As the world around us conforms to modern values that go against the truth of Scripture, Christians are put in a difficult position. How do we remain firm in the values and truth we find in God’s Word and continue to engage with the culture around us that opposes these values?
For Christians working in sports, this challenge is all too familiar. More and more college and professional sports organizations are aligning themselves with secular values, which puts Christians working for these organizations in a difficult position. Do they conform to the team’s cultural values, or make the difficult stance to remain firm in biblical values?
In this blog, we will help you as a Christian sport industry professional to navigate the challenge of remaining firm to the truth of Christianity, despite the shifting values in culture, as well as helping you continue to be able to engage with culture despite your differences.
Who is Your Master?
The Bible speaks often of spiritual adultery. The book of Hosea is entirely focused on highlighting the adultery Israel had committed against God with idols. In our modern day, Christians are still able to commit spiritual adultery. James 4:4 warns of the dangers of spiritual adultery, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
James makes it very clear that we cannot please both the world and God. We cannot serve two masters. Spiritual adultery leads to enmity with God, and we must be careful to remain faithful to Christ above all else. So, how do we ensure that we do not engage in spiritual adultery amid the many shifting values within our culture?
Being Transformed
Paul’s letter to the Romans is filled with practical applications for us in the modern day. Christians living in Rome lived in a society that opposed Christian values and morality in some heinous ways, which is not unlike what believers are facing today. In Romans 12:2, Paul provides practical guidance to the believers living in Rome as to how they can remain faithful to Christian values and truth while living in an anti-Christian culture:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Paul’s guidance is founded on the first sentence of this verse: do not conform to the pattern of this world. This is the guiding principle that every Christian working in sports should follow. Similarly to the words from James, Paul makes it clear that the Christian must be careful to not conform to the pattern of this world.
But the question remains, how do we avoid friendship with the world and conforming to its values and patterns? Thankfully, Paul sheds light on this as he continues in Romans 12:2b, saying, “But be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
If we are to be able to deny conforming to the pattern of this world, especially as Christian sport industry professionals working for organizations that are pushing worldly values and ideologies, then we need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, which gives us the ability to clearly know what God’s will is.
One of the core ways that we can transform our minds, which is communicated throughout Scripture, is by reading and knowing Scripture. In God’s mercy, He has given us His Word as a compass that guides us to know His will and what He calls good. Paul writes in Colossians 3:16 that believers should allow the Word of God to “dwell in them richly.”
Furthermore, Psalm 119:11 states, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” The Psalmist and Paul both communicate a similar message: allow the Word of God to be stored up in your heart and mind so that your mind and actions can be transformed.
As Christian sport industry professionals desire to live in accordance with God’s Word amidst opposing values in the world, it is essential to have God’s Word stored up in their hearts and mind if they desire to be victorious in this pursuit.
Another core way that we can transform our minds is by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Scripture makes it very clear that believers are not changed by their own power but by God’s working of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those who receive Christ by faith.
Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” In this Scripture, we are reminded that the renewing of our minds is ultimately a work of the Holy Spirit, not a work of ourselves.
It certainly is important to acknowledge the difficulty of denying the temptation to conform to the patterns of this world. It is in our human nature to please the majority, which makes it difficult for us to stand firm in Christ. Thankfully, believers are given the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to stand firm, no matter how difficult it may feel.
Conclusion
As values in culture drift further and further from the truths and values outlined in Scripture, it is essential as a Christian working in sports to be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you will be able to determine God’s will in any and every situation.
This can be done through a continual reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit within you, as well as storing God’s Word in your heart so that you will be able to resist sin and walk in truth. We pray as a ministry that you will continue to engage with culture, but not compromise with its opposing values. Instead, stand firm in the truth while faithfully loving those around you who live in opposition to God’s eternal Word.
If you would like to learn more about Uncommon Sports Group, or get involved with our ministries, tap the link here!
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