Created to Play: Thoughts on Play, Sport, and the Christian Life

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sports section <strong>to</strong> discover yesterday’s results. While the clear resolution sport offers is part of its draw, ironically, interest in play and sport rests largely on the uncertainty of the final outcome. We lose interest in games if the outcome is assured before the game starts. This is why parity in sports leagues is vital <strong>to</strong> maintaining interest. There must be a good measure of uncertainty as <strong>to</strong> what will transpire and what the end result will be. The more tension created by this uncertainty, the more engaged we become with the game. This creative spontaneous uncertainty is central <strong>to</strong> the definition of play and at the heart of the intrigue of sport. I believe this mirrors the tension at the heart of the drama of human his<strong>to</strong>ry. The spontaneous uncertainty inherent in play with an eventual ending reflects the unfolding s<strong>to</strong>ry of our lives. Like games, our lives are filled with smaller uncertainties which lead <strong>to</strong> one final result also fraught with uncertainty. <strong>Play</strong> can equip a person <strong>to</strong> deal with uncertainties on the way <strong>to</strong> the conclusion. For a Christian, the promised good conclusion <strong>to</strong> the difficulty of life in a fallen world brings a deep enjoyment of play as is dramatizes a life that ends well. The Hope of The Cross God’s redeeming power that evokes play and laughter from believers is seen most powerfully in the “folly” of the redemptive work of Christ (1 Cor 1-2). The juxtaposing ironies in his life are many; the glorious Crea<strong>to</strong>r becomes a baby; the Crea<strong>to</strong>r of all that is beautiful has nothing in his appearance <strong>to</strong> attract us <strong>to</strong> him; the Source of all joy becomes the Man of Sorrows; the cursed and crucified Holy One sustaining the universe as he rides a donkey <strong>to</strong> his triumphal entry and who will return as a wrathful--Lamb. His life conjures images of Don Quixote chasing windmills and dreaming the impossible dream, except Jesus doesn’t die at the end--and all our hopes and dreams come true in Him. The gospel leads <strong>to</strong> play, for it expresses our ability <strong>to</strong> transcend the brokenness of our world. We momentarily see the human predicament as not only daunting but fixable. We should never get used <strong>to</strong> the relentless difficulty of our cursed cosmos. “The creation was subjected <strong>to</strong> futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage <strong>to</strong> decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning <strong>to</strong>gether in the pains of childbirth until now.” (Rom 8:20-22). The Christian world view recognizes the relentless difficulty of life in our dysfunctional world, but also that it is being redeemed by the one who created, and cursed it. So, we have hope, and play, in the midst of our brokenness. “He suffered that we may laugh again. . . In the cross of Christ God is taking man dead-seriously so that he may open up for him the happy freedom of Easter.” 28 Without hope, play becomes merely a diversion from the life’s 14
troubles rather than a hopeful expression of the freedom <strong>to</strong> come in the Escha<strong>to</strong>n. When it is an end in itself, play can become a frivolous idol that keeps us from dealing with the human predicament. When grounded in the hope of the Gospel, play can become one of life’s greatest and most encouraging pleasures. Heaven: The <strong>Play</strong> of Eternity Christian play is the response of those who know God as their father, and know he has overcome the world, and that he loves <strong>to</strong> abundantly share the spoils of this vic<strong>to</strong>ry with his children. God’s saving power leads <strong>to</strong> great joy among God’s people. “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our <strong>to</strong>ngue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’” (Ps 126:2). This joy is possible even when life is brutal. "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” (Lk 6:21). Empty s<strong>to</strong>machs and tears are not the whole s<strong>to</strong>ry. God will bring ultimate healing one day. There are a few times in life when our souls and bodies are overtaken by our hearts. In sexual expression, sobbing, uncontrollable laughter, or in the freedom of childlike play, we get a glimpse of what it will be like <strong>to</strong> be done with this sin sick world, and in the presence of God-- lost in wonder love and praise. 29 As Douglas Jones helpfully (and playfully) states, “[S]cripture commends self-control but not forever, not for the escha<strong>to</strong>logically mature. Self-control is more like training wheels for the escha<strong>to</strong>logically challenged. The whole direction of the New Covenant moves away from external controls <strong>to</strong>ward the law-made-instincts on the heart (Jer 31:33-34), a move away from training wheels <strong>to</strong> instinctive wheelies.” 30 The paradoxical nature of Jesus’ Kingdom teaching demands an imaginative sense of wonder and play. The loss of wonder is often mistaken for Christian maturity. As Conrad Hyers rightly observed, “[T]rue maturity involves a resurrection of childlikeness.” 31 As Job’s understanding of God <strong>to</strong>ok off and his faith matured, so did his wonder—“Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things <strong>to</strong>o wonderful for me, which I did not know.” (Job 4:6). Christian play should see suffering for what it is, but always through the eyes of cross-centered hope. Following Jesus turns pain in<strong>to</strong> glory, confusion in<strong>to</strong> wonder, sin in<strong>to</strong> redemption, Good Friday in<strong>to</strong> Easter Sunday morning. 15
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Created to Play: Thoughts on Play, Sport, and the Christian Life

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