 6:17). Christians are to be crucified to the world and not live as the unregenerate (Gal. 6:14). As Christian believers our pleasures and entertainment must be acceptable to God. We cannot pick for our pleasures and entertainment things that are of this sinful world (Rom. 12:2).

SPORTS FESTIVALS FORBIDDEN​

“That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:†(1 Pet. 4:2,3) A festival is defined in the dictionary as “A celebration, entertainment, or series of performances of a kind, often held periodically.†(Webster’s New World Dictionary, p. 500) Festivals are characteristic of eating, beer drinking, and jubilant and joyous celebrations such as is seen in sports arenas and stadiums where fans cheer on their favorite players and teams and celebrate their victories with exhilaration and revelry. The Bible forbids such activity among Christians. We are to glorify God not sports teams or players (1 Cor. 6:20). The reveling or boisterous and noisy merrymaking such as seen in sports festivities is a lust of the flesh closely associated with idolatry (1 Pet. 4:2-4). Active participation in sports festivals and the worldliness of such and the idolatry and drunkenness associated with it is a work of the flesh that can keep one out of God’s kingdom (Gal. 5:19-21). Those who are addicted to sports are sowing to satisfy the flesh and they will ultimately reap corruption rather than eternal life (Gal. 6:8).

SPORTS IS AN IDOL FOR MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS​

Little Children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 Jn. 5:21)
An idol can be anything of the world that one loves to excess, is devoted to, or has an extreme fondness, obsession, passion, attachment, or adoration for. Millions of Christians spend far more time watching sports than they do reading the Bible or going to church. They honor, praise and adore their favorite sports teams and players more than they do God. The word “fan†comes from the word fanatic. A sports fan or fanatic is one who is addicted to sports and who has an extreme love and adoration for sports teams and players. Those who were guilty of idolatry in the Bible had graven images and idols of what they loved. Those who idolize sports regularly collect autographs, cards, memorabilia, and statuary of their favorite players and teams. They also praise and honor their teams and players with jubilant cheers, shouts, chanting, and celebrations. The love for sports is a sign of end-times defilement among the people of God. The Bible says that in the last days many who claim to be Christians will love sports and other pleasures of this world more than God (2 Tim. 3:1-5). For many, sports is a carnal appetite or pleasure that demands their time, money, and devotion. Idolatry is detestable to the Lord and those guilty of having personal idols in their lives will have to bear the consequences of that sin (Ezek. 23:49). Cast away your idols and worldly pleasures and love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Mt. 22:27; 1 Cor. 10:14). Turn away from being a sports fanatic and become a fan for Christ! (2 Cor. 6:14-18)!

AN UNFRUITFUL PASTIME​

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.†Eph. 5:15-17
There are many things in this world that can qualify as time wasters and sports is certainly at the top of that list! The apostle Paul shows us in the scriptures how those of the world train hard in sports for days and weeks to win a corruptible crown and appease their fans. Paul shows, however that it is much more profitable to strive for an incorruptible crown (1 Cor. 9:24-27). It is very important how we utilize our time. For the Christian the race is to overcome sin, control fleshly lusts and desires, and walk in righteousness so he can win the crown of eternal life. Christians are commanded to separate from those things of the world that waste our time and capture the affections of our heart. The sports world is not of God nor does it honor God. It is a worldly distraction designed by the devil to lead you away from your devotion to Christ. A Christian must separate from and avoid those things of the world, because for him, they are only destructive influences. A Christian is to devote himself fully to Christ and those things that honor and glorify Him. (1 Cor. 6:20). There are so many good and wholesome Christian books, music, movies, games, and church activities that a Christian has available for entertainment that he need not ever turn to worldly entertainments. Choose those things that will edify you and enrich your spiritual life, deepen your faith in Christ, and enable you to be a fruitful and productive Christian. As a Christian you should abandon all forms of entertainment that is of the world and choose the Christian alternatives that are pleasing and acceptable to God (Phil. 4:8).

VICTORY OVER SPORTS!​

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.†1 Jn. 5:4
Satan certainly has a diabolical plan to keep unbelievers in darkness and to lure Christians away from their devotion to Christ. Satan is a master deceiver and distracter whose goal in sports is to distract and divert people away from their devotion to Christ. The things of this world are designed by the devil to waste your time and talents, deaden your spiritual life, hold you on a path of darkness, and lead you away from Christ and His plan of holiness for your life. We must wake up to the snares of the devil who is the enemy of our souls. Christians need to be concerned about purity and sanctification (Eph. 5:26,27). Overcomers are the sanctified believers who have renounced their personal idols and have separated themselves from all that is worldly and ungodly and have devoted themselves to Christ with all their heart, mind, and soul. True victory for the Christian is to be able to overcome the world and live a sanctified life in Christ (Acts 26:18; Rev. 3:5,21). I urge you, like Joshua did for Israel, to make a decision as to who you want to serve (Josh. 24:14,15). Are you going to serve your personal idols and love the things of this world or are you going make a commitment to serve Christ? As for me and my house we will serve Christ!

 

[suja]

oh ! lord first time i am hearing this about sports. but all types of sports are conducting in schools and our children are participating in.i think it si time to inform them about this .thank you for the message LORD BLESS YOU

 

[Bibleman46]

YES YOU ARE RIGHT SPORTS IS A BIG THING IN THE SCHOOLS. HOW MANY OF OUR PRECIOUS YOUTH BECOME ADDICTED TO A SPORTS IDOL BECAUISE OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ENCOURAGE IT?