A Theology of Competition

A Theology of Competition?

For many years I have been intrigued by the tension men feel when contemplating the scriptures, words from our Lord himself speaking about his followers: John 17 ^{15 "}My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it." AND, the Lord himself speaking to his followers:  Matthew 5 ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

We are clearly here “in this world”.  Which activities of the “world” are we to avoid and in which activities are we expected and even encouraged, to participate?

Can a Christian be engaged in competitive business with the goal of winning—being successful?   Can a Christian be engaged in competitive sports with the goal of winning? Clearly there is disagreement as to the correct answer. I do not take the self-righteous attitude that I have the only truth, but I have come to peace with an answer that works for me that seems logical and consistent with scripture.

A quite thorough discussion of this subject is covered in a white paper titled God of the Games: Towards A Theology of Competition whose abstract states: “The purpose of this paper is to explore a theological view of competition. Competition is so engrained in economic and social systems that even Christians fail to ask what God thinks about it. Is the God who is Love also the God of the competitive atmosphere of sports, business or law? Or, as many Christians think, does God hate competition and want Christians to avoid it? The answer is surprisingly complex.”

According to the authors, contemporary Christian thought can be placed into one of four categories or mutually exclusive states: 1) Christ Resists—this point of view condemns competition because it is an evil entrapping the Christian. Christ-likeness and competitive desires are inherently opposed and irreconcilable; 2) Christ Reforms—this point of view acknowledges the “potential” evil resulting from competition but believes Christians have a duty to participate in it and reform it; 3) Christ and Competition in Partnership—God created competition to be good for man’s benefit and for God’s glory; and 4) Christ and Competition in Paradox—Competition is neither condemned or encouraged as it can be good or evil, like the “world” Christians are called to be “in” but not “of” competition.

While clearly God calls some to the “monastic” life (State 1 above) with a withdrawal from the “world” and it’s evil ways, I would argue that scripture clearly calls the vast majority of Christians to the words of Matthew 5 instructing us to let our “light shine before others” by participating in the world, not withdrawing from it. Some are called to far off lands on “missions”---others are called to be “missionaries” to “minister” to their neighbors and colleagues while engaged in “worldly” commercial and recreational activities.

I think as Christians we are called in our “life ministry” to display the gentle characteristics of the shepherd. But a study of David, a “man after God’s own heart” shows that even shepherds are sometimes called to engage in less than gentle activities, like slaying the lion, when necessary. Sometimes, as men, we are called to be a kind and gentle, but very masculine, testosterone filled knight to serve and glorify God in the world.  Competition can be a part of our lives where men are sometimes called to act consistent with our created role as kind and gentle, but very masculine, testosterone filled knights.

You will not find any words in Scripture that state: “Thou Shall Not Compete”. Neither will you find any commandments “Thou shall compete”.  You will find many passages that tell us that our motives and attitudes are critical to behavior that is pleasing to God. In the Bible, competition seems to be a part of the human condition that can be turned towards either good or evil, depending on the goals and the motivations of the persons involved. The individual’s use of competition, like other areas where power is present, makes it good or bad.

The love of God is our first commandment. We are warned about the love of Money,  as well as the Love of Victory. We are told that the two most important commandments are to Love God and Love One Another.  We must be careful when competing that we comply with those commandments. We must also remember that Pride is the source of much evil and excess Pride is inconsistent with a successful Christian life.

John Calvin, the important theologian of the Reformation argued that human activity, carried on in obedience to God’s law, was an expression of His will as it related to the coming of the new heavens and earth. Therefore, competition, a human activity, has a place in God’s plan and the Christian can freely participate in it, but must be careful to do so in love. In individual competition, the Christian is to glorify God, and be free from pride, vindictiveness and the love of victory.  We accept winning as the result of God’s will—not man’s will and especially not our own will.

Several months ago I wrote an article entitled “Why we Race.” I asked, “Is racing an activity consistent with God’s plan for Christian life?” I could have used the title “Why we Compete” and the question could have been, “Is competitive business or politics consistent with God’s plan”. The answer—“It depends!”

Money is not evil, but the love of money is the source of much evil. Similarly, competition is not bad, but the love of glory solely for your own vanity, power, recognition and advancement, at others’ expense, can be troublesome. Some will recall the 1981 movie “Chariots of Fire”.  It is based on a true story about how a non-Christian athlete (Harold Abrahams) and a Christian athlete (Eric Liddell) both won gold medals in the 1924 Olympics. It is an interesting study of how two people can achieve the same glorious human prize with different motivations, reasons, and methods. Liddell raced to bring honor to God and to give God pleasure by displaying God’s gifts.  Abrahams raced for pride, to prove himself better than others.

Rick Warren in his book the “Purpose-Driven Life” teaches that one of the main reasons for our existence is to please God. Another is to enjoy real fellowship with other men and women.  God has created us “in his image” and accordingly gives each one of us a strong drive and aspiration towards mastery. As God is the master of his creation—he gets pleasure when we display our own mastery over our creation/s. He has also given each of us unique and special gifts.  He gets pleasure when we use and display these gifts for the right purpose/s. I think this quote from Eric Liddell sums it up.  “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.”

Remember, God made you for a purpose.  If God meant you to race, he also made you capable of being fast—displaying a mastery of machine and speed.  So when you race, race for the “right” reason and you will feel God’s pleasure. And……what’s the “right” reason?

Scripture gives the answer:  “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”  1 Corinthians 10:31 and “Love your neighbor as yourself” Matthew 22:39

Soli Deo Gloria! For the Glory of God Alone

Blessings,

Chaplain Wayne Strout

stroutmail@yahoo.com

After a 25+ year hiatus from racing, Wayne will be racing his Vortech Formula Vee this year in SCCA National and Regional Competition. In the 1980’s he was a SCCA Division Champion in GT1 and raced in the Trans Am series. He also raced Formula Ford and Formula Vee in SCCA and competed in NASCAR Winston/Nextel/Sprint Cup.  Wayne is an Investment Manager/Economist and the Grandfather of nine. He lives with his wife Carol in Central Pennsylvania.