Photo: Maverick Arts

"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing."

Vince Lombardi

Intro

That, in nine words, is the message that we have for the world of sport: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. Of course we need to unpack it and explain it. Our sports friends need to understand - and ultimately accept – who Jesus is. In our post-modern world we can no longer assume that they know who Jesus is.

The word “sin” is not an easy one in our culture. TV adverts portray things like eating chocolate as a “sin”. The concept of rebellion, of making choices to put ourselves first, might be more meaningful to the modern world.

Ironically the Greek root of the word for sin is from sport. It is from archery – I write with authority having been the Oxford Mail archery correspondent at the Commonwealth Games – meaning to miss the target. Any ball-player understands the concept of missing the target – the wayward throw, shot hitting the post/rim, the arrow missing the gold.

As we represent Jesus Christ in the world of sport, that is the message we have for the world of sport that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. The message has not changed since Paul’s day. How you explain it to a 21st century sportsperson in your country is the challenge.

Guinea Pig images are copyright of Maverick Arts and used with permission. See http://www.shopwithmaverick.com

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