(It’s WrestleWeek on POP GOD! In celebration of WrestleMania 32 this Sunday we’ll be looking at the intersection of faith and wrestling. You don’t have to be a fan to hop in the ring on this journey. Read on to see how this fake sport provides real lessons for anyone who’s ever grappled with God.)

I spent a lot of time during my formative years playing wrestling video games. 

The first one I ever owned was WWF Royal Rumble for the Super Nintendo. It was a pretty basic game – as most were back then – with 10 or so characters that all could do pretty much the same moves. Still, I played it for hours on end.

Video games evolved over the years and thus so did wrestling games. From WWF No Mercy for the Nintendo 64 to WCW Nitro for the Playstation all the way up to the WWE Smackdown Series for PS2 and beyond.

With new systems came expanded rosters of characters, new match types, better graphics and in-depth story modes.

Without a doubt the greatest feature ever added to wrestling games was the Create-A-Wrestler feature. 

First seen back in the late 90s era of wrestling games, Create-A-Wrestler allowed you to do what wrestling fans always dreamed of – create their own version of themselves to insert into the action and win the World Championship.

No longer were fans bound to just playing vicariously through Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart. Instead their own personal avatars could step into the ring to main event WrestleMania.

What if the same could be true about real life?

What if we didn’t have to live vicariously through the heroes of the faith long ago? What if we could create our own characters to place into the adventure or life?

What if we were called to not just play through the story mode as some other character? What if we we were called to live creatively?

Live creatively, friends…Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. (Galatians 6:1, 4-5 The Message)

You see, God created human beings in His own image. This means the ultimate Creator created us to be creators as well.

We have been blessed by God with the ability to create along with our own unique sense of creativity. We must not let this creativity go to waste. 

We don’t have to just sit back and read about the heroes of the faith as just a fan, wondering what it would be like to live a radical life of faith as they did. We can create our own characters. We can step into the arena and join the action.

This is the incredible joy and privilege of Christianity – that God invites us to not just be observers or fans. He invites us and empowers us with the creativity to create our own adventure.

How can you live creatively today? Leave a comment below and join the conversation. Be sure to subscribe to Pop God to follow along as WrestleWeek continues!