"It matters a great deal who is going to win, but not at all who won"
The Christian athlete
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(Honoring God in Sports). Dwayne K Smith, Mustang Oklahoma,Tate Publishing, 2008. ISBN978-1-60604-812-2
This is a simple book drawn from author’s experience as a coach. The author’s purpose is stated as: “It is my prayer that as you read this book, you will see your involvement in sports as God sees your involvement in sports”. Later the author states what might be described as his ‘thesis’: “I believe that God is honoured when we use the abilities but he he’s given us”.
The book urges athletes to use their talents to give God glory, so sharing the pleasure with him. There is also a helpful definition of what it means to give God the glory: “Giving God the Glory means two things. First, it means that you truly understand that without God you can achieve nothing, and it is only because of him that you are receiving praise. He gave me the talents and the opportunity to display your talents. Secondly, giving God Glory means that you dedicate your best effort to him. You give an Abel’s offering in whatever you do”.
An “Abel’s offering” is defined as giving 100 per cent in practices and games “leaving the court mentally and physically exhausted knowing that we have offered all we have”. The author also suggests that “one of the reasons God placed us Christians in athletics is so that we can show his character in competition”.
The book further suggests that failing to recognize that in everything they are presenting an offering to God leads athletes into lazy habits.
A useful contribution to the literature on faith and sport.