"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing."
God the creator
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth Genesis 1:1
Two views of sport have often surfaced in the Christian church. From the time of the Puritans onwards some Christians have strongly discouraged any involvement in sport. This has been either because the activity was felt to be of itself sinful or because of sin associated with sport. That the environment of sport was predominantly non-Christian, often associated with drinking and gambling as well as provoking an aggressive and competitive spirit, was enough to convince many Christians to steer well clear of it.
The other inadequate view of sport is to see sport purely as a tool for evangelism. It is OK for the Christian to play sport but only in order to evangelize. The activity has no value of itself.
Both of these are inadequate as they fail to take account of sport as part of God's creation. As an activity in which we can use the gifts and abilities God has give us, sport is as valuable and significant as any other human activity. Of course the world of sport can be a godless place but so can the rest of society. In any case that seems to be a stronger reason for being involved.
Further, it is absolutely true that within the world of sport that there are many opportunities for evangelism, which we should grasp with both hands but that is not our sole justification for playing sport. Playing sport is as legitimate as any other human activity.
Stuart
Stuart Weir