I miss sports. COVID-19 effectively shut down the world of sports with no timetable for a return. The most painful thing for me was missing March Madness and the Players Championship. Even the Summer Olympics in Tokyo has been postponed to 2021. It is impossible to know what sports will look like when they return. Will there be thousands of masked spectators in the stands, forced separation in seating arrangements, or mandatory temperature checks at the gate? Hopefully, we will see a return to normalcy soon, because watching reruns on ESPN just doesn’t do it for me.

Despite the frustration that many of us have felt, there is an upside to our dilemma. The absence of competitive sports gives us a great opportunity to assess its value and impact on our lives as Christians. As prevalent as it is in our culture, athletics, like everything else, should be understood biblically. How you perceive sports will determine its role in your life, whether it is an idol or just a game, a distraction or an obsession. I would encourage men to see sports as a means of personal sanctification in three areas.

1. Community

Sports can open the door to community. It is only when men feel safe within relationships that community can happen. Athletics create opportunities to become better acquainted with others, more comfortable with one another, and bond as brothers in Christ. Only then will the hard conversations take place and the struggles of life be shared.

In community, there is an intentional focus on the spiritual, where iron sharpens iron, and men are drawn closer to God and each other. So, whether it’s a pick-up game, attending an event, or doing fantasy league together, we should view sports as a means to biblical community.

2. Character

The athletic metaphors in the New Testament teach principles of Christian living. Though we understand our complete dependency on Christ (see John 15:5), following Him requires the highest level of self-discipline. While most of us watch more sports than we play them, athletics provide valuable lessons that carry over to our daily lives, along with opportunities to teach these lessons to others, especially our children.

For instance, athletics serve as a reminder of the importance of keeping the rules and the value of training. Sports also teaches us to endure hardship and persevere in the face of great obstacles—all aspects of Christian discipleship. The next time you watch a game, observe these principles in action. Be alert to the ways in which sports reinforces Christian principles and be ready to point them out to your kids.

3. Commission

Sports can also open a door for the gospel. I admire athletes like Tim Tebow for using sports as a platform to share his faith. Most of us don’t have that kind of platform, so what can we do? For one thing, how many times have conversations with co-workers or even strangers started with, “Did you watch that game last night?” Sports can often put a spotlight on issues of racism, sexual abuse, and other ethical matters which could serve as a conduit to deeper discussions.

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The COVID-19 pandemic is terrible on many different levels, and sports is just one area of our culture that has felt the burden. Eventually, it will end, and sports will resume. In the meantime, let’s examine our hearts and evaluate the priority of sports in our lives. Whatever, you do, do all for the glory of God, said the great apostle, and that would include sports. We can glorify God by using it to build community, reinforce Christian principles, and as a conduit for sharing Christ.