Pros

update

9 Feb 06

Idolatry

Alan Mullery tells the story of taking his son to see Fulham (one of his former clubs) play. Suddenly his son spotted a piece of graffiti on a wall, “Mullery is God”. ‘Look dad’, he said. Alan replied, ‘Yeah, but you don’t believe it do you?’

Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Romans 1:22,23

Even though God had revealed himself clearly in creation, Paul says, humanity rejected God and instead worshipped idols – images of birds and animals. Well, we might think that is one sin we are not guilty of as I can’t think of anyone in our society who worships a stone monkey.

OK but what about the graffiti or all the Manchester United fans in the Cantona era with shirts which said, “7 God” on the back? Idolatry is anything that takes the place of God.

Or how do you take your sport from idolatry to worship? As we as Christian players (coaches, physios, administrators) recognize that our ability to play sport is a gift from God, we will more and more want to use those talents to please him – simply because of who he is, the creator and Lord of the universe and the God who loves so much. We will want to offer our talents and abilities as an act of worship.

If we play sport for his glory, it’s worship. If we don't, it's idolatry.

Graham and Stuart



 

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