Can one be a dedicated religious person and be a dedicated professional athlete? David Brooks, columnist for the New York Times, doesn't think you can. In his recent essay Brooks states, 'The moral ethos of sport is in tension with the moral ethos of faith, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim.'
Jermey Lin is living this 'tension' as a Guard for the NBA's New York Knicks. He graduated from Harvard, is Asian-American, and wasn't drafted by any NBA team. For the past few weeks Lin has been in the national spotlight for his amazing play, his humility and for his ability to beat the odds by playing professional basketball at such a high level. What also makes him unique is that he is a committed follower of Christ.
Read Brooks' essay and drop in your comments... Are Sports and Spirituality in conflict?
2 comments:
A few weeks ago I watched "Senna", a movie about the professional life of racing car driver Ayrton Senna. Senna was a Christian man performing at the highest level, Formula One, of motor racing. A three time World Driving Champion and holder of numerous performance records. He was fully aware that his driving ability was a gift from God and was very open to letting people know this. His driving style was not technical mastery but instictual, spiritual even. Formula One can be very political, with multi-millions invested in hi-tech racing cars. He percieved dark forces working against him and often he was right. He had his faults, his blemishes. Don't we all? During the Friday qualifying session of the 1994 Grand Prix of San Marino Senna's good friend Roland Ratzenberger was killed in a crash on the track. Senna was overcome with sadness and considered retiring on the spot but did not. On the Sunday morning of race day after reading his Bible he phoned his sister to tell her that the gift of God is God. Ayrton Senna was killed in a crash on the 7th lap of the race. I think you can be a Christian in high level sport and I think it's good that they are there.
David Brooks makes a fundamental flaw in his reasoning. He speaks of the "moral ethos" of sport as being self-centered and competitive to the point of disregard for your fellow man and therefore in contradiction with the Christian faith. I think he confuses a overall societal ethos with an individual one. It is indeed possible for athletes on the highest level to compete and practice their craft, their God given gifts, without being totally self-centered or oblivious to their societal responsibilities. Tim Tebow is a good example as he, before every game, has a child from the Make a Wish Foundation visit him and watch the game. he freely gives of himself just a few minutes before he is to play.
Another thought is in regards to one's approach to the sport. Many athletes succeed at their sport because they truly love the game. I suggest that without that love for the game itself, they would not be successful. So how does Brooks' moral ethos fit in there? A good example is golf. A long time ago I rrealized that for me to have any success in golf I had to forget who I was playing and what he was doing and focus on playing my game and the golf course. Yes, I became self-centered, but not to the detriment of others, but only so I could let my God given gifts express themselves to their fullest potential.
I agree with Mike Z that it is good that strong Christian men are in sports and are providing a positive role model for young sports ethusiasts. Sports in and of itself is not evil or bad, it is how one participates in it and uses it that can be the problem.
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