By Zach Evans
Church and State, school and religion, are all examples of two things being separated the reason. Our country, the world, everywhere we look people are trying to take God out of the equation! Is this the same with sports? Do spirituality and sports go together or is it just something that is also seen as separate because of a lack of God in our lives?
The Faithless World of Sports
From the World’s point of view, you might say yes sports and spirituality do not go together. Look at how worldly the sports world is: full of cursing, partying, and sleeping around. It’s no wonder people might think this is another example of worldliness at it’s best with nothing quite close to anything spiritual.
The reason I know how worldly the sports world can be is because I interned at quite possibly the biggest sports media platforms in the world: Fox Sports and ESPN West Palm. While I loved the experience and they both are something I will never forget it is not an atmosphere you want to be in if you are a struggling or not strong in your faith Christian.
Though I am a stronger Christian now than I was at the time of either internship, I still don’t know if I could have fled the temptation of sin that was basically everywhere in that type of environment. From the cursing to the talking about women inappropriately it’s just not a place you want to be.
I interviewed John Rabe, who was a radio broadcaster for sports and, basically, he said it is almost impossible to be a Christian in that sort of environment. The sexual innuendos, the crude jokes, it was all very vulgar.
There is Spirituality in Sports
But there is a glimmer of hope, I believe. I started a blog because God gave me a vision to interview Christian athletes and coaches and tell their stories of their journey in sports and how they came through the worldliness and got to where they are today. I believe there is spirituality in sports if we look for it.
For example, ex-NFL player Michael Basnight talked about how he struggled with anxiety and depression and basically got through it because of God. Or Coach Rick who basically gave up all that he had to start a saints P.E. program for homeschool kids—and this exploded to be not only all over the state of Florida but also all over the World! Most recently Erik Risolvato came out of some very difficult situations to become a professional swimmer and gives 100% glory to God. Even in the darkest bleakest most impossible seemingly areas of this life God seems to always have a light shining in its place.
There are plenty of Christian platforms that give a Christian point of view of sports besides myself. Sports Spectrum, Eternity Sports, Good News and many others bring spirituality and sports together. Yes, the biggest names tend to be worldly, but there is definitely a light that is shining bright in a world that definitely tries to take God out of the equation.
To be honest I believe that God can use sports for his glory. Take the underdog scenario. Here is a team or person that against all odds defies every obstacle and every set back and rises to the top to win the championship or whatever it is they’re trying to win. In a way that is how Jesus saved us. We were down and out with no hope no way out and what happened? God in His amazing grace came down and saved us by dying on a cross the ultimate underdog comeback story.
Yes, spirituality and sports can go together.
Zach Evans is a writer, network marketer as well as game-day fan ambassador. He blogs mainly on Christian athletes and coaches on his site Something Spiritual Sports.