Can Christians Play Professional Sports? 

Just make sure to not back down when they challenge your faith. Be willing to leave pro-sports if they ever challenge your beliefs and try to punish you. Never give in.

Yea same here man same shoes hence why I’m here 😂

You're welcome, TJ, glad you enjoyed it!

I'm glad the video was a blessing, Abiola. God will continue to lead you as you put your trust in Him!

@@sanderson5222 thank you and I know he will have a Beautiful day

Glad it was a blessing, Koa La!

Good question, Franco. Here are some things that may help you to know if God is calling you to play pro sports or not: 1. The call will be very clear. In other words, if God really has called you to play professional sports, you will KNOW it! Anytime God calls somebody to go into a place (especially as a career) that they should otherwise not go, God makes it very clear that that is what He wants them to do. So if that crystal-clear sense of calling to pro sports is missing, my opinion would be that God has not called you (or at least not yet-see the remaining five items below). 2. Make sure you’re doing the Christian basics: daily prayer and Bible study, doing His will to the best of your ability, listening each day for the voice of God speaking to you, etc. The Bible promises us in James 1:5 that, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” This wisdom is nearly always given to us through doing the daily basics of what it takes to hear God’s voice. 3. Ask three or four wise, respected Christian adults for their opinion on whether or not God has called you to professional sports. These Christian adults don’t necessarily have to be or have been athletes themselves. Ask them, listen to their opinions, and take them seriously. Ultimately, it’s you that will make the final decision, of course. But God often speaks to us through the wise, godly counsel of others. 4. If in good conscience you can do something else besides professional sports, don’t go into professional sports. This is closely related to #1. Over the last decade or so, I’ve come to know the personal stories of a few Christians that went into pro sports. Because of the reasons I mention in the video, they at first did not want to go into pro sports, and thus tried to get into other careers. But each time they tried those other careers, it was like they were hitting a brick wall: they felt tremendously uneasy, doors of opportunity closed regularly, etc. Finally, they gave into God’s leading, because they could not in good conscience do anything else but witness for God in pro sports. 5. Remember that just because someone has great physical skills in sports does not mean that they are called to a career in pro sports. Having the skill is definitely not, by itself, automatic evidence of a call from God. I played college basketball, did well, and got to play with some of the best athletes in the country. In those years of playing, I personally met no one that was called by God to play pro sports. But I did meet with many players who were Christians and excellent athletes who wisely decided NOT to play pro sports because of the reasons I mention in my video. So why would God give someone pro-level skill but not call them to play pro sports? Because: 6. Having excellent athletic skills does not mean you’re called to go pro-but it definitely means you can use those skills to build relationships for God outside of pro sports. This is so important! So many teens and young adults I’ve known over the years think, “I’ve got the skills, I must go pro!” This is unfortunate for at least two reasons. First, most of those students will never make it in the pros (translation: It’s a lot harder than it looks!). Second, athletic skill can be a great way to build relationships with other people for God’s glory. I do this all the time in my ministry with youth and young adults. I can reach students for Christ that other non-athletes can’t because we play sports together, we get to know each other, and I can thus share Christ with them. You can do the same! Hope this helps, Franco. May God bless you with His wisdom as you make your decision!

@@pastorshaneexplains7736 hey shane i really don't know what to do , i thought that i knew that wanted me to use rugby as a platform to spread his word, but im not going to lie after seeing you video im now very confused and im doubting his plan for my life , i took a look at the 5 points you illustrated for franco but im s prone to overthinking and letting other peoples ideas and opinions mess with my head that now i dont know what to do, like in your frist point to franco how do you know god is making it clear , is it a thing of the heart is it a message what is it, how did you know to be a pastor, i just over think and analyse everthing that i dont know if its from god of from me , please help

what did you decide on ? did god make it clear for you

These are stuff on Earth, not just sports, it’s about who you are

Thanks, you too!

Good questions! I would say that whether it's through Russell Wilson or any other Christian in pro sports, anytime a fan is genuinely drawn to God through an athlete's witness, that's a good thing. But remember: I'm not suggesting that Christians cannot ever play pro sports, or that pro athletes cannot ever witness effectively for God. I'm instead saying that is exceptionally difficult to be a witness for God in pro sports (for the reasons I mention in the video), and that Christians should therefore avoid pro sports unless they have a very specific and clear calling from God to do so. With regard to II Timothy 2:5, I'm not sure if you had a specific question about it or not. So I'll just share what I think you might be asking (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). I'm guessing you're asking if I think the Apostle Paul is here endorsing Christians playing pro sports. If that's your question, my answer would be...probably not. True, the fact that Paul uses the games of his era as an example for the Christian life does tell us that sports are not inherently evil, and that they instead can teach us valuable lessons if done correctly. But having said that, the sports structure of Paul's day was far less intense - and far smaller - when compared to the sports structure of today. Today, pro sports are a billion-dollar industry, with PR, training, and other scheduling demands on athletes that make Paul's day look primitive. Given the super strong temptations for pro athletes today to not follow God while in pro sports, it's my opinion that Paul, if he could have seen our day, would have counseled most Christians to stay away from pro sports, as well. Thanks for the questions!

@@pastorshaneexplains7736 pro sports is full of self righteousness and cheating. you have to think your better then the other players to be in sports which would be not denying your self like Jesus commands us to do.

@@jesusmylordsaviorking3726 Sadly, that is true in too many cases, and that again in part is why I think most Christians should not participate in pro sports.

You're welcome, David! Thanks for stopping by the channel.

Hi, Newman, you are asking the right question. I would suggest three things. First, take seriously what I mention in the video. Professional sports can definitely be exciting, but they also have some very real negative things about them - things that can cost a person their salvation. Be sure that you take those negative aspects seriously, and avoid thinking, "Well, those things would never happen to me." Second, trust God. I know that may sound obvious! But truly, give all of yourself to Him - including your future in sports. God will never take something away from you if it is best for you to keep it! He is too loving and too wise for that to happen. Instead, He will only take something away from you if it would be harmful to you. Lastly, I would recommend doing something that is hard for most of us to do: Be patient. If you put your trust in Christ each day, He will reveal His will to you, even if it takes some time to do so. If it His will that you go into professional sports as an ambassador for Him, He will make that clear. Or, if it is not His will, He will also make that clear to you, if you are patient and wait for His answer to you. May God continue to bless you, Newman, as you follow Him! - Pastor Shane

@@pastorshaneexplains7736 Thank You Pastor Shane, really appreciated. -Newman

Hi, Wezo 97, thanks for stopping by the channel. Your question is a good one - my apologies for taking so long to respond. I agree with your decision to not return to rugby; it seems clear that you're listening to God's will for your life, and that rugby is not part of His plan for you. Thanks for taking a stand for that! I have talked with other high-level athletes who have decided to quit their particular sport, and they've shared with me that it can definitely be challenging to find out what else God wants them to do. You might find one of my other videos helpful on how to find the right direction for you. It's at ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AnN6KAeanzc.html . Keep trusting in God and His Word. Take the next step you believe He wants you to take, and don't stop just because you can't see exactly where He's leading you, yet. Step by step, over time, I believe He will guide you to the right way to provide for your family and your future.

Thanks for asking, Justice. It's a good question, and one that comes up frequently. My answer would be that the weekly Sabbath is never mentioned in Romans 14. Some have understandably assumed that the weekly Sabbath was the "one day" mentioned in verse 5, particularly since the phrase "more sacred" appears right after it in many translations of the Bible. A sacred day, some have therefore concluded, must be referring to the seventh-day Sabbath, and therefore, it doesn't matter if we keep the Sabbath on the seventh day or not. But the original Greek actually does not contain the word "sacred" at all; it's incorrectly supplied by the translators. Moreover, the word for "Sabbath" never appears in Romans 14. Additionally, there are no food requirements--requirements which Paul discusses extensively in Roman 14--ever associated with the seventh-day Sabbath in scripture. Thus, it seems safe to say that the weekly Sabbath is not under discussion in this chapter. So if he's not speaking about the seventh-day Sabbath, what is Paul speaking of in verses 5 & 6? As hinted at earlier, the answer is found by reading the wider context. The context of these verses is the dietary/devotional practices of Jewish converts to Christianity. Some of these converts were choosing various days of the week to abstain from certain foods (such as meat--v. 6), seeing such practices as acts of devotion to God. Paul's counsel is that such practices are fine...unless one believer starts to condemn another believer who chooses to not fast or eat in the same way (v. 10). Then, such days can indeed become sources of trouble. To avoid this trouble, Paul says, "each one should be fully convinced in his own mind" (v. 5) and let others choose their devotional practices as they see fit. Hope that helps, and thanks again for the question!

Isn’t Saturday the day of the sabbath. It’s the 7th day of the week.

@@djjnh6141 Sunday is the sabbath day

@@emperorpalpatine9946 Sunday is the day of worship, but not the sabbath. The early Christians met on Sunday but rested on the Sabbath which starts Friday sunset and ends Saturday sunset. Somehow the sabbath is not talked about much in modern times and most people don’t keep it even though it’s a commandment.

@@djjnh6141 the week starts Monday day 1 and the week ends Sunday day seven, God rested on the 7th day which is Sunday

Hi, Ramen Studios1051, good question, and somehow I missed it when you posted it months ago - sorry about that. Newman (he posted about the same time that you did) asked a very similar question, and this is what I shared with him : "Hi, Newman, you are asking the right question. I would suggest three things. First, take seriously what I mention in the video. Professional sports can definitely be exciting, but they also have some very real negative things about them - things that can cost a person their salvation. Be sure that you take those negative aspects seriously, and avoid thinking, 'Well, those things would never happen to me.' Second, trust God. I know that may sound obvious! But truly, give all of yourself to Him - including your future in sports. God will never take something away from you if it is best for you to keep it! He is too loving and too wise for that to happen. Instead, He will only take something away from you if it would be harmful to you. Lastly, I would recommend doing something that is hard for most of us to do: Be patient. If you put your trust in Christ each day, He will reveal His will to you, even if it takes some time to do so. If it His will that you go into professional sports as an ambassador for Him, He will make that clear. Or, if it is not His will, He will also make that clear to you, if you are patient and wait for His answer to you. May God continue to bless you as you follow Him!" Hope that's helpful, Ramen Studios1051.

Hi, Noel, no worries, thanks for the question - my apologies for the delayed response. The short answer is, possibly so. What did you have in mind? You can contact me at nmchurch@shentel.net.

Amen!

Yes you can read the Bible and pray. But if you are consistently engaging in the practices which the Bible warns against, then you are not being a true Christian. Anytime you find yourself developing emotional attachments to people who you don’t know personally or who are not in your circle, then idolatry is taking place. This can happen with anybody or anything you see on tv. This can happen with political leaders. This can even happen with those preaching the messages of the Bible.

Amen

Hi, Ashari, I'm sorry you're feeling upset. I would like to be of help to you. Could we talk about this outside of RU-vid? My office email is nmchurch@shentel.net if you want to contact me. I know that it can be disappointing when God says "no" to something that we really want. But the truth is that God never takes something away from us that it would be better for us to keep. He is too wise and loving for that! God can take the other skills that you have and use them to do great things for His glory - and the adventure you'll go on along the way will be better than anything else the world can offer. Don't give in to the devil's lie that says you have no good options for your future! Jesus' death on the cross proved once and for all that you are deeply loved by God; He has plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. I will be praying for you during this difficult time. And again, my office email is there, if you wish.

Hi, Braylon, good question, and sorry to be so late with a reply. (A couple of people have been asking about this, and I'm assuming you and they are referring to the NFL. In other words, you're not asking about variations like flag football - if I'm wrong about that, let me know.) Strictly as a game, there's no doubt that much of the time, the sport is great exercise for the players. Few sports involve the whole body more intensely than football! The combination of strength, agility, and endless strategic possibilities can also make the game fun to play and to watch. But that said, the downsides to the NFL are pretty strong. For instance, NFL players have dramatically shorter lifespans than the general public and those that play other professional sports (if you want, you can check out a study done on this at www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/05/former-football-pros-die-faster-rate-baseball-veterans-and-reasons-are-surprising). One of the major reasons NFL players die so young is neurodegenerative disease. In other words, NFL players generally get hit in the head - and hit hard and repeatedly - leading eventually to an early death later in life. True, the NFL has been making rule changes, etc., to try to cut down on the risk of long-term injury. But I think it’s pretty difficult to play any form of tackle football with some of the largest, fastest professional athletes in the world running full speed into each other and NOT have a lot of head injuries. To my way of thinking, this places the NFL on the same level sometimes as pro boxing in terms of its destructiveness. No sport is worth dying for. The other weaknesses I point out in the video also apply to the NFL. Hope that helps! Thanks for the question, Braylon, I appreciate it. - Pastor Shane

Good question, Anthony. I believe the answer is...maybe, but probably not. The truth is that playing on Sabbath is a requirement for nearly every professional sport that's out there. It's one of the two days that fans are most likely to show up for a game, and team owners know that if they're going to make $$$, Saturday is one of the biggest days to do it on. So in addition to the negative parts of playing professional sports that I mention in the video, the odds of finding a pro sports team that would allow one of its players to not play on Sabbath - particularly in a playoff or championship situation - are extremely low.

@@pastorshaneexplains7736 So is playing on the sabbath a sin?

​@@nathanandjaydensyoutube8123 Excellent question! People have debated for thousands of years what's right and wrong to do on the Sabbath day. But generally speaking, it's actually pretty simple. The Sabbath is God's special gift to every human being, and is a day to spend with Him, getting to know Him better, learning to hear His voice in our lives better, etc. According to the Bible, the Sabbath day starts Friday at sundown and ends on Saturday at sundown. The fourth commandment is the commandment that tells us much about how to keep the Sabbath day holy (you can find the fourth commandment in Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15). More information about Sabbath keeping can also be found in places like Ezekiel 20:12 & 20, Matthew 12:9-12, Luke 4:16-21, Acts 13:14, 15, 42-44, etc. The basic idea these Bible verses give is this: If an activity helps to remind us that God is our Creator, Redeemer, and the One that grows us to become like Him, then that activity is okay to do on the Sabbath. This is why normal work is not to be done on Sabbath: It's not that work itself is evil, it's just that it tends to distract us from the purposes of the Sabbath if we do it on that day. And what about sports on Sabbath? Simple things like throwing a football or baseball or frisbee back and forth to play catch is probably fine for most situations, especially if it's done outside, surrounded by the amazing natural world that God made. But I'd definitely stay away from playing any actual sports games - as in, where you keep score, or go to the gym/court/field and organize teams, etc. Again, it's not because playing a sports game is evil all by itself. But it's because playing sports games on Sabbath inevitably distracts from the purposes of the Sabbath. Athletes, particularly gifted ones, can too easily focus on the game, strategy, etc., and forget what the Sabbath day is actually supposed to be about: being with Jesus. Hope that helps, and thanks again for the question.

@@pastorshaneexplains7736 So technically no christian can be pro in any sports according to what you said?

@@nathanandjaydensyoutube8123 As I said in the video, I think some Christians may be specifically called by God to minister for Him in pro sports. But because of the spiritually toxic environment that often is found in pro sports, those callings will be, in my opinion, incredibly rare.

You and me both I want to play basketball professionally and I am just starting to taking god seriously but I don’t know what to do know

@@redjacksongaming9952 Same

@@zenoZ5, my reply to Newman (see above) may be helpful to you, as he asked a similar question. Here's what I said to Him: "Hi, Newman, you are asking the right question. I would suggest three things. First, take seriously what I mention in the video. Professional sports can definitely be exciting, but they also have some very real negative things about them - things that can cost a person their salvation. Be sure that you take those negative aspects seriously, and avoid thinking, "Well, those things would never happen to me." Second, trust God. I know that may sound obvious! But truly, give all of yourself to Him - including your future in sports. God will never take something away from you if it is best for you to keep it! He is too loving and too wise for that to happen. Instead, He will only take something away from you if it would be harmful to you. Lastly, I would recommend doing something that is hard for most of us to do: Be patient. If you put your trust in Christ each day, He will reveal His will to you, even if it takes some time to do so. If it His will that you go into professional sports as an ambassador for Him, He will make that clear. Or, if it is not His will, He will also make that clear to you, if you are patient and wait for His answer to you. May God continue to bless you, Newman, as you follow Him! - Pastor Shane"

@@redjacksongaming9952 My reply to Newman (see above) may be helpful to you, as he asked a similar question. Here's what I said to Him: "Hi, Newman, you are asking the right question. I would suggest three things. First, take seriously what I mention in the video. Professional sports can definitely be exciting, but they also have some very real negative things about them - things that can cost a person their salvation. Be sure that you take those negative aspects seriously, and avoid thinking, "Well, those things would never happen to me." Second, trust God. I know that may sound obvious! But truly, give all of yourself to Him - including your future in sports. God will never take something away from you if it is best for you to keep it! He is too loving and too wise for that to happen. Instead, He will only take something away from you if it would be harmful to you. Lastly, I would recommend doing something that is hard for most of us to do: Be patient. If you put your trust in Christ each day, He will reveal His will to you, even if it takes some time to do so. If it His will that you go into professional sports as an ambassador for Him, He will make that clear. Or, if it is not His will, He will also make that clear to you, if you are patient and wait for His answer to you. May God continue to bless you, Newman, as you follow Him! - Pastor Shane"

Good question, saved.bylove. In my opinion, inappropriate clothing has sadly been part of the dark side of some types of pro sports (and other levels of sport, too) for a long time. But for Christians, if they take Jesus and the Bible seriously, they will not dress in a way that reveals too much or that distracts from the glory of God - and that includes when they are playing sports. However, that said, this doesn't by itself mean that a Christian female should not play volleyball. She instead might play volleyball, while choosing to wear appropriate clothing during the games she plays (as the Norwegian handball team and other female teams attempted to do this year).

Hi, Ian, thanks for stopping by the channel and taking the time to comment. I’m unclear as to what your objection to Seventh-day Adventism is, though. What covenant do you believe we are trying to bring others into “bondage” to? The texts you quote do not make your objection clear. That said, my guess is that you believe we think the Ten Commandments, including the fourth which commands the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath, are still valid, and that our honoring of those commands is the “old covenant” that you believe was done away with at the cross. If that is indeed your objection, then here is my response: “The law of commandments expressed in ordinances” in Ephesians 2:15 does not refer to the Ten Commandments, but rather specifically to the commandments expressed in “ordinances.” That word “ordinances” is key: It refers to ceremonies, specifically, the ceremonial laws associated with the Old Testament sanctuary/sacrificial system. It was these laws-not the Ten Commandment law, which was given separately-that was “abolished” at the cross. Or more accurately, Christ, the One and True Lamb of God, fulfilled the ceremonial laws as the Final Sacrifice. The Seventh-day Adventist Church does not keep the ceremonial law. (For a more detailed explanation of the texts you mentioned, see my presentation at ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-slGhCSYDETY.html ). However, the Seventh-day Adventist Church does believe that the Ten Commandments are still valid. There is no indication in the Bible that the Ten Commandments in general or the seventh-day Sabbath have been done away with-no indication whatsoever. Thus, they are still very much in effect, and all Christians are called to honor them in their lives. But notice carefully: The Seventh-day Adventist Church does NOT believe that a person is saved by keeping any or all of the commandments! We are instead saved by the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross; we are saved by grace, NOT by our obedience (Ephesians 2:8 & 9). And then comes the best part: Once we are saved, we are at last given the power of the cross to follow and obey God! What a gift! God’s commands, including His Sabbath command, are all given for our good, not for our destruction or to be a burden! And once we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Master, we now have His power and strength to live the life that He always dreamed we could live: a life of power, integrity, goodness, grace, strength, dignity, honor, and respect-in essence, a life of obedience to the love and law of Jesus Christ. The law of God, which used to condemn us, now becomes candy for the soul. To put it another way, we don’t obey God’s laws to BE saved, but because we HAVE ALREADY BEEN saved. Good works don’t MAKE someone a Christian; they instead show that they ARE a Christian. This is the transformation that the Bible speaks of so frequently, the transformation from darkness to light! We are saved by grace and not by obedience to the law, specifically that we might then “do good works” (Ephesians 2:10)! And why? Because it is in doing good works and obeying God’s will in our lives that we can at last come to know Him deeply, intimately (see John 17:30, and Matthew 7:21-23, 25:12). Obeying God is not legalism; it is not the “Old Covenant.” It is instead simply the Kingdom way of life, the life lived in and through Jesus Christ, by which we come to know Him better and better. May God continue to bless you, Ian, as you seek to follow Him!

No worries at all, and I'm definitely not mad at you. :-) Thanks for posting the comment! In answer to your thoughts, I don't have any direct personal experience with the Special Olympics. But based on what I do know, it seems to me that the Special Olympics are different than most professional sports and do not have the same negative aspects that pro sports do. Instead, the Special Olympics seem to be a good way for people with physical and other challenges to participate and compete publicly while making new friends, learning new skills, and inspiring thousands of others to be the best they can be. So I would not put the Special Olympics in the same category as professional sports. Thanks again for posting, I appreciate it!

@@pastorshaneexplains7736 your welcome pastor Shane explains

Good question, Rick. A lot could be said about boxing, but I'll try to keep it brief. There are some athletes that use boxing purely as part of their workout routine. They have a sparring partner at a gym, always wear protective gear, and generally don't swing for each other's heads. They go several rounds a couple of times a week to stay in shape, but they don't box in matches or for crowds. I think this type of boxing is most likely okay under most conditions. However, match boxing (both professional and amateur) is a very different thing. To be blunt, it's too often a brutal sport that brings out the worst instincts in both the boxers and the fans watching. The ultimate "accomplishment" in many boxing matches is to knock your opponent out. The physiology behind a knockout is literally crushing. Brain damage - and with it, a lifetime of often very serious problems - is the result for too many boxers. We only get one brain, and when it's damaged, it rarely returns to what it was before. At the pro level in particular, match boxing (and, by the way, UFC, as well) is a blood sport that encourages boxers and fans to permanently damage their opponents - and as a Christian, it's hard for me to imagine Jesus being in favor of that. So I am definitely opposed to match boxing. Let me know if you have any other questions, and thanks for visiting the channel.

Iam boxing seriously an ambitious for quite some time. But for some reason since a couple days I almost come home crying after boxing. Its like god wanting me to quit so bad I packed all my sport gear and have it ready to throw in the trash This is very rough its is my biggest earthly passion after that goalkeeping in soccer But it keeps me away from god

Mike 4457 If God gave you that conviction, kudos to you. Draw near to God my bro.

@@thenameofthegame4037 Well said, could you imagine Jesus going to church with you or him seeing you fight another brother with a crowd cheering on to have brutal swings to one another. It will be hard, but the glory for eternal life will be better than any few-second glory ever.

@@pastorshaneexplains7736 Hey I am a promising boxer and my game plan is not too knock out the opponent butt to hit and move, you know like box him. I never have anger in the ring I play with respect and I pray for my opponent. If I do start to pick up the pace it is because I am behind on points butt if I hurt someone I don't intend to and after the match I always show alot of respect. It really helps me controll my anger aswell is it ok