Jeff Adams

I’ve been watching the Olympics and staying up way too late without getting much done to show for it. I hurt with those who come up short and cry with joy for those who triumph. I don’t know why it is, but I just get all caught up in this stuff. I don’t, however, want to get carried away.

Most of us have enough fantasy to aspire to having a gold medal hung around our neck. I suppose there’s nothing wrong with that anymore than the many little boys who want to be like Michael Jordan (or now maybe Michael Phelps).

If we’re not careful, though, I think there is a danger of getting a bit out of control and even using the Bible to justify our selfish desires. Paul used several athletic images in his writings to encourage us to run to obtain the prize, to press toward the mark and other such references. Hebrews tells us to run the race with patience (pacing). Does this mean that we can pray for our team to beat the other team, or as individuals to triumph over others? If I am the chaplain for a football team, can I use these verses to encourage my team to go out and win the championship? Does God take sides?

I don’t think Paul had any of these thoughts about being champions in mind when he wrote these words, and the context bears this out. I was thinking of this self-centered use of scriptural athletic imagery just this morning as I read through Romans 8. You know the verse.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37

Much has been written, said and preached based on this verse, often including illusions to winning and conquering over others. Consider the following observations.

The context of Romans 8 is directed to all believers, not to any one in particular, not even the one who prays the hardest or claims to be the most spiritually-minded. Paul is not advocating competition among believers or our team against another. He is simply saying that every one of us can overcome life’s obstacles and opposition, not that we can win every competition, game, argument or dispute. In the biblical context sometimes being more than a conqueror is overcoming great loss!

Then, notice something else important in this passage from Romans. Look at the verses that follow and conclude the chapter.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

How do we overcome? How are we more than conquerors? According to verse 37 it is through him that loved us. Here in these final verses, the emphasis is not the security of our salvation or eternal life, but rather that nothing or no one can ever separate us from God’s love. This is an amazing promise and guarantee of God’s unconditional love.

Here’s another passage often used to fuel our carnal desire.

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1Corinthians 9:24-27

On the surface this would appear to encourage us to win the prize over others. No such thing. Paul is simply using a comparison and reminding his readers that in games such as the Olympics, there can be only one gold medal winner. To get that gold, the athlete has necessarily exercised great disciple, sacrifice and hard work. In real life, since we are aiming for an eternal prize, we should be no less diligent and disciplined. Few notice that Paul is using plural pronouns. He is not telling the individual to strive to win the one prize over others; he is saying that as followers of Jesus Christ we can all be winner of that eternal prize! This is the same thought I posted a few days ago here about going for the gold.