Majority of our young people do participate in sports but in black communities it’s rare to come across grown up individuals who participate in sporting activities.
Our government of the day is busy encouraging every citizen to live a healthy lifestyle and the only way to achieve this is through sport and sporting activities.
History of sport
History always guides us whenever we need a deep understanding on any topic, here it shows that sport dates back to 3 000 years. We have researched and found that Greece introduced formal sports.
The first Olympic Games took place around 776 BC, and this shows us that the first Olympic Games took place more than 1 000 years ago.
Looking at the history of sport, wrestling is considered as the oldest sport in the world, history tells us that it started 15 000 years ago in France.
I have noticed that sports were invented by different people with an aim of bringing people together and fight against idleness, since we all know that sport can assist in uniting people from various backgrounds. Alexander Cartwright (1820-1892) of New York created a modern baseball field in 1845.
Football
Football started back in 1863 in England. Rugby and football branched off/split on their courses and the football association in England was formed, becoming the sports first governing body. American football started in 1879.
Rules were derived by Walter Camp who was a player and coach at Yale University. Looking at the Bible, which is the holy book, there are many sporting codes one may participate in.
To mention some of them: football, cricket, athletics, netball, kiddies games, aerobics/exercises, tug of war, fun run and fun walk, horse racing (Exodus 14:1ff and Jeremiah 51:21), javelin (I Kings 22:34) and boxing and kick boxing (Exodus 2:11-15).
I have mentioned these ones not because they are most important, but I am allowing others to identify more. All these games can play a big and crucial role in promoting healthy living amongst the inhabitants of our land.
Sometimes we get tempted to think that sports are all European traditions/principles but in my deliberations, I will show you that even Africans believed, still believe and are participating in sporting activities.
Sports on a theological perspective
Exegesis based on holy scriptures
• Training is a must if one wishes to win in any competition. I Corinthians 9:27.
• In every sporting code people are expected to play.
Zechariah 8:5-6.
• Playing can assist in fight against nervous tension/stress. Exodus 32:1-6.
• Playing any kind of games can assist as we encourage every citizen to live healthy. 1 Corn 9:24-26.
• In every game people get crowned if they compete lawfully. 2 Timothy 2:5
• Patient people are the ones who usually win the games (E.g. Bongumusa, Mthembu – Comrades Marathon champion) Hebrews 12:1.
• In every game it is good for participant to finish it. 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
• Every game has got start and finishing point/mark – Philippians 3:14.
Some of our African people enjoy hunting but they do it without realising that hunting is also a game which helps in making the body look healthy and fresh all the time. (Genesis 27:3-4 and Genesis 25:27-28).
NB: TAMCC do encourage all her members to participate in sport since we all know that sport can assist us to live healthy.
Doxology
1. Christ came so that we may have life and there is life in sports – John 10:10.
2. Let’s all take care of our bodies by participating in sporting activities, People who participate in sports they don’t get sick very easily. Ephesians 5:29.
3. Go in this thy might and thou shall save South Africans from obesity and other sicknesses. Judges 6:14.
Reverend Sonto Thusi
Bible Scholar and TAMCC Manager
