Morality and Sports - aren't we all "cheaters"? ? ?

[abelisle]

As most of you know, doping in sports has become ubiquitous (widespread) but just recently All-American sports hero Lance Armstrong has been implicated in a long standing drug use scandal:

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=5203604

This has also been reported in the Wall Street Journal.

But aren't we as sinners all "cheaters"? We take advantage of God's grace by willfully choosing to do what's wrong - that is one way to define cheating. As for me, I sometimes feel like Paul "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."—1 Tim. 1:15

I say this because when I was racing (runnning and cycling) I thought about taking steroids. The temptation was so strong and for the top athletes I knew and even trained with, doping was widespread. For the non-athletes who are reading this, just because one tests "clean" doesn't mean they are innocent of doping. It just means that 1)the testers don't know what to test for or don't have a test that will work for the family of drugs 2)the users use "masking agents" that deflect the test results 3)they use most of their drugs in the off-season and reap the results during the competitive season.

But back to us - "run of the mill" sinners. What do we do to try to get an unfair advantage in the most important race of our lives? “Run with endurance the race that God has set before you" Heb. 12:1 We try to cheat God. Cheat Him with our tithes and offerings, cheat Him by commiting spiritual adultery, cheat Him by only committing "small" sins (like pride which incidentally God says He hates!),cheat Him by saying we are His disciples but NOT loving one another (thanks Tom for your thread on Unity), cheat Him by . . . . . .

Go ahead. Feel free to tell us how you cheat. Who knows. We all are probably going to be there right with you by stridently denying all allegations that we do, like many of our athletes do.

Lastly, what are the implications for our society when cheating abounds?

Alex (trying to cut back on my cheating

[doug yowell]

Good subject, Alex. As you probably know there's a saying that is a part of the sports world: "It's only cheating if you get caught!" In the athletic world the winner may get the trophy because they cheated (team sports are a good example of this)and never get caught.In the spiritual world the Ref never misses anything.

[Gerr]

Cheaters here have their medals stripped. Will grace cheaters keep their crowns?

[Gail]

Good topic! Of course it happens more than we dare to admit. But who is the one who is really being cheated?

[LifeHiscost]

Good topic! Of course it happens more than we dare to admit. But who is the one who is really being cheated?

"For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. "1 John 2:16 NKJV

For all of these I confess at one time or another, even up to this point of time. When any one on this forum is a recipient of one of these from me, I'll send you a PM, especially if you perceive a possibility. I've learned to see the difference between temptation and sin by asking this question of myself;

Do I really want to do this?

If it's a case of stumbling, then the question becomes;

Do I really want to continue doing this?

"My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. "1 John 2:2 NLT

"Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord." 1 Corinthians 4:2-4 NKJV

Blessings!!

[Lutz13]

But back to us - "run of the mill" sinners. What do we do to try to get an unfair advantage in the most important race of our lives? “Run with endurance the race that God has set before you" Heb. 12:1 We try to cheat God. Cheat Him with our tithes and offerings, cheat Him by commiting spiritual adultery, cheat Him by only committing "small" sins (like pride which incidentally God says He hates!),cheat Him by saying we are His disciples but NOT loving one another (thanks Tom for your thread on Unity), cheat Him by . . . . .

Are we really cheating? I kind of just let God know what my issues are. I don't tithe because it isn't in my heart to tithe right now. If I were to give money it would be because I was a poser. I find that dishonest so I don't right now. Is that a sin? I would hope not.

If people ask, I tell that I am in training right now. God is working on me in many areas. To call us all cheaters, I doubt that. God sees all, so why would we cheat?

[Kountzer]

Let's see: disgraced olympic track star, now WNBA baskeball player Marion Jones was never discovered with steriods, at least not publicly. Perhaps she was feeling the heat when she confessed to using steriods. Lance Armstrong has never been officially linked to steriod use. ETc...

It makes you wonder, who else is out there using steriods? What about the Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt? What about the other Jamaican spinters and relay teams, male and femaie? No othet national teams can compete with them. It makes you wonder is it real or is it juiced up in some kind of way.

[olger]

Originally Posted By: abelisle

But back to us - "run of the mill" sinners. What do we do to try to get an unfair advantage in the most important race of our lives? “Run with endurance the race that God has set before you" Heb. 12:1 We try to cheat God. Cheat Him with our tithes and offerings, cheat Him by commiting spiritual adultery, cheat Him by only committing "small" sins (like pride which incidentally God says He hates!),cheat Him by saying we are His disciples but NOT loving one another (thanks Tom for your thread on Unity), cheat Him by . . . . .

Are we really cheating? I kind of just let God know what my issues are. I don't tithe because it isn't in my heart to tithe right now. If I were to give money it would be because I was a poser. I find that dishonest so I don't right now. Is that a sin? I would hope not.

If people ask, I tell that I am in training right now. God is working on me in many areas. To call us all cheaters, I doubt that. God sees all, so why would we cheat?

If Mad Mike Jones can tithe, certainly we can.

[GreatLakesGramma]

God is the best friend I've ever had. Why would I want to betray him by serving his (and my) worst enemy? He's always been faithful to me. Why would I want to be unfaithful to him? Everything I have, including my very life, is a gift of love from him. Why would I want to kick him in the teeth by cheating on him? If I'm cheating on him in any way, I am not aware of it. If I were, I'd quit.

It's not that I don't have struggles or temptations. I do, but I am well aware of who is behind them, and of what HIS intentions are toward me. What a fool I'd be to deliberately follow his leading! I TRUST God. I am fully convinced that anything and everything he asks of me is for MY good more than for his benefit. There is nothing he wants to deny me that is actually good for me.

Sometimes I slip up and do wrong before I have a chance to think about it. But any time I have the opportunity to really think through some choice that's before me, I would never jeopardize my relationship with God by choosing to go against his will. It isn't always easy, but I've learned that all the strength I need to follow through is available directly from my heavenly Father. You can do anything for a few minutes, no matter how undesirable it seems to you. I can surrender my feelings and desires to him, then get up and do what he calls me to do, just for a few minutes, and then for just a few minutes more, etc., and eventually he will give me the feelings to go with my actions, and the former feelings that came from my corrupt nature will pass.

And even from a selfish perspective, why would I want to surrender the peace that comes from trusting in God's faithfulness, which never fails, just so I can indulge my corrupt nature, which I hate anyway? Then I'd be on my own, and I'd have a LOT to worry about. I think I'd rather be dead.

[Gerr]

Just tagging on.

Isn't cheating on grace presumption? Isn't that what King Saul did? Ananias & Saphira? Judas?

Did they keep their crown?

[LifeHiscost]

Just tagging on.

Isn't cheating on grace presumption? Isn't that what King Saul did? Ananias & Saphira? Judas?

Did they keep their crown?

I would suggest no, and without regret other than being caught.

Since all God asks of us is sorrow for harming ourselves (among others) it seems it's only unwillingness to ask for the gift of repentance that sets the loss in stone.

And King David along with Sampson could be included in presumption, among the four named above ,yet they will be in the kingdom. The one thing that excludes the others from willing forgiveness, is the unwillingness to bend the knee to superior Wisdom.

"Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."Acts 5:31 NKJV

"Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression."Psalm 19:13 NKJV

"God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”"1 Corinthians 1:28-31 NLT

JOY!!

[karl]

We can't cheat.

We either do right or wrong. And since the evaluation of our deeds is based on motive, there is absolutely no cheating possible.

[olger]

hmmm....