What Tim Tebow and Eric Liddell have in common

Sports and religion have long been connected. As a kid I remember being told about the religious convictions of Eric Liddell who, at the 1924 Paris Summer Olympics, withdrew from the 100m race, his best event, because the race was to be held on a Sunday.

When I first heard of Eric Liddell I was somewhat confused. Plenty of professional Christian athletes play sports on a Sunday and even more Christian fans pay to watchthem do it. Why would Liddell be so firm about something that was not core to the Christian faith? And wouldn’t he serve as a better Christian witness if he won a gold medal but gave God the glory?

As you may know, Liddell changed events and won gold in the 400m race and as a result inspired the great 1981 Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire. Would the film still have been made if Liddell chose to race on a Sunday and won gold in 100m? Probably not. Eric Liddell would not be unique if he did what everyone else did and no one would go to watch a movie about an athletic but wholly un-unique Christian. We are fascinated by and watch movies about people like Eric Liddell because they walk where few are willing to walk and sacrifice what few are willing to sacrifice. Ultimately, I think we love people like Eric Liddell because they do what we wish we had the strength to do. (Read more)