The Wondering Sheep: Episode 9 – Living the Christian Life
We Who Are About to Die…
February 12, 2026
When Rome ruled the “known” world, places like the coliseum in Rome would hold gladiatorial contests. These were often between trained slaves who might fight to the death for the entertainment of the crowds. It is alleged that those about to fight would salute the emperor and shout the phrase, “We who are about to die, salute you!” When your life or death is at the emperor’s whim, I don’t find it surprising that some would salute him.
When students study Rome, they are taught that our world is much more civilized, since today we don’t “fight to the death” for entertainment purposes. In public, this is mostly true, yet there is some public fascination with car races that have awesome crashes, the hockey game with many fights, and even in the NFL when we notice that the cameras shy away from showing the fights that break out. Think about the fight clubs where the cage fighter’s goal is to knock out the other fighter before he gets knocked out. Modern media tries to reproduces this for who desire create the bloodiest, most painful fights and scenes possible.
The desire for fame, glory, and the like is part of all of uses alongside this desire in entertainment for violence. We vie to be the best at everything in society from cooking, fighting, competitions, material possessions, the best-looking spouse, the biggest house, and so on. We desire being recognized for anything that sets us apart from everyone else. Just look at social media for examples!
As I write this, the Winter Olympics are taking place in Italy. Many of those competing have been preparing since they were very young. I’ve been privileged to know a number of people who trained to compete on that stage. At some point, an injury, money, or life got in the way and the dream ended. I even know one who tried to get there in two very different sports and did it. She made it onto the teams as an alternate before both her dreams came to an end.
So... what do the Olympics have to do with ancient Rome? Thankfully, they don’t fight to the death... or do they? Consider the toil they put their bodies through. Injuries are part of the game, sometimes, they are even expected. These competitors are in many ways the finest tuned athletes in the world. And yet, how many watch for skaters to crash and burn, skiers ski off the course, jumpers and freestyle risking their lives while competing! We’d be fools to think that death couldn’t happen when people push themselves too far. So... how far is too far?
Think of what these young adults/kids give up: living with family, a normal school life, always pushing their limits until they can’t anymore, There is nothing wrong with competing and training to do your best, but what is the goal? How far is too far for them? Sure, they are dedicated to a life that many couldn’t even attempt to live. But at what cost?
High School athletics isn’t that far behind. Chances to make most teams have dramatically dropped for most school or club sports, unless you go to camps all summer long. Think of what is necessary: daily weight room time; no time off; extreme training regiments. The training to play high school sports, in some people’s opinion, could be approaching what the Olympians do. Club teams take the rest of a student’s time to be a high school kid, not to mention the monetary cost. Why? Why do we invest so much in this kid of lifestyle? Scholarships? A chance at the Pros? For those who know the numbers, you already know how rare achieving any of that is!
About 20 years ago, a survey of Olympic level competitors was done that included the following question: “Would you take a shot that would guarantee you would win the gold medal if you knew that six months later you would die from that shot?” More than a third said that they would take that shot. Another third said they would think seriously about it. During my years as a teacher, I would often have students who desired to “win at any cost.” Their pursuit of wining the scholarship, D-1 scholarships, the championship, really ANY prize or goal, consumed them. Sadly, some had numerous knee and leg surgeries in that effort. As again: what was the cost?
As Christians, we understand that The First Commandment says we are to have NO other gods. Have you ever known someone who couldn’t losing with grace? Have you ever known someone obsessed with being the BEST? How about people who become addicted to running, playing a ball game, or any other idol? It could be politics. It could be the desire to be the next Taylor Swift, Jordan Love, or Michael Jordan. Remember: a god/idol is anything or anyone who takes the one true God’s place in our life. Does any of the above fit that label? What have I missed that you would think of?
It could be doing soccer on Sunday morning rather than worshiping God in church. It could be staying home to watch the NFL game from London, rather than being an example for your kids and being in church. It could be going out for coffee instead of staying for Bible study while the kids are in Sunday School. It could be taking another vacation to wherever and because you spent all your excess money, not giving any of God’s financial blessings back to God. Please understand: nothing I’ve stated above is of itself idolatrous or evil. However, it is our attitude and approach to them that may cause them to become such.
I’m enjoying watching the Olympics. I enjoyed the NFL and the NDSU Bison. But… they are not gods to me. They cannot be! Can we honor God in doing our best and striving to excel? Duh! Of course we can! The key question then, in anything we do, is always, “To whose glory are we doing whatever it is we are doing?” Remember that all we do should glorify God and bring attention to what Jesus did for the entire world. When we excel at sports and life in general, we have an opportunity, a platform, to be the salt and light that he wants us to be. Let’s take advantage of that. As we excel in life, let’s excel to honor God and not to bring honor to us. Praise God from whom ALL Blessing Flow!