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As theological debates on sexuality and marriage become more and more central, many Christian denominations are being asked to clarify their views.
Christian Surfers seeks to make the practice and culture of surfing consistent with the values of Jesus Christ. “This is about loving our neighbor and serving others”.
Members of Christian Surfers after a surf session in Spain. / Christian Surfers
"We believe that God is the creator of the world and, therefore, of the waves", says Tamiris Rahim, a surfer and a Christian.
It may seem that surfing and Christianity are two opposing things, but there is an evangelical international movement, the Christian Surfers, which seeks to make the practice and culture of surfing consistent with the values of Jesus Christ.
Their originality has led them to appear in a report in the Spanish newspaper El País, where the Spanish director of Christian Surfers has explained what they do, and why.
Marc Pradales (right), director in Spain. / Christian Surfers"This is about loving our neighbor and serving others, in our case, within the surf community", explains Marc Pradales, director of the group in Spain. He is a surf teacher and studies theology in an evangelical seminary near Barcelona.
“OTHER SURFERS ASK US A LOT OF QUESTIONS”
"Many times, on the beach, people do not even know that we are Christians", says Pradales.
"When they find out, they are surprised and ask us lots of questions, the interest in getting to know us is usually greater than ours to make us known", he told El Pais.
When asked about the lack of faith among youth, Pradales responds: "We live in postmodernity, we live in a post-Christian Spain where Christianity is seen as something of the past. But it is not".
Members of Christian Surfers Spain in their last national meeting. / Dani Gioia"We continue to believe that Jesus existed, stepped on our planet, and rose again. And we share the values he taught", he adds.
Do Christian surfers get better waves?. "No", jokes Rahim, "we actually take the worst, because we leave the best waves to our neighbor".
AN INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT
The movement started in Australia in 1983, founded by Brett Davis, a surfer who loved Jesus and working with wood, who was the first to connect the biblical teachings with the waves.
In 1999, Christian Surfers became international, and today it has ramifications in 35 countries. Its aims are to bring Jesus and his Gospel to the surfers of the world, to serve as a bridge between the church and the beach and to create missions of surfers all over the planet.
SURF AND CHRISTIANITY
"Surfing is a self-centered lifestyle, while the lifestyle of Jesus is focused on others. But there is nothing inherently wrong with surfing", Christian Surfers say on their website.
For them, being a genuine Christian surfer means not making surfing an "idol" ('because God does not admit competition') but giving all of one's life and surf to Jesus.
Jesus and surf can go together, the group says. / Christian Surfers
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Opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Evangelical Focus.
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