Does God hate the way you play?

We live in a society today where people view God as a loving God. This is true. In fact, He is such a loving God that He sent His Son Jesus down to earth to act as a substitutionary atonement on our behalf because of our sin. However, too often we overlook the fact that the God of the Bible is also a God of wrath. It is very simple: God hates sin and He must punish it. Romans 12:9, says “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

Does God hate the way you play? If your time in athletics is a sinful time, then the answer is yes. For example, are you playing for your own glory instead of His? God cannot and will not have anything to do with sin. If you compete sinfully, you are giving God an unholy sacrifice. (Malachi 1:6-14)

The bad news is that every single athlete at times competes in a way that God hates due to our sinful nature. However, when we allow Jesus to act as our substitutionary atonement and we allow the Holy Spirit to compete through us, then we immediately have a pleasing sacrifice to our Lord because He sees the righteousness of Christ rather than our sinful play. (For more information on how to allow the Holy Spirit to compete through you, this is a great resource)

Will you allow Christ to compete through you? If so, the only requirement is repentance. You must turn from your sin, become God’s slave and understand the wrath that Christ absorbed in your place on the cross for your sin. Remember, “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

Brian Conklin
Omaha-Metro FCA