Not all Christians watch the Super Bowl. Over the years, my Christian circles have been split: half are all in — Super Bowl parties, snacks, camaraderie, the whole thing. The other half? They disappear, not having much interest in the sport as a whole. All of these people love God, care about holiness, and read the same Bible. Some just watch less football.
If you live in the U.S., you already know the Super Bowl isn’t just a game — it’s a cultural flashpoint. And for some Christians, it’s a moral one too. The issues of idolatry and violence dominate the moral divide. On one side, you have some Christians who see the Super Bowl as modern-day temple worship — football as America’s true religion, complete with its own liturgies, high priests, and disciples. On the other side, there are Christians who compare the sport to modern-day slavery, condemning the game’s physical brutality and its exploitation of Black athletes. This is also the camp that calls NFL players modern-day gladiators and the field a new Colosseum. Somewhere in between are those who don’t want to be “worldly” and see the Super Bowl as just another distraction pulling hearts away from God.
And then there’s the silent Christian middle — the ones who love football but don’t know how to fully express their passion for the game without suffering evangelical shame. They wrestle with these kinds of intrusive thoughts: If I enjoy this game, does it mean I love the world more than God? Am I just another American caught up in the spectacle? What does it say about me that I like watching a violent sport? It’s frustratingly difficult to explain that, yes, I eat chips and queso, yell at the TV, and admire elite athleticism without skipping church, getting drunk, or placing bets. Some of us just want to enjoy a good football game in a way that’s in the world but not of it.
As the Chiefs and Eagles take the field for Super Bowl LIX, many Christians are wondering: Is there anything inherently wrong with kicking back, cracking open your favorite drink, and cheering for the team you love? I think not. Instead of over-spiritualizing or demonizing the Super Bowl, Christians can root their enjoyment in a biblical case for recreation, allowing them to engage with discernment, not guilt.
Sports Entertainment for God’s Glory
The Super Bowl has the potential to contain a unique reflection and engagement with God’s creation and human potential. In fact, the game of football, like all human endeavors, can be a means to honor God and celebrate the beauty of human skill and competition.
The Bible doesn’t mention modern sports directly, but it does speak about competition, physical skill, and celebration in ways that can inform a Christian perspective on recreation. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, the Apostle Paul compares the Christian life to a race, urging believers to “run in such a way as to get the prize.” Grit and focus are required to reach our goals in life — whether that’s spiritual perseverance or, in our case, pushing through four quarters in the biggest game of the year. Paul acknowledges athletic discipline as a metaphor, but his appreciation for the dedication required in sports should also point us toward a positive view of athletic effort and achievement.
Then there’s Acts 17:28: “For in him we live and move and have our being.” If God is the source of all movement, all ability, then doesn’t that include a quarterback threading a pass through triple coverage? A running back breaking tackles? A linebacker reading a play before it even unfolds? What if we saw sports not as an idol to be avoided but as a testament to the way God wired human bodies to perform at their peak?
The Bible’s commentary on recreation causes the whole “football players are just modern-day gladiators” argument to crumble. Sure, both involve physicality and spectacle, but let’s not flatten history. Gladiators were often enslaved men, forced to fight to the death for public entertainment. NFL players? They’re elite athletes who chose this life — and they’re getting paid generational wealth for it. But more importantly, what the Super Bowl affords is watching people operate at the absolute height of their ability.
Consider the Eagles’ quarterback, Jalen Hurts. He can squat 600 pounds. That’s offensive-lineman strength in a quarterback’s frame. Chief’s quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, isn’t just playing football, he’s changing the way the game is played. His off-platform throws, his ability to improvise under pressure — it’s unreal. The Netflix TV series, Quarterback, showcases Mahomes’ training regimen, which fast tracks muscle recovery and allows him to perform at his best for longer. Maholmes and the Chiefs are also seeking a Three-Peat; meaning, if they won this year’s Super Bowl, they would have won three years in a row; an achievement that no NFL team has ever reached.
The Super Bowl does not have to be about mindless entertainment. It can absolutely be about appreciating what the human body — God’s creation — is capable of. Enjoying the Super Bowl can also mean enjoying the process — valuing teamwork, the perseverance and skill of individual athletes, and strategy of the game rather than focusing solely on outcomes like money or fame. In other words, the Super Bowl is a gift from God, distinct from worship, and is an opportunity to glorify him through our enjoyment of sport spectatorship.
Enjoy With Discernment
So how do we enjoy the Super Bowl with discernment? The same way we approach any good gift from God. Before diving into the game, we can take a moment to recognize that sport, like music, art, and work, is ultimately from God. It’s a display of human skill, endurance, and strategy — things that, in their proper place, reflect His creativity and order. The key is to enjoy it as a game, not as an ultimate thing. Football isn’t our hope, our purpose, or our identity. It’s entertainment, not eternity. So even as we watch, we can pray — not just for a good game, but for God to draw people to himself and for his purposes to be worked out in ways we may not even see.
It’s also worth paying attention to the athletes who openly follow Jesus. After winning the AFC Championship, Patrick Mahomes said, “First off, I want to give all glory to God. Without him, none of this is possible, and I truly mean that.” When Mahomes said that, he was doing more than a post-game ritual — he was publicly acknowledging God in his success. The Chief’s kicker, Harrison Butker, is a devout Catholic. In fact, before last year’s Super Bowl, Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt stated: “In our family, it’s faith, family and football, and in that order.” Jalen Hurts and Eagles’ wide receiver, A.J. Brown, are also professing Christians. For those of us watching, it’s an opportunity to pray for these men and their teams — not just for their performance on the field, but for their witness beyond it.
At the end of the day, enjoying the Super Bowl as a Christian is about engaging wisely. We can celebrate athletic greatness, appreciate competition, and enjoy the communal joy of sports without losing sight of what really matters. So go ahead — kick back, cheer for your team, and eat the chili. Just don’t forget that, in the grand scheme of things, it’s still just a game.
