THE CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE OF ATHLETICS AT CONCORDIA LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL

Concordia Lutheran High School is here to help train you for a life of service to God and man. Your coaches want to assist you in your spiritual, as well as your physical and mental growth. They want you to grow to be more like Christ and "increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:52) It is the guiding light of
Christ's Spirit in our lives that shows us how to use our mental and physical capacities for God's glory. At Concordia you are part of a unique fellowship - that of Christ's family. Our prayer for you is that you will always continue to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus as long as you live, and that you may always have the peace and joy that
He alone can give.

Make God "Number One"

Christ taught us that we should love the Lord with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength (Mark 12:30). God wants to be "Number One" in our lives - - ahead of family, friends, possessions, and athletics. He wants to live in us (I Corinthians 3:16) and use us to carry out His work in the world. (II Corinthians 9:8). Your coaches firmly believe that your actions in athletic contests, in practices, in school, and in everything you do should be an expression of God's will for you.

Glorify God

As Christian athletes, we are commanded by God Himself to strive for excellence and competence in our area of participation. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." (Ecc. 9:10). The ultimate goal of our striving must be to give glory to our God, who is the source of all of our talents. We strive for excellence in our athletic endeavors that by such excellence God's name might be praised.

Love All People

The Christian athlete must also strive for excellence through adhering to the rules of the game. Our Christian duty is stated clearly in Galatians 2:5, "Follow the Lord's rules for doing His work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or disqualifies himself and wins no prize." The Christian will exhibit the principals of good sportsmanship as an outgrowth of brotherly love. God's command to us is: "Don't hate your brother. Rebuke anyone who sins, don't let him get away with it, or you will be equally guilty. Don't seek vengeance. Don't bear a grudge, but love your neighbor as yourself, for I am the Lord." (Lev. 19: 17-18). For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love others as you love yourself." (Galatians 5:14)

Let Your Light Shine

Athletics at Concordia places a Christian into a special position. This position gives one a special opportunity to witness his faith through his actions and deeds, both on the athletic field and off it, in his day to day living. The title, "Christian Athlete", carries responsibility - - responsibility to Christ for everything one does and a duty to his role
in life as an athlete. A Christian athlete is one who has taken the challenge of life, the challenge to do his best and dedicate himself to carry out what he feels is right in life, regardless of the consequences (I Peter 3: 13-15). Assuming this challenge in early life is today the foundation for a long, full and enjoyable life (Pr. 22:16).Work for Good

As Christian athletes, we need to remind ourselves that our responsibility is not merely to avoid those things which we know will cause us problems, but to do all in our power to improve ourselves and aid those around us. As it says in James 4:17, "Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."

Accept and Encourage Discipline

To allow wrongful acts to continue indicates a lack of love. In Hebrews 12:5,6,8 and 11, our responsibilities are identified, "My son, don't be angry when the Lord punishes you, it proves that He loves you." "If God doesn't punish you when you need it, as other fathers punish their sons, then it means you aren't really God's son at all, that you don't
really belong to His family." Finally, in Verse 11, the results of correction appear, "Being punished isn't enjoyable, while it is happening, it hurts, but afterwards, we can see the results, a quiet growth in grace and character."

The Christian coach and athletes are ready to correct misconduct through Christian love. Our duty to our brothers is stated clearly in Galatians 6:1. "Dear Brothers, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong."

Live and Grow Together

Athletics offer us a great opportunity for individual growth through Christian fellowship. The development of team spirit and team play, the respect that we develop for each other as fellow Christian athletes, (regardless of ability) the joy that we experience from winning and the growth that comes from losing, help each of us to mature into contributing members of the body of believers.

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Last updated Tuesday, July 17, 2007