You’ve probably heard the saying – If you’re not Cheating, you’re not trying.  These days, that’s called sportsmanship.  There’s even an extension to that saying.  It’s now If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying – and if you get caught, you’re not trying hard enough. 

Sportsmanship

Parents are told they should get their kids into sports, because learning sportsmanship is a good thing.  Learning to play as part of a team is a good thing too.  So “they” say.  And the parents buy into it.  So their kids get into sports.  And the kids learn sportsmanship.  In most sports, they also learn to play as part of a team.  But at some point, someone must realize that often means they learn to cheat as a team.  And the lack of willingness to cheat means they either don’t care about the team – or they just aren’t trying hard enough.

I know.  It sounds bad.  But it is bad.  And I’m not saying it happens all the time.  But watching the hockey playoffs on TV this year shows just how bad it really is.  Football’s the same way.  So are baseball and basketball.  Same thing with auto and truck racing.  And probably ever other sport that exists.

So – what’s the problem?  I think a huge part is that we’ve lost the concepts of good and bad.  Their used to be good sportsmanship.  And the goal was to learn good sportsmanship.  But “good” is gone from the equation.  Without “good” – then there’s no “bad” either.  It’s just sportsmanship.  Oh – and winning.  So sportsmanship is doing whatever it takes to win.  Whatever.  At any cost.

But what’s the cost?  If you’re good at it – none.  If you’re not good enough at cheating – you get caught.  There’s a penalty of some sort.  If it’s bad enough, there’ll be e fine or suspension.  But what’s a few thousand dollars when someone’s making millions?  It’s no big deal.  Especially if there’s a championship at the end of the season.  Sportsmanship = If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.

The real cost

The relatively low cost doesn’t seem like a big deal to the professional athlete.  But then, those in the minor leagues or in college have to have the same idea of sportsmanship.  If not, they won’t be “good enough” to get into the majors.  But if college is the pathway to the big time, high school is the pathway to college.  So they need to have the same definition of sportsmanship.  Then the question becomes – which high school?  To get recruited (yes, recruited) to “the right” high schools, one has to be “good enough” in youth sports.  Once again, the definition of sportsmanship trickles down to another level.

And now – the parent who wants their kid to succeed in sports has, maybe unwittingly, put themselves in the position where they also need to share that saying –  If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.  And so the parent helps to teach the kid that cheating is not only OK – it’s a requirement – a “good” thing.  

Completing the circle, we now realize that the professional athlete, who the kids and even the parents looked up to, is also teaching by example that cheating is a “good” thing.  Because, If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.  And everyone who wants to succeed has to try really hard.

If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.  So what?

Well, we’ve already seen that “sportsmanship”, in and of itself, doesn’t really mean anything.  It’s only when the words good or bad are attached that it has meaning.  True meaning.  If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying – that’s bad sportsmanship.  It’s just plain wrong.  While it may lead to championships in youth sports, getting into the right high school and college, getting a lucrative professional sports career – and more championships along the way – it’s still wrong.

But the question lingers.  So what?  Much of society has little or no problem with the adage – If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.  It’s almost become a way of life, no matter what the game, career, relationship, Etc. that we’re talking about.  All of a sudden, there’s little, if anything, that can’t be done in the name of “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying”.

Again – so what?

If everyone does it – or at least anyone that matters to us – why shouldn’t we live by the same words?

Besides – what’s all this got to do with God anyway?

This topic is coming up because of today’s Verse of the Day from biblegateway.com.  

Eph 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

“Instead” – that means whatever came just before this means we should be speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  

Paul’s not talking about one game, one job, one championship, one anything.  No – he’s talking about all things.  Everything.  He talking about something that will impact every piece of our lives.  Truth be told, “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying” also impacts every area of our lives.  Trying to say it’s only about a game or a championship, as we saw – is a lie.  Eventually that thought becomes so ingrained that it touches everything.  Furthermore, it touches everyone who looks up to us a a role model.  And then those people also adopt that strategy for their lives as well.

Running a race – the New Testament

Athletic games were popular in Biblical times.  There are five instances in the New Testament where the authors make analogies to racing.  Five times when competing and even winning are mentioned.  Not about “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying” – but about running the race the “right” way.  Let’s look at a few of them.

Run for a reason

1Co 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

In athletic competitions, only one person / team wins.  Even second place is often referred to as the first loser.  But in the race Paul writes about here – everyone can win. 

And I don’t mean the participation trophy given to kids today – to teach “sportsmanship”.  In a world where “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying” has become a way of life for too many people, it’s odd that we try to convince kids it’s OK to not win – you get a trophy just for showing up.  And then we turn around and really celebrate the “winners”.  And let’s be honest – how many kids are being taught that cheating is trying hard all throughout that process?  Look around.  It’s too many. 

But Paul is talking about following Jesus.  Spending eternity in the Kingdom of God.  Something that’s available to all.  Not as a participation trophy – but as the ultimate and eternal victory.  Not a victory over another person or another team.  A victory over Satan and over evil. 

If you’re not a Christian – maybe you don’t care.  But I’m asking you to consider it.

If you are a Christian – and if you’re into sports, either directly or through your kids – I’m asking you to examine both kinds of races.  Look at the athletic competitions – and the race Paul wrote about.  Paul wrote, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.  But what about you?  What about your kids?  Are activities and the mentality of “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying” creating an environment where being disqualified for the eternal prize is a real possibility?

Watch out for false claims

Gal 5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.

This one is mostly for the people who are currently Christians.  Or at least who claim to be Christian.  It pretty much asks the question that I did from the previous passage.  When Paul writes about A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough, he’s talking about the person who comes in with the idea that “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying”.  One person on a team has the idea.  That one person convinces others that it’s OK.  Then that it’s essential.  All of a sudden, it’s the team philosophy.  Next thing anyone knows, someone who won’t live by that philosophy isn’t a team player. 

And then, in the name of being a team player in one area of life – becoming a team player in other areas just seems natural.  Then personal glory comes in.  If cheating for the team is good – then why not cheat for myself too?  After all, if I’m good – the team is better.

Too late – disqualification occurs.  All those Christian ideals and ways of life – they’re gone.  And so if the eternal life in the Kingdom of God.  Instead – the soul was sold to the devil.  And eternity will be with him.

Consider others

2Ti 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

and

Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

So let’s close the circle here.  In the first passage, we see the truth that in this “race” – all can win.  Not that all will win – but that all could have won.  The second passage keeps with the plural concept of more than one winner.  It also reminds us to keep our eyes “on the ball”, to use a baseball analogy.  The “ball” isn’t winning the game or the championship.  And while getting a big pro contract might enable us to buy everything we thought would bring happiness – you can’t take any of it with you.  This life is incredibly short.  And eternity is way longer than our capacity to even imagine.

Rather than fall into the trap of “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying”, 

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