Sports a Religion? Please Beware.
The first time I saw the commercial I was hit with disbelief. The second time I was stunned and was sure I read it incorrectly. The third time I simply grieved. The commercial opens with the words, “Religion of Sports.” Religion? Sports?
Yes, I can hardly believe it, founded in 2017, Tom Brady, Michael Strahan, and Gotham Chopra, decided marketing sports as a religion was a good thing to do. Do they know the definition of religion? According to Webster’s religion it’s defined as “the service and worship of God or the supernatural.” When in this life did sports become something to worship?
This new organization, “Religion of Sports” writes, “Everything we create stems from that core belief, because to feel the power of sport-and to truly believe-is to experience religion. Everything we create stems from that core belief…
“From the sports documentarian and executive producer of the docuseries The Religion of Sports, a memoir-meets-manifesto about the overwhelming power of sports and how they provide meaning and purpose in people’s lives all over the world.
“Sports is a religion.”
“This isn’t a metaphor—sports is a living, evolving religion populated by true believers, who go on pilgrimages to sacred sites (Fenway Park), witness miracles and mythologies (Michael Jordan does not abide by gravity’s rules), observe rituals (Lebron’s “chalk toss” before any game), and, most importantly, form communities around shared beliefs (Odessa, Texas, the town made famous by Friday Night Lights).” And their weekly newsletter is named, “The Word.”
God, the Creator of the Universe, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, would clearly disagree.
He is the only One worthy of our worship and to take something man created and choose to worship it seems no less insulting to God then the Israelites worshipping the golden calf they created. Here were God’s thoughts about that, “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’
“I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people…” (Exodus 32:7-9) God was so insulted He planned to destroy them and begin a new nation with Moses, but Moses sought the Lord to act in mercy toward Israel, and God did. That does not mean there were not consequences to their sin (choosing their will and way over God’s will).
As we wait for Jesus to return as He promised, we can grow weary in the waiting, particularly as we see our culture choosing anything or anyone to worship but God. Apostle Paul encourages us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
Be Aware!
As you live your life, beware of the world and the enemy’s desire to replace our worship of God with the worship of human things (whatever they might be). These are idols promising only disappointment and emptiness. God alone created us, knows us, and designed us to fulfill a specific purpose while walking this earth. Only as we know Him can we discover His plan and find fulfillment. God will not be mocked. “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14). If sports was or is your religion, repent, turn away from this passion, genuinely ask God’s forgiveness and dedicate or rededicate your life and time to Him. He alone is worthy of your worship and He waits to give you His joy in experiencing His plans for your life! Choose to know Him as never before.
