Comments on: Is Competition Godly? http://www.karipatterson.com/2008/06/03/is-competition-godly/ Kari Patterson Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:44:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: AS http://www.karipatterson.com/2008/06/03/is-competition-godly/comment-page-1/#comment-429 AS Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:42:40 +0000 http://www.karipatterson.com/?p=181#comment-429 Well, what is the point behind competition really? I think it's pride. Clearly the goal of any competition is to crown someone a "winner" or "champion", right? If you're truly competing, you're trying to beat others and achieve victory. When you are the "victor" you are superior. You have relegated everyone else to "inferior" status. If seeking to be superior over those around you is Godly, then I am missing that page in my Bible... So, to go back to your professor's initial point that competition is of the flesh, I agree. Specifically as it relates to sports, I think that participation in sports (specifically team sports) can help one develop many positive character traits and physical skills that they may not have developed without sports. But the point of participating in sports should be to enjoy the game, to make friends, and to have fun. If you end the season with a trophy in your hand, fine, but if not, it shouldn't be perceived as a negative thing. (By the way, this is NOT what our culture says -- our culture demands that if you compete, you compete to be the best -- this is how our culture "celebrates competition".) But if the only reason you participate in sports is to compete against others and be crowned the champion, then that might be considered a vain pursuit, and one that does not in and of itself bring any glory to God. So, to summarize, I think competition by definition is a matter of satisfying our pride, and therefore is not a Godly activity. But, some things that our culture commonly associates with competition -- sports in particular -- can probably have very positive elements that can be glorifying to God if the participant has the right mindset. Well, what is the point behind competition really? I think it’s pride. Clearly the goal of any competition is to crown someone a “winner” or “champion”, right? If you’re truly competing, you’re trying to beat others and achieve victory.
When you are the “victor” you are superior. You have relegated everyone else to “inferior” status. If seeking to be superior over those around you is Godly, then I am missing that page in my Bible…

So, to go back to your professor’s initial point that competition is of the flesh, I agree.

Specifically as it relates to sports, I think that participation in sports (specifically team sports) can help one develop many positive character traits and physical skills that they may not have developed without sports. But the point of participating in sports should be to enjoy the game, to make friends, and to have fun. If you end the season with a trophy in your hand, fine, but if not, it shouldn’t be perceived as a negative thing. (By the way, this is NOT what our culture says — our culture demands that if you compete, you compete to be the best — this is how our culture “celebrates competition”.)

But if the only reason you participate in sports is to compete against others and be crowned the champion, then that might be considered a vain pursuit, and one that does not in and of itself bring any glory to God.

So, to summarize, I think competition by definition is a matter of satisfying our pride, and therefore is not a Godly activity. But, some things that our culture commonly associates with competition — sports in particular — can probably have very positive elements that can be glorifying to God if the participant has the right mindset.

]]> By: Nikki http://www.karipatterson.com/2008/06/03/is-competition-godly/comment-page-1/#comment-427 Nikki Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:50:01 +0000 http://www.karipatterson.com/?p=181#comment-427 I think competition can be used to bring glory to God, as in the example that Megan mentioned but does that make it a godly characteristic? It seems like competition is more ambilivant, much a car is neither godly or ungodly, and can be used for good and to bring glory to God or for evil and self-serving purposed. Too often, I think, it's used for that latter because it appeals to man's pride. That's my two sense! I think competition can be used to bring glory to God, as in the example that Megan mentioned but does that make it a godly characteristic?
It seems like competition is more ambilivant, much a car is neither godly or ungodly, and can be used for good and to bring glory to God or for evil and self-serving purposed. Too often, I think, it’s used for that latter because it appeals to man’s pride.
That’s my two sense!

]]> By: Kari http://www.karipatterson.com/2008/06/03/is-competition-godly/comment-page-1/#comment-426 Kari Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:43:25 +0000 http://www.karipatterson.com/?p=181#comment-426 Good stuff Megs! THanks for really thinking about it. I agree with you. I think the key is the motive of the heart (which is never pure) but how we use competition. I haven't connected all the dots in my mind though, so I'm still thinking. I'd like to hear Dad's thoughts too. :-) Thanks for your input! Love you girl (and by the way, I LOVE your competitive edge...and I love watching you and Jeff dive for coins...:-) Good stuff Megs! THanks for really thinking about it. I agree with you. I think the key is the motive of the heart (which is never pure) but how we use competition. I haven’t connected all the dots in my mind though, so I’m still thinking. I’d like to hear Dad’s thoughts too. :-) Thanks for your input! Love you girl (and by the way, I LOVE your competitive edge…and I love watching you and Jeff dive for coins…:-)

]]> By: Megan http://www.karipatterson.com/2008/06/03/is-competition-godly/comment-page-1/#comment-425 Megan Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:58:55 +0000 http://www.karipatterson.com/?p=181#comment-425 So, I heard this on KLUV this morning on my way to school.. Last year's heisman trophy winner (I don't rememebr his name - ask Jeff) also does public speaking. Does he talk about football at these? Yeah, a little. But what he mainly talks about is his faith in Jesus Christ. This guy is welcomed into public schools to speak because he is the best at something, and he gets to talk about Jesus. Seems to me (as stated in previous post, nothing profound here), God gives some people gifts at things that are competitive. Like this guy's gift is football. God gave him the gift (plus some hard work), and he turns around and brings glory to God through the gift by talking in public schools about Jesus. I read that article linked...seems like in a perfect world competition would not be Godly (because there would not be a need for compeition to drive the market, to force businesses to offer high quality services and products, all people would choose to do the right things for the benfit of others, etc.) But this is not a perfect world. I would like to know Bill Zyp's thoughts on this subject. So, I heard this on KLUV this morning on my way to school..
Last year’s heisman trophy winner (I don’t rememebr his name – ask Jeff) also does public speaking. Does he talk about football at these? Yeah, a little. But what he mainly talks about is his faith in Jesus Christ. This guy is welcomed into public schools to speak because he is the best at something, and he gets to talk about Jesus.

Seems to me (as stated in previous post, nothing profound here), God gives some people gifts at things that are competitive. Like this guy’s gift is football. God gave him the gift (plus some hard work), and he turns around and brings glory to God through the gift by talking in public schools about Jesus.

I read that article linked…seems like in a perfect world competition would not be Godly (because there would not be a need for compeition to drive the market, to force businesses to offer high quality services and products, all people would choose to do the right things for the benfit of others, etc.) But this is not a perfect world.

I would like to know Bill Zyp’s thoughts on this subject.

]]> By: Megan http://www.karipatterson.com/2008/06/03/is-competition-godly/comment-page-1/#comment-424 Megan Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:45:25 +0000 http://www.karipatterson.com/?p=181#comment-424 If competition is not at all Godly, then I am S.O.L., therefore, I cannot believe that God cannot be glorified through competition (that is what they call "lawyerly reasoning"). I will think of a profound reason why and respond when it comes to me. If competition is not at all Godly, then I am S.O.L., therefore, I cannot believe that God cannot be glorified through competition (that is what they call “lawyerly reasoning”). I will think of a profound reason why and respond when it comes to me.

]]> By: Kris Zyp http://www.karipatterson.com/2008/06/03/is-competition-godly/comment-page-1/#comment-423 Kris Zyp Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:17:27 +0000 http://www.karipatterson.com/?p=181#comment-423 I don't know, but it seems unlikely that competition is completely lacking any redeemability with references like 1 cor 9:24 and rom 12:11. I don’t know, but it seems unlikely that competition is completely lacking any redeemability with references like 1 cor 9:24 and rom 12:11.

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