The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-07-19
THE CHRISTIAN ATHLETE.
Temperance In All Things Needed for the
Development of Our True Selves.

Development of Our True Selves.
Every Christian young man ought to
remember that he is or should be an
athlete. He has studied Paul's epistles
to little purpose if he has not discov-
cred this truth for the apostles think
ing is largely-colored by the Grecian
games of his time, and he frequently
draws parallel between them and the
activities of the Christian life. The
concluding verses of the ninth chapter
Of the First Epistle to the Corinthians,
in particular, emphasizes Christian
athleticism; and one of the verses
clearly indicates the principle which
ought to mold the conduct of all Chris
tian athletes. Every man that striv-
eth for the mastery is temperate in all
things" Paul knew the self-control of
the man in training for the games. No
one was allowed to contend until he
had gone carefully through ten
months of training, during
which he had to submit
to strict regulations about his food,
clothing and general behavior. He
could not eat what he liked, sleep as
long as he pleased, or drink as much as
he felt disposed. For the sake of the
crown he hoped to win he was obliged
to give up pleasures he might other
wise have INDUCED. Those who did
not enter the races could do as they
pleased, but those who did enter had to
avoid whatever habits or things would
interfere with their success. Every
man that striveth for the mastery is
temperate in all things"
The same principle applies to the
Christian athlete. He, too, is in train
ing. Whatever habits or pleasures
initiate against his success in running
the race set before him must be avoid
ed The crown determines his conduct.
Looking to it, he sees the guiding prin-
ciple emerge of so shaping his life as to
make it strong to win the crown.
Every man that striveth for the mas
terry is temperate in all things"
This rule should be helpful to young
men perplexed about the amusements
they are at liberty to enjoy. Christian
teachers are frequently asked ques-
lions about theater going, dancing and
card playing. Often it is impossible to
give dogmatic reply, but it is always
safe to quote the rule about the athlete
striving for the mastery. Certain pleas
ures may be. right in themselves, but
wrong to the individual seeking to en-
joy them. The wise man does not ask
concerning them whether they are
legitimate in themselves, but whether
they are legitimate for him and for the
circumstances in which he is placed
Circumstances alter cases in this mat
ter. Take, for example, the game of
football. One young man plays it
and finds it develops his muscles.
strengthens his manhood, and ex-
hilarates his spirits. He can go home
to his closet after the game and enter
right into the presence of God. An
other young man plays the same game,
but it produces a different effect. II
awakens in him a savage animalism, a
subordination of the spiritual to the
| physical, and makes him unfit for pass
| ing from it to communion with God.
For the latter to play football is I'M
donbtedly wrong.
The standpoint of the Christian ath-
lete'is clearly indicated in the principle
laid down by the apostle Paul. 1t is
the seeking of those things which shall
help to win the crown and the avoiding
| of those things which shall weaken the
endcavor to live the highest possible
| life. The strenuous nature of the con-
| test should lead the athlete TO run no
risk of handicapping himself. Like
Paul, he should be a man whose activ-
| ity is concentrated in lone thing l do,
forgetting the things which are behind,
| and reaching forth unto those things
which are before, l press toward the
mark for the prize of the high calling
| of God in Christ Jesus"
Ours is pleasure-loving age. There
is marked reaction from what we are
pleased to call the grim Puritanism of
our fathers. 1t is true that the in
creased tension of body and mind
makes amusement of some kind neces-
sary, but we fail to see that it makes
necessary the indulgence of pleasures
which would in any degree initiate
against Christian athleticism. Yet we
can not close our eyes to the patent
fact that hundreds of professional run
ners in our day are openly violating the
conditions OF mastery. Spiritual regi-
men is urgently required, More look
ing to the crown and less looking to
the bubbles of earth would be ben
eieial to many athletes who started