FOUNDATIONAL THOUGHTS ON A CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY of PLAY, SPORTS, AND ATHLETICS

by Marvin A. Zuidema, P.E.D.
Professor Emeritus
Calvin College

I wish to commend those who have written on the subjects of play, sport, competition, and educational athletics.  On the Calvin campus the subject of a Christian approach to educational athletics has been highlighted by recent talks by Joe Ehrmann and Kathy DeBoer.  It is wonderful to see such dialogue!  The reaction statements and questions developed by Julie Walton and Brian Bolt in response to the Ehrmann talk were very thought provoking.  And for the most part, I surely endorse the tenets that were set forth.  I would urge all of you to reflect on the ideas presented by these writers and others who have taken the time to respond.

For those of us who have been trying to develop a Christian perspective on play and guidelines for Christian action in athletics, the way surely hasn’t been easy.  We were always encountering the social changes that have radically changed sport in America.  I believe that the rapid expansion of interscholastic and youth sport over the last twenty-five years has produced many practices that make sportive play a detriment to Christian living rather than an wonderful, integrative engagement for Christian living.  Then there is the matter of educational athletics.  Can education and athletics co-exist, or even more important, can and should competitive play be part of the co-curriculum or at least extended curriculum of schools?  I must state that I have had many challenges on some of my views on this subject.  Yet, interscholastic sport is alive and indeed thriving in most schools in America.  And the world of youth sport is now an almost bigger endeavor than school sportive ventures. (please click on READ MORE)...

1. I have read the book to which Dr. Zuidema refers in this blog.  To me, Dr. Zuidema, even in his retirement, continues to be one of the country’s leading spokesmen, philosophers and writers on the topic of a Christian perspective on athletics and physical education.  Additionally, it is not redundant to say that he is just such a leader on the topic of philosophy of Christian school athletics.  The core of thought needs to be the same, but my distinction here is one of location.  Exactly where are you as you face these questions?
   I have been a Christian school athletic director and coach for over 20 years and have wrestled with the questions he poses:

   Do you feel happy about your involvement in athletics?
   Can play in a competitive sport be celebration to honor God?
   Which view of competition best reflects your thinking?
   Which of the following Christian decisions do you have trouble living up to:  (a) playing fair even without an official or coach; (b) respecting officials; (c) loving your opponents; (d) winning without conceit; (e) losing without ill will; (f) playing intensely and joyfully; (g) thanking God for the gift of movement; (h) respecting self; (i) respecting teammates; (j) accepting responsibility; (k) working up to ability level; (m) respecting coaches; (n) listening to others even when views are different; (o) acting with confidence; (p) controlling emotions; (q) respecting spectators who don’t respect athletes on their support team or the co-competitor’s team; (r) accepting honor with humility; and (s) having fun playing.
   Do athletics cause you to serve yourself more than others?
   Do you need the best equipment to play your best?
   Do you truly believe that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made?”
   Is the search for an athletic scholarship a good or bad enterprise?
   Do you boo opponents or officials?
   Can you play on a “losing on the scoreboard” team and still be joyful?
   Do you evaluate coaches only by win/loss records?’
   Can you accept limited playing time and still be totally involved?
   Are athletics in your life a selfish passion or idol?  Or are they a celebration to honor God? 

   My reaction to this list is to say that I need to organize them into groups.
   What questions do I need to settle in my own heart as a child of God, who is serving Him any setting, whether as a fan, participant, coach or administrator of sport endeavors?
   What questions do I need to have my coaching staff comtemplate as I lead them as athletic director?
   What questions do I need to take to my principal, so that we have a united front and clear mission?
   What questions do I need to pose to the athletes I coach?  How do I teach that God’s sovereignty extends to our athletic and recreational lives?

   I do seek to include such thinking when I speak to my team, interview or orient coaches or represent our school.  Continuing to think these things out will hopefully earn me a good grade with my mentor and former professor, as well as with my Creator.

   Posted by Bob Topp  on  02/11  at  10:45 PM

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