In a world captivated by controversy, the Church has too often joined the chorus of outrage rather than offering a redemptive voice. Nowhere is that more evident than in sport.

In this episode, we explore how the Church became distracted by the debate over transgender athletes while ignoring the more profound crisis in the world of sport: the commodification of youth, the loss of joy, the glorification of dominance, and the normalization of burnout and exploitation.

We ask:

- What was sport ever meant to be?

- What are we fighting for—and at what cost?

- And how can the Church stop echoing empire and start modelling renewal?

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Topics Covered:

The false binary of the transgender athlete debate

How Christian outrage misses systemic harm in sport

The rise of the Enhanced Games and the cult of optimization

The real cost: joy, equity, wholeness—and witness

A redemptive vision: sport as stewardship, not spectacle

What churches, coaches, parents, and fans can do today

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Scripture Highlights:

“Let the little children come to me…” —Mark 10:14

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” —Nehemiah 8:10

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” —Mark 10:43

“Whatever is true… noble… praiseworthy—think about such things.” —Philippians 4:8

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Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:

If this episode challenged you, encouraged you, or made you uncomfortable in all the right ways—we want to hear from you. Please leave a review, share with a friend, or tag us on Threads and Instagram @TheFaithfulCitizenPodcast.

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Related Resources:

“Trans Women in Sports: Facts Over Fear” (Stats for Faithful Engagement)

NCAA President: “Less than 10 transgender athletes in college sports.”

The Enhanced Games: What they are and why they matter

Our essay: Spectacle Over Soul (available on Substack)

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Because when the Church starts cheering differently, so does the world.

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