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the Sunday Sports Dilemma

1/29/2015

4 Comments

 
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This Sunday is perhaps the biggest holiday in America. More than 100 million people from the United States alone will be tuned in to watch the Super Bowl. During the game American’s will eat over 2400 calories of junk food during the game. This year my New England Patriots will face off against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. Sunday is also the day when thousands of children around the country will lace up their athletic shoes for some more friendly competition. In the midst of this hubbub it’s easy to forget about another thing that tends to happen on Sunday’s. What’s it called again? Oh yes, church.

The rise of both youth and adult sports that play on Sundays has created a strange new conflict for Christians. Suddenly a decision must be made. We are forced to decide between sports and church. Increasingly, sports win that decision.

Here’s the deal. I think we can all agree that consistency is very important to build relationships with our church family and to grow as disciples. With this focus on consistency we have all probably made decisions to say “no” to other things so we can be in church on Sundays. And, yet, for some reason sports can be its own ball game (pun intended).

Now, I’m not saying that one missed Sunday will derail your spiritual growth but you have to admit that our society is set up to undermine the discipline of regularly attending church. Unless you are very vigilant to protect your church commitment, you can quickly find that one Sunday missed has become many Sunday’s missed. If you allow this process to continue the “church habit” you once possessed will likely be replaced.

Please keep this in mind: church attendance is not the goal. The church, however, is the way that God has provided for people to grow in their knowledge and love of who God is and build redemptive relationships. Basically, church is not just a good idea it is God’s idea.

This brings us back to our predicament. We can hopefully acknowledge that church is important but at the same time the Super Bowl begins at the same time as most Sunday evening services. In addition, this Sunday will probably not be the only time this year that a sport happens at the same time as a church service. Whether it’s the Super Bowl or your kid’s peewee football game there will likely be a time where you are forced to choose between church and sports.

I’m not here to tell you not to watch the big game this Sunday. I will likely be wearing red, white, and blue all day on Sunday and you can be sure that as soon as the closing prayer is over on Sunday night I will be headed straight to my car so I can get home without missing much of the game. Maybe this Sunday you could allow this “sports dilemma” to be a time to consider how you prioritize your faith. Part of your process of maturing in your faith is allowing moments and people to challenge and examines your heart. That includes the importance you place on sports.

On Super Bowl Sunday, most Americans will be watching the game, and thousands of Christians will likely be doing the same. Regardless of who takes home the Lombardi Trophy the question still remains: What is most important in your life? This Sunday I’ll be rooting for the Patriots but my happiness does not rest on whether or not they win or lose. I also will be making the purposeful decision to place church as first priority on my calendar even if it means I will miss the first quarter of the Super Bowl. 


Posted by Caleb
4 Comments
Clovis Gentilhomme
1/29/2015 05:54:57 am

Hello Caleb,
Very well stated. "Growing up" myself under the wonderful tutelage of your father's expository preaching, neither I, nor my family ever missed church for either the Super Bowl, or anything else, for the reasons you stated, and then some. Yet, we noted those who were missing on those special occasions, and wondered `why' they placed worldly matters ahead of God. And today, w all the electronics we have at our fingertips, it is too easy to record that "first quarter" so we can have our own viewing of the SB when we get home from church, w/o missing a second of play. So nice to see where your heart and your concerns point to on matters of importance. I enjoy your comments, and love the Phelps Family! Please give my fondest regards to all, your dad in particular. Kindest regards, Mr. Gentilhomme

Reply
Clint
1/29/2015 06:18:08 am

Great thoughts. I think the sports/church conflict is a big issue facing families today. I also agree it is important that we make every effort (both for ourselves and particularly in training our children) to set the precedent the the things of God come before the things of this world whether they be sports or some other conflict.

One question I had is this. Could churches, knowing that people will miss that service or be sitting there in anticipation of leaving, thus defeating the purpose of being at church, schedule an afternoon service that Sunday? This would allow for believers to be able to attend church without checking their phone for a score, or letting their mind drift from the preaching of God's word, or simply choosing not to go. Since there is no "thus saith the Lord" in regard to church meeting times, could this be a way to be an encouragement to believers, particularly those who would struggle in this area or who haven't grown a lot? Some churches even host a Super Bowl viewing party, which allows you to control the content of what is seen or not seen (commercials, half time show, etc) along with giving the church members the opportunity to fellowship together. Just a thought. I know several churches do that. If we're going to minister to people, a simple annual moving of the start time seems like it could be an appropriate way to show love to people that may be really struggling in this area. Thanks!

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Taigen
1/29/2015 07:57:57 am

Good thoughts Caleb. Yes, the world's attack on the Lord's Day has grown more and more blatant every year. And God's people have swallowed the pill that missing a service here or there, or anytime, doesn't matter a bit. When a church caters to the worldly philosophy of adjusting itself in order to facilitate and perpetuate carnality, that church has lost its theological bearings. As a pastor, I try to downplay from the pulpit anything regarding the Super Bowl. We gather to worship The Lord, not to anticipate football. Being also a die hard, lifelong Seattle fan (born and raised in Seattle), the past two years have been exciting from a purely secular standpoint, but this game will never usurp my love for a God, God's people, and God's Word. I will not intentionally shorten my message, nor mention the game in any service. I want to train my people that while the world has its own idols, those cannot be erected in the lives of God's people and still honor The Lord.

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Digger
1/29/2015 10:32:06 pm

Good thoughts, Caleb. When it comes to loving the Patriots, I am not sure there is a bigger fanatic that me. I do understand how the flesh struggles when it pulls a certain direction, but then I get back to reality. If I take my eyes off the Pats, and actually see the discipleship and impact that a church family has on each other when together. It outweighs sports every time. Instead of focussing on our own entertainment, how about we look up and find the person who needs us to invest in their lives. Or the person who is struggling to be faithful who needs a Barnabas? I agree with Taigen from a pastoral perspective of not making a spectacle of the big game.

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