“Giving the best of yourself“ – a sport from a Christian perspective

Abstract

For many, it may seem strange to speak about sport from a Christian perspective. The question we may ask should be: Are you a Christian who plays sport, or are you a Christian in sport? In 2018, the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life published a new document, entitled “Giving the Best of Yourself“. This document gives a panoramic Christian vision of sport and the human person. As the same document says: “Giving one’s very best is a fundamental theme in sports, as athletes both individually and collectively strive to achieve their goals in the game. When a person gives his very best, he experiences satisfaction and the joy of accomplishment. The same is true in human life in general and in living out the Christian faith“ (Giving the best of yourself, Motives and purpose). This document attempts to better understand the relationship between giving our very best in sports and living the Christian faith in every aspect of our lives. The author explains here the various sections of the Document to show how sport and Christian life can be related.

Keywords

• Christianity
• Faith
• Sport
• Play
• Athlete