A Modern Day Eric Liddell
Posted by ministerandy on January 5th, 2010 filed in Christian Living, Sports & Hobbies
As a church body we watched a documentary on the life of Eric Liddell during our New Year’s Eve Service. We watched an additional 30 minute film on his life and commitment to Christ with the Teens during youth group Sunday night. His life and commitment to Christ continue to convict today. Much of this is due to the fact that his stand to not run on the Sabbath in the 1924 Olympics was not a singular conviction but rather simply obedience and commitment to follow Christ and His law of love in all of his life.
Today we rarely hear of Christian athletes with such conviction, but Scotland has given us another modern day example in rugby player Euan Murray. Here is his explanation for not playing for Scotland on the Lord’s Day.
Euan said: “It’s basically all or nothing, following Jesus. I don’t believe in pick ‘n’ mix Christianity. I believe the bible is the word of God, so who am I to ignore something from it?
“I might as well tear out that page then keep tearing out pages as and when it suits me. If I started out like that there would soon be nothing left.”
Euan’s recent decision to keep Sunday as a day of worship means he will miss Scotland’s opening Six Nations game against France on February 7 and, potentially, some key matches with his club, Northampton.
Despite his religious stand, Euan has played for Scotland before on a Sunday – in the 2008 Six Nations against France.
But he said turning out on the Sabbath grew increasingly painful.
Euan, who has 28 caps, said: “I was going against my conscience and it became impossible to enjoy.
“I realised it’s quite simple, really.
“Jesus said, ‘If you love me, keep my commandments’ and there are 10 commandments – not nine.”
It is understood a clause in Euan’s new club contract, stating he does not have to play on Sundays, is unique in top-flight rugby
He added: “I’ve talked about the ‘call to excellence’ I perceive in the bible, being the best you can be and I try to present myself as a living sacrifice to the Lord.
“I want to excel in rugby because that’s where I’ve been given the opportunity to serve my God – but it has to fit with the way I want to live my life.
“The most important thing in my life will always be serving Christ.
“I want to live my life believing and doing the things he wants and the Sabbath day is a full day.
“It’s not a case of a couple of hours in church then playing rugby or going down the pub, it’s the full day.”
(ht:tc)
January 5th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I’m curious which documentaries on Eric Liddell you watched? I’ll be doing a one-man play about him during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. I know most of the documentaries out there and even helped create one, but I don’t want one to slip past me. I’m especially curious about the 30 minute one you shared with the youth. If you’d ever like the play at your church, just let me know.
in Christ alone,
Rich
http://RichDrama.com/BeyondtheChariots
January 5th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Here are the two videos we watched:
THE STORY OF ERIC LIDDELL
Olympic Champion & Christian Hero
Dave McCasland/Day of Discovery
Best known as the main character in Hollywood’s 1981 release of Chariots of Fire, there is far more spiritual depth to Eric Liddell’s story. This Olympic medalist from Scotland lived and died for the gospel.
In this 3-part video, host Dave McCasland traces Eric’s life from the 1924 Olympics to his last years in war-torn China. You’ll hear testimonies from historians, friends and family about his life as a boy, an athlete, a missionary, and a Bible teacher. But most of all, you’ll hear about a man sold-out for God.
Beautifully produced, this informative documentary fills in the large gaps in the life of the man who became known at the end of the 20th century because of a popular movie called Chariots of Fire. This account will move you to tears and send you away determined to serve the Lord whom Eric Liddell loved to the very end in a prison camp in China.
This is a film to watch again and again, and one which would be very useful in the family. It tells the true story about Liddell’s unwillingness to run on Sunday even though it would likely cost him any chance at a gold medal. It shows the tremendous sacrtifice that was common-place for missionaries in the middle of the 20th century.
90 Minute – Three-Part DVD
SGCB Price: $13.75 (list price $16.99)
Order with brand new book RUNNING THE RACE by John Keddie
SGCB Price: $23.95 (list price $32.98)
http://www.solid-ground-books.com/books_ReformedandCalvinisticDVDSets.asp
And a cartoon version with a documentary in the special features that is produced by torchlighters.
http://www.amazon.com/Torchlighters-Eric-Liddell/dp/B000WGLAK6
January 5th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
David McCasland saw my play when I performed it in his hometown.
Did you get his newest version of the documentary with extra footage of Eric’s three daughters in China just before the Olympics? It’s really beautiful.
I have the Torchlighters cartoon in my Netflix lineup.
January 5th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
No, I will have to check it out. I watched your Youtube clip. Very interesting play you do. The quote by the youngest Liddell daughter on your site was quite a compliment to your play as well. I would enjoy seeing you perform if I had the chance.
January 7th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Hi Andy, good entry (good blog, too). I’ve wanted to comment many times, but this time i’ll take the plunge.
If words truly mean anything, we as God’s people must take heed to this issue – and not only to that of the 4th commandment, but to the first, second and third, out of which the fourth is born. Sabbath breaking, of which all are guilty, is nothing more than an outward manifestation of inward idolatry. However we view it through the eyes of legitimate Christian liberty is an individual matter, but how seriously we take the meaning of words has a lot to do with how sharply we focus our lens.
Recent reading of the major and minor prophets has put this issue fresh in my mind. How many times God denounced Israel for going after strange gods I did not count, but it’s very clear that idolatry was (and is) His main complaint.
Nationally, our way is being hedged up with thorns. The vines and fig trees our lovers have given us are about to be destroyed, and the nakedness of our idolatry is being increasingly exposed.
But as God’s people go corporately, so goes the nation. We need to examine ourselves afresh and ask ourselves if we really believe what we say we do, and then bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. It is our only hope as a nation, and certainly as individuals. It is necessary to properly maintain the Church, which is the pillar and ground of truth. It is my greatest need and my most earnest endeavor; I truly do pray it is so with all of us who call Jesus our Lord.