Competing in the World as a Christian-In Sports and/or Business

Summary of Presentation to Men's Breakfast at The Bridge Church 05/02/2015


Is the God who is Love also the God of the competitive atmosphere of sports, business or law? How does one reconcile the concept of beating your competitor with the command to love thy neighbor?

A great deal of Christ’s teaching is contained in Matthew 5, the greatest Sermon ever preached.   In that Sermon, Christ tells us that the Meek shall inherit the earth.  In Matthew 11, Christ tells us to learn from him as he is “gentle and humble in heart”.
Differing Christian attitudes regarding competition can be summarized:

 1) Christ Resists—this point of view condemns competition, claiming that it is an evil entrapping the Christian. Christ-likeness (gentle and humble in heart) 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.

I think the first attitude is inconsistent with scripture.  Like, the attitude some have toward money being evil because it is the root of all evil.
Competition is a part of God’s creation. You see competition all around you. One cannot be in “in the world” without participating in some way, in some form of competition.
In John 17, Christ prays to the Father for the protection of Christians, that are in this world but “not of this world”.

Christ’s last commandment to Christians, The Great Commission was and is to “go and make disciples of all nations-- teaching them to obey everything I have commanded.” How can one obey this commandment without being “out and about in the world” and engaging in competitive activities?

Some of the attitude that competition is “bad” relates to the teaching that “the Meek shall inherit the earth”.  How can one be meek while being bold, trying to “win’ at the expense of another? Isn’t competition of form of seeking dominance over another?

So, let’s examine what the original text regarding the meaning of “meek”. The English translation of “meek” is from the original Greek word, “praus”. In the proper context, the word is used to describe a horse under control of a bridle—or as power under control.  So put another way, “The powerful, who maintain control and remain humble and gentle shall inherit the earth”.  The shepherd who is gentle, but capable of defending the flock is the ideal.

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.

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.

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 yourselfMatthew 22:39