Christianity and sport

Abstract

Sport has often been regarded as irrelevant to Christianity, and most scholarship has not given it sufficient attention. The objective of this study is to explore the nexus between religion and sport and to examine how both contribute to social cohesion and community development. This study employs literary analysis by examining and interpreting the Bible, and relevant secondary Christian literature by interrogating how Christianity relates to sport to construct a biblical worldview for Christian adherents. The findings reveal that sport has consistently served as a major social driving force from antiquity to the present. Both Christians and non-Christians, young and old alike, are drawn to sporting events. Sport transcends social, cultural, political, economic, and even religious boundaries. Consequently, Christian communities should recognise and harness the opportunities latent in sport for fostering community cohesion, development, evangelism, and holistic renewal.
Contribution: The challenge for Christians is not to withdraw from sport but to engage with it wisely, using it as a space for virtue, witness, and celebration. The adventure of sport is not merely about completing races or winning trophies – it is about enduring with faith and focusing on the everlasting crown that will never fade (1 Pt 5:4).