A great theme: an Olympic film about the Sabbath

There are good movies about the Olympics that the 2016 Rio Olympics brings to mind. Chariots of Fire (1981, Britain) is one of those good films, based on a true story. Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams are British runners competing in the 1924 Paris Olympiad.

Liddell has a strong Christian faith and believes his life purpose is to be a missionary to China. However, “God has made me fast”, he says. “To not use one’s gifts would be to hold God in contempt.”

Abrahams, on the other hand, is solely ambitious to win at the Olympics, in the sprints. Winning is his sole purpose.

Abrahams struggles with religion, but Liddell does not struggle living with his Christian faith, though he is challenged by a sprint scheduled on a Sunday, the Sabbath day.

The Sabbath

Liddell devoted four years to training for the Paris Olympiad, but running on the Sabbath Sunday would be breaking the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. His heat falls on a Sunday. He says sacrificing four years of training is painful, but honoring God’s command is more important.

His Christian convictions rub the Olympic committee the wrong way, but Liddell firmly stands his ground.

For Liddell, unlike Abrahams, there is more to life than winning. God comes first. He still would run if his heat landed on another day than Sunday, but since the heat did land on a Sunday, honoring God always come first.

Using one’s gifts is glorifying God, like God is the fire behind every athlete. But if one’s faith is going to be compromised in bowing to the charges that be, then God should be honored first, says this film.

The outcomes of Liddell and Abrahams is a remarkable story. The ambitious Abrahams, who is a nominal Jew, becomes a respected sports celebrity and lived to a ripe old age. Liddell died in World War II as a missionary in China. The contrasting lives make a fascinating portrait of life and religion as it unfolded.

Nigel Havers (Lord Andrew Lindsay), Ian Charleson (Eric Liddell), Ben Cross (Harold Abrahams), Ian Holm (Sam Mussabini),  John Gielgud (Master of Trinity), Cheryl Campbell (Jennie Liddell), Alice Krige (Sybil Gordon)

Hugh Hudson (Director), Colin Welland (Writer)