Which of
these is a proper environment for worship of the Lord Jesus?
- A 25 meter competitive swimming pool or an ornate church sanctuary?
- A gothic cathedral or a modern 45,000 seat baseball stadium?
- A passion-filled football stadium or a fresco-covered basilica?
- An eight lane athletics track or a simple altar in a country church?
- A wonderfully appointed and equipped weight training room or a quaint outdoor shrine?
- A football pitch with a brand new goal and net or a home’s front room with a small Bible study group?
Which of
these is a proper instrument for worship of the Lord Jesus?
- A large pipe organ or a football helmet?
- A black leather baseball glove or a beautiful 6 string guitar?
- A set of drums or the long jump path and pit?
- A fiberglass backboard with an orange rim and net or a perfectly tuned grand piano?
- A pair of maracas for percussion or a white leather volleyball for digging, passing, setting, and hitting?
- A set of lacrosse equipment or a set of percussion instruments?
How did you answer? Did you get stuck in the “Either
this or that?” Did you prefer to answer, “Both this and that?” Chances are if
you are over forty years of age, you struggled with the dichotomy. If you’re
under forty, you probably find the “both and” answer easier to manage. If you
love sport and you love Jesus, I really hope you land solidly on, “Both!”
The arenas and the equipment of sport are
equally worthy places and instruments of worship as are the more accepted
environments and machinery of more traditional worship forms. Equally worthy,
less easily accepted and understood.
I would challenge you to free people to
experience the Lord Jesus’ presence and His intimate pleasure as much in the
world of sport as we encourage them to in church services, prayer meetings,
worship events, and devotional reading. Let’s fully integrate our Christian
faith into every facet of the lives of sportspeople and we’ll see their worlds
transformed by Christ’s presence and power, in us.
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