Renowned gospel worship and praise artist Israel Mbonyi has recently revealed that he enjoys following football, stating that he supports FC Barcelona of Spain.
The worship leader said he has a strong affection for Barcelona Football Club and also follows Arsenal of England, although he clarified that he does not support Arsenal as passionately. Instead, he follows the club partly because of its partnership with Rwanda through the Visit Rwanda sponsorship.
Speaking to IGIHE Sport, Mbonyi said: “Honestly, I support Barcelona in Spain. Arsenal is also ours; it’s a team from England. Those are the teams I like.” His remarks sparked discussion among many about how an interest in sports aligns with a Christian lifestyle.
Mbonyi’s statements demonstrate that even servants of God can have personal interests in entertainment, particularly sports, as long as these interests do not interfere with their faith or spiritual responsibilities.
In fact, the Bible does not state anywhere that loving or supporting sports is a sin. Rather, it teaches moderation and encourages believers to keep everything in proper balance.
In 1 Corinthians 10:31, the Bible says that “whatever we do, we should do it for the glory of God.” This teaching suggests that leisure activities, including following football, can be enjoyed in a healthy way that allows a person to relax, provided they do not compromise Christian conduct.
However, the Bible also warns against allowing anything to take the place of God. Matthew 6:33 urges believers to seek first the Kingdom of God.
Therefore, supporting football teams, as Israel Mbonyi described, is not wrong as long as it does not become excessive, cause conflict among fans, or turn into an idol that replaces time meant for prayer and devotion.
Football remains a form of recreation, while God continues to hold first place. When this balance is maintained, there is no sin involved.
