Again, I am answering (in blog form, for they deserve so much more!) the questions: Why and how should a Christian pursue athletic greatness? Or how can I justify my drive to become the best athlete I can be?

Yesterday I started on point three: A Christian can joyfully pursue athletic greatness because such a pursuit can and should serve others. I said that 1) By pursuing athletic greatness, God is blessing and you are serving those you compete with and against.

Today I move on to my second assertion.

2) By pursuing athletic greatness, God is blessing and you are serving the community in which you compete.

Though this point is probably rarely reflected upon, I think it should actually be quite obvious to all, Christian or not. For as I sit here and think about this point, I can’t help but ask: what would Penn State (my alma mater) be like without their storied football program? Where would the consistent connection be for the thousands of alumni who gather together in various venues to watch PSU football and who purchase football jerseys or other PSU gear for themselves and their kids? If it wasn’t football, what would be the thing that unifies this incredibly diverse group of people – alumni, students, faculty, and everyone else?

We might find something else, but I don’t think we would find anything else more powerful (unless it was another sport, but even then, it is tough to top the numbers and reach of football). Indeed, the fact that every University in America would welcome a great football program is evidence of this. Whether Athletic Directors or College Presidents realize it or not, nothing can top the power of sports to unify a diverse group of people.

The story behind the movie, Invictus, is even better evidence of this. Nelson Mandela apparently understood the power of sport to unify and capitalized on it with the providential success of the South African Rugby team. Somehow many historical class and race struggles melted away (not perfectly, but at least at a greater rate) as the South African people joined their new President to cheer on the Springboks as they won the Rugby World Cup. Whether you have seen the movie or not, get the book (Playing the Enemy by John Carlin) It is such a powerful story (and a thousand times better than the movie I might add) and a wonderful picture of the goodness of sport.

All that being said, we know that usually, only successful teams carry this power of unification. A losing team usually does not serve the community nearly as well. After all, the only unity that results from losing is the one where the community unites to call for the firing of the Head Coach! And naturally, that isn’t the unity we are pursuing. Excellence is obviously a big key. Penn State football doesn’t serve to unify the university community and many other surrounding communities simply because it is there, but because the team is historically good. So also the South African rugby team didn’t serve to unify the country simply by competing, but by winning. Sure, the support may still be there (at times and in some respects), but athletic excellence is the key.

This point is particularly close to my heart. For from High School on up, my most enjoyable experiences as a competitor have been the ones where I instinctively understood that I was playing not simply for myself and my team, but for the blessing of a community. You play not simply to play, but to unify. For you go out on the court with the corporate name of the community on your chest. You seek greatness not simply for yourself, but for the joy of everyone involved. Your pursuit of athletic excellence is a service. God is at work through you, bringing blessing and pleasure to others through your athletic excellence.

When rightfully understood and embraced, I am convinced that there are few greater joys. Indeed, I believe that when everyone involved (fans, coaches, players, etc.) understands all of this, the joy of the entire community cannot help but increase. For when I as a competitor or coach really believe that my job is to serve others by pursuing greatness, I can do so with a much greater purity and zeal. And when the community at large knows that I am pursuing greatness for their good as well as my own, a sweet unity cannot help but evolve, provided of course that I can actually serve them by performing well.

Communities instinctively hate the player or coach that is clearly seeking greatness for his own glorification or career advancement. Why? Because he is serving only himself. He is not seeking the biblical ideal of Shalom-the peace, prosperity and well-being of everyone involved- but instead, disrupting it. His pursuit of excellence is a sinful pursuit as it centers only upon himself. Rather than unity, he brings discord. He inspires only a sinful response. Sports communities are right to run such a man out of town. Service is the key. God works best through (and usually blesses most) the pursuit of excellence that seeks to serve.

Can you imagine if just one community – from the coaches and players and ball boys to the people in the top row – understood and embraced the biblical ideals I have set forth in my first three points? Excellence, service, unity and joy to the glory of God? It would be a sports’ heaven. Or at least a taste of the real Heaven to come. But that is for point number four. And point number four is for tomorrow. All I can say now is that whether you are an athlete or not, I hope you see that the pursuit of athletic excellence doesn’t have to compete with love for others and the glory of God. Instead, let those two truths kiss! Seek to honor the Lord and serve others by becoming the best you can be.