Football & Faith

Topic: Discipline & Honor

Author: Tyler Francis (Donelson H.S.)

I have played football since I was six years old. This upcoming season will be will be my senior year of high school football where I play Tight End and Defensive End for the DCA Wildcats. I love football because of the brotherhood, the physical freedom, and intense contact the game offers. My favorite part of the game is the hitting, tackling, and the pursuit of scoring a touchdown. In addition to my love for football is my love for Christ. My faith has affected my view of football in many ways, but two ways stick out the most: discipline and honor/respect.

Discipline:

First, the game of football requires discipline mentally, physical, and emotionally. Physical discipline requires that I become and maintain my body in peak physical condition. This requires hard work, sacrifice, and intense training.

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself.” -1 Corinthians 6:19
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” -Hebrews 12:11

So on a practical level that means pain, hours of hard work and saying no to things I enjoy like soda. Mental discipline takes 100% focus throughout, so just as I study and memorize the plays for each game, I need to study and memorize God’s word. Emotional discipline means that I control my emotions on the field and live by Christ’s example and to place the teams’ needs prior to my own desires. One of my favorites verses is:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” -Luke 10:27

Honor & Respect:

Football has also taught me a lot about honor & respect. I’m called as a Christian to honor those leaders above me, which would include coaches and trainers. So on and off the field, I need to honor them in how I treat them and speak of them to others. Next, I am called to honor people around me, which would include teammates and the opposing team. Although this is not easy at times, I try my best to live out my faith in a pleasing way to God. Honor also comes through adversity & difficulties on the field, and it shows itself through good sportsmanship.

The Bible teaches us about honor & respect.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” -Romans 12:10
“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High; Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” -Psalms 50: 14-15

An example of this in a football game is when there is a dirty play made, tensions rise, and I chose to honor God by not retaliating.

On the football field and in my walk with the Lord, I must take the biblical principles that I have learned and apply them to my own situations. I hope this perspective on how God has used football in my life to practice my faith will be helpful to you in some way on your journey.

Put Your Faith in Action:

What areas of your life are lacking discipline? Set some goals & ask God to help you be more self-controlled & focused.
How can you show honor & respect on the sports field, classroom, & at home this week?