Visit the UCCF website
Open menu

Sport and exercise are dominant pillars of modern culture. Participation in sport or exercise is more popular than almost any other social phenomenon we have today. Millions play every week, and even more engage with the world of sport as spectators. The most watched TV programmes each year are consistently sporting events, and the 1966 FIFA World Cup final is still the most watched broadcast in UK history!

The study of sport and exercise is as diverse a science as any, perhaps even more so than any. This field is rich with important questions: what does it look like to be ‘healthy’? How can I tune physiology for performance? When will the first woman run under 10s for the 100m? What can be done about the obesity epidemic? Why do humans love to play, or compete?

Few subjects tackle such philosophical yet practical and real questions that can be interrogated with research from countless angles. If you have an interest in sport and you’re curious about why the world is like it is, why people are the way they are, then you’re certainly in the right subject.

Working for the wellbeing of creation

Sport and Exercise Science is practical in such a way that few sciences are because it has to be. The disciplines within it, including research questions and projects largely interrogate deeply human problems and look to implement practically workable solutions. It is a pragmatic science that in the main seeks to work for the good of humanity today.

Furthering understanding of Sport and Exercise Science today might look like tackling issues such as poor mental health, obesity and aging. In addition, the study of sport specifically helps enrich the community-based culture of sport which is powerful to bring people together, often across cultural and social boundaries, and create a context fundamentally for enjoyment as well as high performance.

This plays out across a huge range of contexts, from grass roots coaching to community health projects, from global international development all the way to Olympic level high performance environments. Sports science and exercise professionals are at the forefront of shaping healthy living, building thriving communities and supporting athletes at the top of their game to push the boundaries of human performance, inspiring and exciting huge audiences as they do so.

In this context,  Christians have so much opportunity to shine the light of Christ. Christians studying sport and exercise science can approach their studies with a biblical worldview, recognizing the human body as a masterpiece created by God, as well as creativity to play and community with others as gifts given by our creative and relational God as Father, Son and Spirit.

Sport wonderfully combines physical creation, creativity and community, and Christians studying and working in this field can point to a God who masterminded such things. Moreover, Christians can shine the light of Christ within the culture of sport where it is broken, be it advocating for those missing out on sporting opportunities or demonstrating what it looks like to have an identity rooted in Christ by his grace and not in your performance, or the performance of others.

Whilst study or work in the field of sport and exercise can and will bring a multitude of benefits to our society, nothing within this field – or any other – has eternal saving power. Christians in the world of sport can bring real and lasting benefits to society today, whilst always pointing to Christ as the ultimate and eternal redeemer of creation. This is a refreshing perspective to bring to a context that often misidentifies sport as the one thing that can redeem our culture.

Worshipping the God we work for

Plainly put: sport is worship. It’s not all there is to worship, of course, and it’s not always worship, even for the Christian engaging with it. But play, competition, exercise, and study of such phenomena  are good gifts which  help us to worship our loving Creator.  Romans 12:1 encourages us  to see our lives, including playing or working in sport, as worship in view of God’s wonderful mercy towards us: 

‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.’

Furthermore, in Genesis 1:1, Psalm 139:13 and Revelation 4:11 we see clearly that we were made, designed and are sustained by God himself.  His fingerprints are all over our very human nature, including sport! We are designed to be creative, not perfectly and fully as God, but to reflect this nature with thankfulness to Him in all we do. Think about creativity in sport, from coming up with new tactics to beat an opponent to scoring a bicycle kick to designing faster and lighter equipment.

God also designed us to be in relationship with others, just as God is in relationship with Himself in the three persons of the Trinity. Again, we cannot do this perfectly, but our relational nature reflects God’s and we can worship Him as we enjoy relationships with those around us.

A Sports and Exercise Science degree is not a theology degree - perhaps that makes you breathe a sigh of relief! Yet studying creation, including our own bodies and minds within the context of sport, and through the lens of a Christian world view, is so exciting, and a wonderful context for worship!

Discovering new frontiers of human performance – praise God!

Working to improve communication on healthy nutrition and lifestyles – praise God!

Deepening understanding of youth coaching to build inclusive, safe and fun environments for young aspiring sportspeople – praise God!

Knowing God designed each one of us personally is surely such wonderful motivation to want to understand His creation more deeply. If you're called into the field of sport science, enjoy this pursuit as a call to worship God as you discover more about His intricate design!

Witnessing to the world

Understanding sport and exercise as worship naturally flows through into witness to others with whom we share this context. The great commission in Matthew 28:18-20 is a wonderfully encouraging instruction to take the good news of Jesus to ‘all nations.’ Nations as written here can also mean ‘people groups’. The ‘people group’  who participate in sport is vast. In the UK alone over 9 million people play competitive sport each week – that's huge!

If you’re a sports scientist or practitioner – this is surely a people group you’re called to, and sport is such a rich context for sharing faith.

Sportspeople have a unique outlook on the world. They often have a deep and personal understanding of what it means to seek glory as they strive to win. They know the elation of running a PB, scoring a winning goal - feeling strong, talented & able. They also know how quickly these feelings fade after the event. Sportspeople often know what it is to feel rejection, disappointment and injury. They know the value of rules, constraints and safeguards designed to protect players and promote fairness, and many have felt the reality of judgement and punishment for overstepping the mark.

Communicating the gospel to a people group like this is thrilling because the good news of Jesus satisfies where sport cannot, and points to why sport is so exciting at its best. Here are  two top professionals in elite sport reflecting on how their faith shapes their witness at work:

“I know my identity is in Jesus Christ and what he’s done for me. I don’t need to worry about performance or ability even if sometimes I share the players disappointment in defeat. This perspective helps me stay level as a physio in elite sport. I can bring that into my working environment to serve others.” - Fran Clarkson, Physio to the England Lionesses

“I’m a child of God and Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour. When I recognise what I have as a gift from God that's when I’m less concerned with what success is, I’m less concerned with whether the director of an organisation thinks I’m good at my job. I’m more focused on whether what I’m saying is true and how can it help others. Everything becomes about serving others not about me. That could not take place without surrendering to Jesus.” - Tom Bates, Team GB Performance Psychologist.

So, sportspeople know deeply that our world is broken yet see that there is so much in sport that can bring joy. As a Christian within this world, what a hope you can point to in Christ’s offer of salvation as you help others to see the evident brokenness present in sport as a result of sin. What an exciting thing to be in this mission field, to share the gospel where there is opportunity and to trust God to change hearts.

The power of sport

"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination."
Nelson Mandela, Amateur Boxer & President of South Africa.

The world loves sport. You love sport! God created sport as a context where Christians can witness and worship, as players and professionals. Could Sport and Exercise Science be a vehicle for you to discover more about the character of the God who designed sport, who made you for it, and has plans to redeem it?

Reflect and discuss

Think: Think back over what you have studied so far in your degree. Where have you seen God's fingerprints? Where have ideas presented to you challenged what you believed to be true?

Live: What do you think your coursemates would know about what is important to you from the way you live? Is there anything you want to change here?

Speak: Are there topics in your subject that are closer to talking about your outlook on life, God or the gospel? Pray for people on your course and for opportunities to share about Jesus with them this term.

Taking it further