Rugby-themed Bible chapter published

The gospel according to Brad Thorn is now available, as part of a rugby-themed edition of a Bible chapter published to coincide with the Rugby World Cup.

Godzone is a re-vamped version of the Gospel of Luke, featuring the entire text of the New Testament chapter interspersed with the life stories of 10 international players whose lives have been transformed by their Christian faith.

Past and present players – including All Black Thorn, Fijian captain Deacon Manu, Black Fern Doris Taufateau, Scottish prop Euan Murray, Wallabies flanker David Pocock and former captain Nick Farr-Jones – describe their paths to faith in the book, of which 25,000 copies have been published.

Thorn tells how he broke into the bigtime with the Brisbane Broncos at 19, but still wasn't satisfied until he welcomed God back into his life.

"I had money, a car, a house – I thought these things would make me happy. But once I got there and got all these things, I still felt unfulfilled. I felt empty ... it was only when I put my faith in Jesus that life changed for me."

Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship produced the book, which will be available at churches nationwide.

TSCF national director Nigel Pollock said many international players followed the Christian faith – a fact some might consider surprising, given the rough nature of the game.

"These are guys who are in the public eye, but their faith matters to them. They are happy not only for the wider public to know they are Christian, but to know what it means to be Christians and the difference Jesus has made to their lives."

These players considered their faith to go hand-in-hand with sport, he said. "They don't see any contradiction between tackling someone and loving someone."

Luke's gospel was chosen because it contained the popular nativity scene, and contained the story of a lost sheep – giving it a New Zealand flavour.

Related story: Jesus painted as an All Black

- © Fairfax NZ News

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at   #3   08:28 am Sep 23 2011

Jesus is King

Joe A   #2   01:45 pm Sep 22 2011

The Gospel of Luke is not a chapter in the Bible, it is a book. The Bible is a collection of many books (which of course have chapters, Luke has 24).

Otherwise, great article.

Chris M   #1   12:16 pm Sep 22 2011

Can we expect to see rugby officially launched as a religion following the RWC? The gospel according to Brad Thom could become like Science and Health is to Christian Science or Joseph Smith Jnr's Book of Mormon is to the Mormon religion. I note that Jesus Christ is already depicted as an All Black, no doubt by one of the "lost sheep" mentioned.

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