The Truth About Sports and Competition

I found this on a forum and wanted to share the information with you. I hope you are enlightened and can apply it to your life as is pleasing to YHVH.

First, since it is important for many people that someone sharing on a subject matter has some form of credibility, I played 4 years of college football and also wrestled for part of a season in college.

As true Scripture Believers, I think it is very important that we always first turn to Scripture when we have a question about anything. So, where is the subject of sports in the Scriptures? The subject does not exist in a normal “canonized” Scriptures. The only wording even near this subject is when Paul said in 1Cor 9:24 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” Remember, Paul’s mission field was pagan Gentiles which means he often had to speak their “language” in order to bring understanding. Did sports exist in Biblical times? Yes, absolutely. I do not consider the books of the Maccabees to necessarily be the inspired Word of Yah, but they are accurate in historical content. We must remember, the Scripture’s books were canonized by sinful men. Anyone can find most of the content of the books of the Maccabees in any encyclopedia.

A quick background on Maccabees… Alexander the Great and the Greek people of his kingdom invaded Jerusalem and conquered the Israelites during his reign. After his death, Antiochus IV Epiphanes eventually took over as king and is known for the destruction of the Temple and a fulfilling shadow picture of the Abomination of Desolation mentioned in Daniel 11 & 12 and Matt 24. Antiochus slaughtered a pig on the alter and erected a statue of Zeus/Jupiter and removed the face of the statue and put his face on instead. Remember… throughout the entire Scriptures, we are commanded NOT to do what the pagans do. Here are the verses concerning what happened in these days:

1Mac 1:10-15 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been a hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.   In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow. So this device pleased them well.  Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them license to do after the ordinances of the heathen: Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen: And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief. (this is where sports began)

2Mac 4:9 Beside this, he promised to assign an hundred and fifty more, if he might have license to set him up a place for exercise, and for the training up of youth in the fashions of the heathen, and to write them of Jerusalem by the name of Antiochians. (do I need to explain what they were doing with the young boys in the exercise center?)

2Mac 4:12-14 For he built gladly a place of exercise under the tower itself, and brought the chief young men under his subjection, and made them wear a hat. Now such was the height of Greek fashions, and increase of heathenish manners, through the exceeding profaneness of Jason, that ungodly wretch, and no high priest; That the priests had no courage to serve any more at the altar, but despising the temple, and neglecting the sacrifices, hastened to be partakers of the unlawful allowance in the place of exercise, after the game of Discus called them forth;

So, the root of sports as we know them today, began with the ancient pagan Greeks and their Olympic Games. The first Olympics were done completely in the nude. Prostitution at the games was rampant. The only people who were not allowed to compete or view the games were married women.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/08/0809_040809_nakedolympics.html

Shall we dig deeper? Anyone who understands spiritual warfare knows we must get to the root of the issue before there can be breakthrough. Paul said in Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Through these wicked spirits, the devil offers deceiving counterfeits to everything that is righteous from above and in Torah. So, what is the main spirit that sports operates in? (hint: see page title) Yes, competition. Is there evidence of competition in the Scriptures? Yes, absolutely. Competition started in the heavens when Satan wanted the worship to be directed toward him. He was able to feed this spirit of competition to 1/3 of the angels and they were kicked out of heaven and lost all chance of receiving mercy from Yah. Continuing in this sinful delusion, Satan spread this competition in the Garden of Eden when he told Adam & Eve they would become like Yah if they eat of the forbidden Tree. The spirit of competition continued in Cain & Abel, Jacob & Esau, etc. There is NO SUCH THING as good competition!!! I believe the root of competition to be the spirit of Pride which was the first sin committed in heaven by Satan.

If you are receiving these truths, you will quickly understand how sports and competition keeps us from walking in the fullness of Yah’s plans for us. “Soccer Moms” are mothers of Babylon. Professional sports is all about idolatry and exalting self and the love of money. Many sporting events are scheduled on the Sabbath. These counterfeit substitutions keep us from spending time studying and teaching Torah as we are instructed to do every single day. Competition breeds strife and pride. So, the next time you want to “watch the game” or even “play a game” (board games, cards, chess, video games, etc), perhaps you should study Scripture instead.

- Michael

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