Church letter for June
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In a few weeks the attention of the sporting world will focus on the Olympic Games in Paris. The games of 2024 mark the hundredth anniversary of Eric Liddell’s Gold medal triumph at the Olympics, also held in Paris, and made famous by the 1981 Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire.
Liddell was born in China in 1902 to Scottish missionaries and while he was at school in England, he made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ. During his time at Edinburgh University, Liddell became well known for being the fastest runner in Scotland. Newspapers carried stories of his feats at track events, and many articles stated that he was a potential Olympic winner.
He was selected for the 1924 British Olympic team to compete in several races and was the favourite to win gold in the 100 metres. Part of Liddell’s Christian belief was that he should keep Sunday free from sport, so when he learned that the heats for the 100 metres were to be held on a Sunday he withdrew from the race.
Despite coming under enormous pressure from the British Olympic management, Liddell refused to compromise his faith, and trained for the 200 metres and 400 metres, his less favoured events.
Liddell competed in the 200 metres final and won the bronze medal. On the morning of the Olympic 400 metres final, he was handed a folded square of paper by one of the team masseurs which said, ‘In the old book it says: “He that honours me I will honour.” Wishing you the best of success always.’ The quotation came from 1 Samuel 2:30 and inspired Liddell to win the gold medal in a world record time.
Following his Olympic victory, Liddell returned to Northern China in 1925 to serve as a missionary and in 1943, he, along with other missionaries and foreign nationals was imprisoned in a brutal prison camp. He became a leader and organiser at the camp, where he helped the elderly, ran Bible classes, and worked at resolving disputes.
Malnourished and overworked Liddell’s health failed, and he died from an undiagnosed brain tumour on 21 February 1945, aged just 43, and only five months before the camp was liberated. At the site of the camp his grave is marked with a headstone on which is inscribed, ‘they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary’ (Isaiah 40:31 KJV).
Those who knew Liddell said he was the finest of Christian gentlemen who never had a bad word to say about anyone, and that his last words before he died expressed his total surrender to the Lord he served.[1]
Whether we agree or disagree with Liddell’s stance on not competing in sport on a Sunday, one thing is certain: he believed that Jesus Christ was his Lord and everything, whether it be sport, career, or anything else would come under his lordship.
We may never run in an Olympic final nor be a missionary in a far-flung land, but all of us are involved in running the Christian race where God has placed us. How are we going to run our race? What is going to take priority and be the centre of our lives? For Eric Liddell it was Jesus Christ, as it was for the Apostle Paul who said, ‘For to me, to live is Christ’ (Philippians 1:27 NIVUK). To which the writer of Hebrews adds, ‘let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.’ (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Eric Liddell ran well at the 1924 Olympics and won bronze and gold medals. But more importantly he ran his life well, living for, and fixing his eyes on Jesus, and along with Paul, he can say ‘I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day’ (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
If you spend any time watching the Olympics this summer, why not spare a thought for the example and legacy of one of Scotland’s greatest sportsmen, and may his memory inspire all of us to run and finish the race set before us faithfully, with our eyes fixed on Jesus – for there awaits a crown of righteousness for us too.
In Christian love,
Barry Robinson
About the Writer:
Barry Robinson is a Regional Pastor for Southern England, the Midlands and Wales