God on the ballfield

Posted November 1st @ 3:51 pm by Andy Print This Post

Informative article on the long history of athletes thanking God on the playing field:

The invocation of God and Christ in the world of sport has reached epidemic proportions – not at all by accident. Indeed, there is a rich history to this curious union. Race, gender and national (as well as international) politics intertwine as various religious individuals and causes have used the public space of sports to preach their message. Sport, on the other hand, has used religion to sanction and solidify its various reputations.

This topic has an interesting tie-in to our earlier discussion about the gender imbalance in American Christianity: the combination of God and sports was part of a conscious effort by Billy Sunday and others to “masculinize” Christianity and demonstrate that the Christian life wasn’t “effeminate” and passive.

This 19th-century “Muscular Christianity” trend sounds like something I should learn more about. Sure enough, here’s a Christianity Today piece on this movement and its relationship to American sports. I love it when I learn something new.

update: More related discussion over at GetReligion.

Filed in: History, Sports

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5 Comments

  1. Donnell
    November 1, 2005 at 16:12

    Wow! That article really ministered to me. My passion for the things of God drive me to keep pushing myself everyday.

    I can identify with both sides of the muscular Christianity movement and I can find myself in each one. On one side my drive has brought me continued success in my pursuit of purpose and on the other side it has overwhelmed some of my cohorts.

    People around me tell me to slow down and enjoy life, smell the roses, sleep a little, etc. I guess this is God talking to me again. I know that no matter how much time I spend in ministry there is always more to do the next day.

    We each have a mission to accomplish on this earth and I approach it the same way I approach my 5 day/workout program; 110% effort. This has given me a renewed fire for the things of God and if that is an approach used to minister to men, I support “Muscular Christianity”.

    Regards,
    Donnell Duncan
    Founder and President
    The Cracked Door
    If the Door is Cracked, the Door is Open

  2. Carl
    November 1, 2005 at 16:44

    I spend a lot of time working with teenagers, and we even meet in a YMCA at present. Sports is a huge draw to many of them. It’s quite interesting to hear about the Christian roots of basketball!

    It also gives me more hope for this generation. If God could give that generation wisdom in how to reclaim and use masculinity, maybe He will in this one as well.

    If that generation could reach people and teach them using sports, maybe there is some way to use a modern opportunity the same way. If not in sports, maybe something else.

    The idea of Christians being PROACTIVE and creative, even inventing a game for a purpose, is a tremendous testimony of how God can use people to reach out to others! It’s a great example to emulate.

  3. Alan
    November 1, 2005 at 23:02

    I’m a “muscular Christian!!” LOL! Well…because I’m a martial artist and a soccer player and a Christian all at the same time! The funny thing is that I had come from a Mennonite non-violent background in the past…but…my family left the mennonite church were going to because the particular individuals in that particular church were more interested in a very Liberal, progressive type of Christianity and cared more about being “dead” in traditions than in being full of the spirit because they didn’t want to seem “Charismatic” or “Pentecostal” because they think that such people “look” bad…well…we left that church and I’m now in the military and have continued my martial arts practice of which has now been going on for 13 years! Sorry for such a long story…especially one that didn’t have all that much to do with the issue at hand…but…the point is…I’m a Muscular Christian! lol

  4. Alan
    November 1, 2005 at 23:04

    Yeah…Basketball is very Christian in origin…in fact…YMCA means “Young Men’s Christian Association.” Too bad it has become very secular.

  5. JQ
    November 2, 2005 at 12:10

    Here’s another article related to the topic:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/30/sports/football/30religion.html?ei=5065&en=a9ec10ded0022254&ex=1131249600&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print

    The high school coach mentioned actually coaches at my old high school.

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