Is competition unchristian?

[arunangelo]

To compete is to prove ourselves superior to others, or try to put our selves ahead of others. So that when we compete, we feel that we are either superior to others, or that we want to become superior to others and get ahead of them.

Some people may say that certain types of competitions are healthy, because, they increase our skills or encourage team spirit. However, the fact remains that in competitions we put our selves or our own ahead of others. This is contrary to Christian teachings. Jesus tells us to be servants of others (Mark 10:44), instead of putting ourselves ahead of others. He also tells us that we should seek the Kingdom of God, rather than worry about our food or clothing (Matt 6: 31-34). The early Christians followed this teachings and (Acts 4:34, 35) shared all their belonging with others, so that on one lacked their basic needs.

Jesus tells us to keep it a secret when we do good acts (Matt. 6:6); love our enemy; give and expect nothing in return; if some one borrows something from us, don

[Iryssa]

Okay, just to clairify, are you talking about when people try to one-up eachother? (like when kids get into the "my dad has a big car!" "well MY dad has a BIGGER car!" thing, only with adults it's a little more subtle). Because given the following quotes, that's what it seems like.

...when we compete, we feel that we are either superior to others, or that we want to become superior to others and get ahead of them.

Jesus tells us to keep it a secret when we do good acts (Matt. 6:6); love our enemy; give and expect nothing in return; if some one borrows something from us, don

[Abigailwc]

It depends on the attitude of the person who competes and the reason why that person competes. Competitions can be much fun, just like games. The fact that we want to do our best and win does not mean that we are not christians. God is calling us to do our best. Paul is calling us to run the race as to win it. One day, God will give to each of us a reward according to our work done on this earth.

[Work in Progress]

Competition makes us proud, selfish, jealous, angry, revengeful and hateful.

I was with you until that. That is not true at all for many people. For instance, my son plays tournament baseball and it gets intense. When the game is over, win or lose, he shakes hands and goes home and that's the end. No pride (expect a healthy pride in playing well), no selfishness, no jealousy, no anger (okay, sometimes if the ump makes a lousy call, but I deal with it in a Christianlike manner), no revenge and no hate. Why expect such low standards of others? (unfortunately I can't say the same for his coach, but that's another story. And it's been a good lesson for my son.)

My daughter cheers and competes in it. Same thing as above.

I myself am very competitive. I play a daily online trivia game against other people and you'd better believe I'm playing to WIN. LOL. But, many times I'm low on the list. No pride, no selfishness, no jealousy, no anger, no revenge and no hate. It's just a game. Gotta admit I love it when I win though.

My Pastor, who is a very Godly man, told me recently that he was so bad at his daughter's basketball games that the ref once actually stopped the game, handed him the whistle and said - "Here. YOU can referee." He, too, is very competetive. But he has it in perspective. That's the key.

(He toned it down after that, btw. How embarrassing. LOL)

There is nothing wrong with healthy and Godly pride in a job well done that you have worked hard for IMO.

[arunangelo]

It depends on the attitude of the person who competes and the reason why that person competes.  Competitions can be much fun, just like games.  The fact that we want to do our best and win does not mean that we are not christians.  God is calling us to do our best.  Paul is calling us to run the race as to win it.  One day, God will give to each of us a reward according to our work done on this earth.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We can do our best to help others. There is absolutely no christian reason to prove our superiority over others or to go ahead of others. We can compete with our selves so that we we can help others in a better way. This is what Paul was refering to.

[arunangelo]

Competition makes us proud, selfish, jealous, angry, revengeful and hateful.

I was with you until that. That is not true at all for many people. For instance, my son plays tournament baseball and it gets intense. When the game is over, win or lose, he shakes hands and goes home and that's the end. No pride (expect a healthy pride in playing well), no selfishness, no jealousy, no anger (okay, sometimes if the ump makes a lousy call, but I deal with it in a Christianlike manner), no revenge and no hate. Why expect such low standards of others? (unfortunately I can't say the same for his coach, but that's another story. And it's been a good lesson for my son.)

My daughter cheers and competes in it. Same thing as above.

I myself am very competitive. I play a daily online trivia game against other people and you'd better believe I'm playing to WIN. LOL. But, many times I'm low on the list. No pride, no selfishness, no jealousy, no anger, no revenge and no hate. It's just a game. Gotta admit I love it when I win though.

My Pastor, who is a very Godly man, told me recently that he was so bad at his daughter's basketball games that the ref once actually stopped the game, handed him the whistle and said - "Here. YOU can referee." He, too, is very competetive. But he has it in perspective. That's the key.

(He toned it down after that, btw. How embarrassing. LOL)

There is nothing wrong with healthy and Godly pride in a job well done that you have worked hard for IMO.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good competition and healthy challenges toward excellence are to me a conernerstone of being a whole person.

I can think of nothing Biblical that would preclude competition unless you are trying be one of thsoe folks who try to compete about their belifes in God. That truly does make no sense.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I see no christian reason to compete with others. We can improve our quality of work by increasing our love for others. There is no christian reason to compete in sports. In the end it lead to nothing more than pride if we win and hate and anger if we lose. We can keep our bodies healthy by playing non-competitively.

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.

We should ideally compete with the devil and demons, to beat them, not each other. For Christ is in each of us.

Hebrew 10:24

We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.

[Trust & Obey]

I do agree that competition can get people into the flesh. But, that doesn't mean a game of basketball cannot be played without this happening. Some people have aren't as good of losers as others.

If comptetition makes you act in a way that brings you under conviction, then perhaps for that person it is a better thing not to participate.

But, to condemn competition as a whole I thing is wrong and unnecessary.

After all, most progress is done in the name of competition. Better models of vehicles are rolled out every year because Car Co. "A" wants to steal business from Car Co. "B", etc.

Context is the deciding factor here.

But, having said all of that... the passages you cite are definitely authoritative in interpersonal relationships.

[Work in Progress]

In the end it lead to nothing more than pride if we win and hate and anger if we lose.

Hi. Did you think I was lying when I replied?

[arunangelo]

There is nothing wrong in playing sports for fun. There is no need to prove our superiority or improve our skills by keeping scores. In the final analysis it leads to no where, except pride. All that will really matter in the end is, did we respond to people in need.

Some people quote

[Remnantrob]

the only person you should compete against is yourself. That way eveyone wins.