I’m not really big into watching athletics. The only person who comes to mind is Eric Liddell, whose story featured in Chariots of Fire. He was planning to be a missionary in China at the time of the 1924 Olympics. On principle, he refused to run on a Sunday because of his strict views of the Sabbath. But it all worked out on the end.
Many Christians who admired his stand would hold more liberal views on playing sport on Sunday. The New Testament doesn’t emphasize keeping the Sabbath day holy to the extent that the Jewish intepretors of the Old Testament did. In fact, the pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. Many of the ceremonial and civil laws of Israel don’t apply any more, but most would agree that the 10 commandments still apply. But the specifics on how you keep the sabbath day holy are left to individual consciences.
Still, it was nice back in 1981 to see a film that portrayed an evangelical Christian in such a positive light.
Some years ago, I saw a film in Mallow Street Christian Fellowship, Limerick, that covered the later life of Eric Liddell.
I tried to find it on YouTube, but there’s quite a few of them. I don’t remember which one it is 😀.
Here are 10 facts about Eric Liddell:
- Born in China: Eric Liddell was born on January 16, 1902, in Tientsin (now Tianjin), China, to Scottish missionary parents.
- Olympic Champion: He won a gold medal in the 400 meters and a bronze in the 200 meters at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
- Sunday Principle: Liddell famously refused to run the 100-meter heats—his best event—because they were scheduled on a Sunday, honoring his Christian beliefs.
- World Record Breaker: In the 400-meter final, he set a world record with a time of 47.6 seconds.
- Rugby Star: Before his Olympic fame, Liddell played rugby for Scotland and was known for his speed and agility.
- Missionary Life: After the Olympics, he returned to China in 1925 to serve as a missionary teacher, dedicating his life to service.
- Ordained Minister: He became a Congregational minister in 1932 and taught Bible classes in Edinburgh before returning to China.
- Internment and Death: During World War II, Liddell was interned in a Japanese civilian camp in Weihsien, China, where he died of a brain tumor in 1945 at age 43.
- Legacy in Film: His story was immortalized in the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire (1981), which highlighted his faith and Olympic journey.
- Educator and Advocate: While in China, he taught math and science, trained students in sports, and even advocated for better support for underprivileged students.
The film closed with the peculiar hymn, Jerusalem. We’d never sing that in evangelical churches because of the silly lyrics about Jesus “walking on England’s mountains green” 😀. It’s a blend of spirituality, patriotism, and poetic imagination.
Nevertheless, I find it inspirational. Without considering the specifics of the lyrics, I think of how God has blessed England and all the English-speaking world so much in the past. Nowadays, Christian growth is more obvious in other parts of the world, such as Africa, China and South America. And it’s always been the case that the central sphere of influence has changed locations. For example, it all started in the middle East, which is now predominantly Muslim.
But the second verse is quite inspirational for fighting the good fight of faith:
Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
I did spend a year with London City Mission, helping to build Jerusalem in England’s green and pleasant land. Unlike some Irish people who always have a “chip on their shoulder” about England, I’ve always cherished it’s influence, from soccer teams to entertainment to Christian preachers. But most of my life has been spent building Jerusalem in Ireland, which is arguably greener and more pleasant. But we all look to the future Jerusalem, which will be the best one of all.
Revelation 21:2
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Hibernia Gospel 