All too often we draw artificial lines around God’s sphere of influence in our lives (going to church, praying, etc.), the “sacred” areas – and the things which are of seemingly no spiritual benefit (work, hobbies, etc.), the “secular” areas. The result is we know God cares about Sunday, but what about the rest of the week? Does it have any purpose in God’s plans?
This book is a welcome tonic against that “sacred-secular” divide. Daniels and Reid allow sports fans to breathe a collective sigh of relief as they deftly explain that Jesus’ Lordship infuses all of life with a profound sense of meaning and purpose: sport matters more, not less, because Jesus is Lord. To offer ourselves as living sacrifices includes how we work, spend our leisure time and, yes, how we play and interact with sport.
Much of the wisdom in this book is drawn from principles that have made Christians in Sport (of which Graham Daniels serves as Director) so influential in helping people connect Jesus with their passion for sport. The “pray, play, say” slogan (covered in chapter 6) is a simple and effective mantra to keep us focused on a bigger narrative than winning or losing. Grounded and practical, this book speaks not just to players but coaches, fans and parents – with latter chapters on navigating Sunday sport and being Christ-like on the sidelines and the car journey home being of huge spiritual benefit.
This isn’t a blinkered, one-sided view of sport, however. There’s recognition that we’re prone to idolatry (with some helpful diagnostic questions to think through), and the worst aspects of dressing rooms can often be the coarse joking and drinking cultures. Much online conversation and that in stadiums can be dehumanising, with sexism and racism still sadly commonplace. In all of this, the call for Christians to not withdraw but to honour our Lord – the giver of sport and the ruler of it – and shine His light is needed more than ever. We’re not to join in with the crowd but be distinctive.
Sporty? Or know someone who is? Read this book!
SPIRITUAL GAME PLAN: Competing with Joy and Godliness
By Graham Daniels & Jonny Reid
The Good Book Co. 160 pages. £8.99
ISBN 978 1 784 989 897
