During the past decade, the win-at-all-costs philosophy has become a bigger problem for sports at all levels. This same mindset now impacts youth sports, where the average number of team sports played per child fell 5.9 percent from 2010 to 2015. The same University of Kent study suggested that high-pressure parenting is driving some athletes toward the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Local newspaper headlines are filled with sports stories about performance-enhancing drugs, hazing, and unethical recruiting violations. It really shouldn’t be surprising that Lance Armstrong’s problems began long before his cycling career. During the ESPN documentary Lance, Armstrong himself admitted to cheating on his birth certificate as a teenager to compete unfairly with other athletes.

Colossians 2 – False Teachers

While there is a real danger in being spiritually deceived by worldly philosophies in sports, Paul warned the Colossian Christians about an even greater danger. Gnosticism was most likely what threatened immature Christians in Colossae. It was a pagan mysticism combined with worldly thinking. Paul urged them not to believe the false teachers who were deceitful and misleading (Colossians 2:8). Their philosophies might have sounded good, but they were mental detours, leading many astray. He wanted them to know they have the Power and Person within—who is superior to anything the world, the flesh, or the devil can offer.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete are not misled or confused by false, baseless, or worldly philosophy that deceives Christians. They are confident in Christ for everything they need. They know Jesus is sufficient as Lord.

Bible Memory Verse – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (LSB)