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I am about to enter into a realm of subject matter which is most volatile within the church. No, I am not speaking to abortion, same-sex marriage, or even immigration and gun-control. Those subjects are tame compared to…sports and the church. The question arises every year, particularly for our community in the spring, as to how a Christian family decides the balance between sports and baseball. It is a topic of great interest to me. As a pastor, I believe a faithful commitment to the local church is vital for the believer’s personal growth and the effective ministry of the gospel. As a fan of sports (come by my office if you do not believe in my passion for it), I want to watch it and participate in it as much as I can. As a father, I want my children to be involved in both church and sports, growing to love the church and learning lessons that I believe extracurricular activities teach so well. How should the responsible Christian parent respond when these two activities collide?
Scripture commands that we answer this important question in a manner which glorifies Christ, effectively spreads the gospel, and disciples our children in the ways of the Lord. With these goals in mind, there are three responses which are biblically irresponsible:
1. “It is not important for my family to be faithful at church. I am still a Christian even if we miss church for recreational activities.”
Scripture is replete with the inherent dangers of this attitude. Remember, the church is not man’s idea, but Jesus’ invention. He died for the church, ministers through the church, and commands that it be important to the believer (Hebrews 10:24).
2. “Since secular activities do not agree with Christian principles, we will not participate in any secular events. My kids just won’t participate.”
While we certainly must not be influenced by an ideology opposed to Christ, God places us in this world to be “salt” and “light” (Matthew 5:13-16). Our children need to learn how to interact with unbelievers because, like us, they desperately need the gospel.
3. “I will just leave the decision between church attendance and sporting activities up to my kids.”
While this may be the easiest response for parents, it is certainly the most irresponsible. Parents are to guide their children through the dangerous maze of life. Children are incapable of making wise decisions unless they are taught by wise parents, and they will often choose the easiest but most foolish route (Proverbs 22:15).
Following are three guiding principles for parents in deciding between church and sports:
1) Church attendance holds a valuable place in the believer’s life. Statistics do not lie. Most people make the decision to follow Christ before age 16. While the team may pray before the game, your children will not receive the preaching of God’s Word so vital for eternity while they are at the ballfield. God commands that we regularly meet with the local church. NOTHING must interrupt this. This is not legalism. It is spiritual survival.
2) Maturity is defined by the keeping of commitments.
Despite our best efforts, we cannot do it all. We are doing a disservice to our children when we make commitments we cannot possibly fulfill. The question comes in what is most important—my child’s spiritual development or my child’s athletic development? Make no mistake, every time you break a commitment, your child is watching. Be careful of succumbing to the lie that my child has to do it all.
3) Every decision has consequences.
If your child misses practice or a game, there will be disappointment. If your family misses the opportunity to hear God’s truth and worship with God’s people, there will be spiritual decline. It is at this point at which parents have the most difficult of tasks—deciding upon what is right even when it is not easy. What better lesson on maturity can we offer our children?
A fan of sports but a follower of Jesus,
Jason