Should Christians Watch Sports?

Dr. Mohler answers this question from The Mailbox on the February 16, 2024 edition of The Briefing.

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[jasonz]

Watching/ attending is ok. Worshiping is not ok. And betting on sports is not ok!

[trevorcarson]

One of the things I struggle with is that sports have progressed so far and the demands have become so high to make it to the top that I'm not sure if it's possible for someone to become a professional athlete in the "big" sports anymore without that sport having been an idol in their life, sometimes from a very young age. Even 100 years ago, and certainly at the time of the New Testament, the elite athletes were people who had other jobs. Think about the early years of the NFL, NBA, MLB, etc. as compared to now. Back then they had a regular job and also played in the NFL. Now if you're not in travel football by age 8 you don't have a chance at making it in the NFL. So for some people, but certainly not all, the watching of sports is absolutely idolatry. I previously had a moderately unhealthy relationship with sports, not so much in the sheer amount of time I spent watching them but A) the things that I was neglecting in order TO watch them, and B) the anger I would feel when the wrong team won. By God's grace I have moved beyond those struggles but now my question is, is it really appropriate to watch/celebrate/enjoy sports being played by people who almost definitely idolized the sport in order to get where they are?

[warren-freshoffthevinemedia]

I played sports growing up. I coached and announced when my sons were in youth sports. My sons played baseball, football, soccer, track, swimming and even wrestling. Now my grandkids are playing soccer. None of us, however, care for professional sports at all, and we don't even care much for college sports. Professional sports is the pornography of athletics. If you love sports, get involved in your local youth league or an adult softball or pickleball club.

[Light]

Put God first in everything you do if sport make you put God second place just stopped if u addictive to something which mean you worshiping the creations not the creator so always put God first

[PhillyBoy]

Think about how passive sports has made us. We are addicted to sports and total spectators.

[kenbarber]

“To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.” Titus 1:15.

All of these, “should a Christian …?”, are nothing but legalistic self-righteous moralizing.

[elvinmah]

So definitely not. Sports, horror movies, money materialism, cars, family, phones is idols. Stay away from these and look only towards God

[Texasguy]

For most people, absolutely NOT. It becomes such a distraction to our lives and our devotion to God whether we’re mature enough to admit it or not. If we can watch it when we’re bored and caught up with our studies, work, etc….then sure, but the NFL is an obvious NO. It competes with the Lords day and keeps hundreds of millions of people away from God. Seriously. And I used to be obsessed with sports. Speaking from experience.

[impalaman]

I think what this guy is inferring by his question is just a sympton of what I have been saying for the last 20 years, and no one wants to hear it. And that is that the church has made Sports an acceptible idol. In the "so called" Bible Belt like Tejas, football is their god. Not the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for their sins. When people attend church with the jerseys of their favorite football team, to me, its just as much an abomination as someone walking into worship with an Iron Maiden t-shirt. Who are we really here to worship?

[dennissudjian]

SO YOU COMPLETELY AVOID THE VIOLENCE OF FOOTBALL, BOXING, UFC & MMA > 🤪
The LORD must have put you up to this! And you know how John MacArthur feels about Football. Have you ever wondered what zour Heavenly Father feels about violent sports? He is right there in you and with you! You do know that His name is JEALOUS < What does that tell you (SPORT) > 🤪

[rrickarr]

That people even ask such stupid questions and they need to ask a pastor is even more pathetic. Why can´t people think for themselves.