I am a Christian athlete.
Due to this, my experience in the athletics world is a little different. There are things I can’t do, and there are things I can do more easily. There are times when it’s easier for me to focus on what is truly important, and there are times when I feel as if I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Just because I take the name of Christ into the athletic world with me, doesn’t make me any less of a player. It doesn’t mean I pray for a win and then put in no effort after that. It doesn’t mean I work less because I believe God will pick up my slack. It doesn't mean I proclaim my faith in order to make myself seem better.
It means I work harder because I work to honor The Lord, and not to please people (see Colossians 3:23). It means I pray that God’s will be done, and then I play to win. It means I do my job because that is the reason God gave me my talents.
Because of my faith, a team is something different to me. I see a team as God sees the body of Christ. Paul explains in 1st Corinthians 12, that every one of us believers is a vital part of the body, with each of us carrying our own roles that only we can do. Each member of the body is to do their own part, without wishing their role was different. Those parts that seem less honorable will be given greater honor in their own time, and each part is to suffer and rejoice together. This is exactly how I believe a team should be, and because of my beliefs, I can be a better teammate.
The athletic world is a very secular world, very much focused on individuals seeking glory and fame. As a Christian, this isn't my goal. Of course, I strive to win, but my main goal is to bring glory to God. To do this, I play my heart out every time I step on that court or field, giving it my all. If any attention is placed on me through my sport, I direct all of the attention to God. Winning is huge to me, but God is even more so.
I play to win, I play to glorify God and I play for the opportunity to reach others. I keep my head up for the opportunities when my teammates ask me why I'm so positive. I work hard for the opportunities when my friends ask me why I spend so many hours at the gym. I keep my cool for the opportunities when my opponents ask why I don't get angry.
There are some limitations to committing to Christ and also committing to athletics. I don't swear when I make a mistake. I don't disrespect and scream at the referee when he makes a bad call. I was always the one who was "different" on my various club teams because I didn't go out and drink and party with everyone else.
(Everyone makes mistakes, though. If you have sworn in a fit of rage before, it doesn't make you any worse of a person. We are all still learning; don't beat yourself up. You'll do better next time.)
It's all worth it, though. Aside from the obvious gain of being a child of God saved by His grace, there are a few other little blessings that God gives us Christian athletes, in order to help us combat a world such as the athletic one. He gives me real hope to never give up on a game. He empowers me during my weakest point in a tough workout. He gives me the courage to lead my team. He gives me the strength to work hard even when it seems all odds are against me.
I am a Christian athlete, and I'm proud of it.
