The Changing Values of the Church # 5

The Value of the Word, Part One

It's mind-boggling to consider the amount of money some people will spend, the lines in which they will stand, and the inconvenience they will endure, all in the name of sports. This year I attended my first Ohio State football game. As we approached the stadium, fans weren't hard to spot because so many were wearing team colors. Many were having tail gate parties, some of which began as early as five in the morning. Outside the stadium some without tickets were in tents, with generators set up to power their TVs and satellite dishes on tripods. It reminded me of worshipers gathered in the Court of the Gentiles because they couldn't get into the inner courts of the temple.

Hold on a minute! Did I say worshipers? Is sports a religion? With some, yes. One's God, or idol, is whatever one makes a priority. It's been said that the easiest way to identify your object of worship is to examine your check book register and your day planner. Wherever your discretionary time and money goes, that is your religion. Now I'm not saying all sports fans are idolaters or that there is anything wrong with being a sports fan. But some are excessive.

There aren't too many revivals, gosepl meetings, or seminars on Scripture anymore. Some churches have canceled Sunday and/or Wednesday night meetings because the people just won't come out.

• Some could not possibly make it through a weekly one hour Bible class, but they're parked in front of the TV three hours straight to watch football.
• Some are unable to locate key Scriptures, but they can cite sports statistics .
• Some are simply too busy to volunteer for church programs, but they can make tremendous sacrifice for their kids' sports programs.
• Some make contributions to the church that by no means reflect their prosperity, but they can somehow afford to be season ticket holders.
• Some will endure all kinds of weather to watch sports, but they won't drive to church in a snow flurry.
• Some will unashamedly walk out in the middle of a worship assembly to attend a sporting event, but how many will leave before a game is over to attend a church event?
• Some would never travel for a church retreat and would never dream of using vacation time to attend a lectureship or worship conference, but they will travel for sporting events and tournaments.

Each year parents shell out hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to keep their kids in sports. It's common for folks to make an early exit from the assembly due to sports commitments. It's common for folks to miss an entire season of Sunday worship while a sports season is going on.

Now sports season isn't all that people get excited about. I saw people literally camped out on the sidewalk of Target when Playstation 3 came out. People lined up in bookstores at midnight for the Harry Potter books. On the day after Thanksgiving, the first official shopping day of the Christmas season, people were out at four in the morning standing in lines 150 yards long.

• But who would stand in line to hear the Word of God preached?
• Who would adjust their personal budget to generously support those who preach the gospel?
• Who, these days, would tolerate a sermon that runs the length of their favorite sitcom?
• Who would sit outside enduring the elements (as they do at ballgames) to hear a sermon?
• Who would travel to hear Scripture taught?

Paul charged Timothy with preaching the Word. He told him to be prepared in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). As I write this it is football season, deer season, and the holiday season. But in our current church climate, is Scripture in season or out of season?  

Comments

[brian]

you troubler of Israel!!!

you first bulleted section is exactly right and plain and simple inconsistency and hypocrisy. I see it everywhere, including myself.

[Mike Ellis, Church For Men Florida]

Yipes! Run for Your Lives! Someone is speaking the truth! We will not have any of this in the church. This is heresy! Someone get out the stones. Heck, someone get a rope.

[Philip Murphy]

I agree... to a point.

My vote... Let's have a Full Blown Preacher's Intro... full of smoke, trumpets, cheerleaders, mascots and piped in stadium noise. My personal favorite is the Gamecock's entrance to the 2001 theme... but whatever floats your boat. (insert sarcasm here)

Part of the problems reverts back to your 3rd article in the series. How do churches make attendance on 'days of worship' relevant to their members? It's hard for most men to choose a dull worship experience over watching the Cowboys lose to the Redskins.

[Jim Sexton]

I must say that I have already answered the overall question... passion is missing.

When we can reconnect (which implies a disconnect) our passion for God, His Son, and the body we call the church we will no longer have these conflicts.

Our relationship to the church is much like that of the Monday morning QB... we know the playbook, can even quote the plays and are very critical when 'they' don't get it right, but the truth is that 'they' are the players, not we.

We are just fans. Sitting in our seats. In the grand stadium. We even have stickers of support on our vehicles. However, the fact remains that 'they' are out there on/in the field, giving it all that they've got and we just sit and watch. And when 'they' don't get it right, we start thinking of looking for another team to support...

God is not looking for fans... He is demanding that we be the players. That is the kind of commitment and passion that we lack. The majority of us are content to stand on the sidelines and watch. Don't be surprised when God cuts you from the squad...

Put me in coach...
Jimbo

[Darin]

Watching football is a Christian neutral event as long as you don’t hurly obscenities at the television or have a beer at the game. Right? It neither hinders nor helps a Christian walk. Could it be that our measuring stick for a Christ follower has become skewed and so we can do any number of things because we see them as neutral?

I’m a Christian so I don’t do certain things can do that anywhere whether it be the game, youth sports or Sunday worship. The same lack of passion but attendance Sunday mornings may help explain in part how this happened.

Throw in those who use sporting events to reach out to the lost and encourage those younger in the faith and it can be really tough.

[Bobby Valentine]

In the language of Bill and Ted that was a Most excellent post.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

[preacherman]

I believe that Christianity is all about a relationship about God. The Bible does not say a time of where and when we should worship Him. I have known many poeople where were more righteous than those who go to the church on Sunday morning and sit in the pews playing soccer. They maybe have had worship in their hotel room the game or after the game before check out. My generation has the attitude that we can worship God anywhere. We can worship God at homes with our friends. We can worship God in coffee houses in a relaxed place. We feel like we can worship Jesus in nature before the get in the deer blind. Other Christians come on Sunday night to the building to worship God and take communion. God does tell us what time or where to worship Him. I even am starting to believe that their isn't a so called pattern. The church of Christ has twisted text out of context to make their opinion doctrine but I'lll talk about that later. God does mention that we worship at 9, 10, 11 A.M. Other Christians are taking part of the Saturday worship services that are taking place at other churuces. I feel like it is not our place to condemn. I believe it is ultimately up to God.

Wade,
I would love for you to coment on my blog when you have time.

[preacherman]

Or any time at all.

[preacherman]

Darin's post is awesome.
Everyone needs to check it out!

[Wade Tannehill]

Brian, Mike, and Bobby,

Thanks for stopping by and for your encouragement.

Philip,

Thanks for your comment. I'm sure that if the cheerleaders you speak of looked like those who cheer for Dallas we would have no trouble with our attendance.

Jimbo,

You are right again. "Passion" is definitely the key.

Preacherman,

I beg to differ. Christianity is not ALL about a relationship with God. It's also about a relationship with his people. Read Acts 2:42-47.

And just because some people at the Sunday ball games seem more righteous than those at the assembly this does not mean their priorities are all straight. I know some Hindus who live more righteously than some Christians I know. Does that mean they don't need to be Christians?

The attitude that you claim represents your generation is a dangerous doctrine that is hurting the church. The bottom line thinking is that "since all of life is worship I don't need the assembly." I don't get that from the New Testament. Christ built an assembly. The word "ekklesia" is used in Acts 19:32 and 39 to denote a secular assembly. Jesus used the same word to talk about what he would build. He would build an "ekklesia," an assembly (Matt. 16:18). It's popular to say that church is something we are instead of something we go to. Then we can supposedly do whatever we want anytime we want. While God's people may have other descriptive labels like body and temple, church is definitely something we go to. So let me say this as clearly as I can so that no one can possibly misunderstand. CHURCH IS ASSEMBLY. And the disciples in Scripture certainly prioritized it.

And while the Bible may not come right out and designate a particular day of worship, the First Day of the Week seems to have held some theological significance (Luke 24:1; Acts 2 (Pentecost), Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). Throughout early second century Christian writings this was considered a day of Christian worship as demonstrated in Everett Ferguson's "Early Christians Speak."

Worship in Scripture is not a guy by himself out in the woods or a family in a hotel room. It is God's people or the heavenly hosts assembled in praise.

Moreover, if you think Darin's comment agrees with what you claim your generation is saying, I think you have misread his comment. I think Darin's tongue is at least partially in his cheek as he describes a view he doesn't necessarily espouse. It's the notion that "as long as what we're doing is morally neutral it doesn't matter if it takes us away from kingdom priorities." I think Darin was disagreeing rather than agreeing with that viewpoint. But that's just my reading of him.

My intention is not to condemn anyone who is at a bookstore at midnight or who watches football for three hours. I've spent many hours watching football. My condemnation is for any activity that competes and consistently wins out over our involvement in the corporate gathering of God's people.

For some of the previous generation the assembly was overrated. For many of today's generation, I think it's underrated.

Darin,

Thanks for your comment. I admit to not being altogether clear on what you meant since some words were omitted. I'd guess you were typing fast. :)

[Jim Sexton]

If church is such an optional event, why did Christ die for it?

If it is an optional event, why were the Christians encouraged to "... not forsaking the assembly, as some have become in the custom of doing."?

I realize that 'the assembly' can be misunderstood as to mean only going to church, which brings us back to the beginning of the discussion. I believe that 'the assembling of yourselves together' can mean a variety of events which bring Christians together, not just a formal worship service.

We do God and Jesus a great disservice when we take the worship of them and the remembrance of the sacrifice of the Christ with such a cavalier attitude.

Who died and made sports god anyway? Was Lombardi crucified for you? Did Shula raise you to a glorious new relationship with God? Will Belicheck return to take you home to heaven? My guess is that non of those guys know the way, or at least not the way that you want to take on that final road into eternity.

Jimbo

[Darin]

I know what I was trying to say but I clearly didn't say it. Sorry Wade.

[josh from Gabbatha]

Here's something that I've been pondering lately.

Many times I go to these sporting events with others who I go to church with. At the games, we get crazy excited, probably like some of the people you mentioned in your post. Yet during worship service, we are as somber as we would be at a funeral.

Idol worship? Hmmm... good question.

I think I'm coming to church this weekend without a shirt on with a big "G" painted on my chest. Of course underneath it, I'll have your blog domain name to refer them to your post! Kidding.

[David D.]

There is no simple answer to the question(s) Wade poses? It may be that one has been "converted" to the "right church". It may be that no real connection has been made to Christ's sacrifice so that we can be made right with God. [Communion each Sunday is only obeying the legalistic or "scriptural" acts of worship] It may be as several "theologians" have stated--we have been teaching "cheap grace" [i.e. requires no effort on our part]. It may be that we intellectually believe but in "real life" don't believe or feel a thing. [We have no emotional love or attachment to our bridegroom--just don't feel like a bride at all] It may be because we have allowed ourselves to sing "shout to the Lord" but have not been given the freedom to shout. [Don't shout out "praise the Lord--that is charismatic as is lifting your hands; don't clap for that could lead to drums; worship should not entertain--not realizing that to entertain is to involve the emotions] It may be that we are now seeing what was hidden by the legalism of the past that based "rightness with God" on number of services attended. [the heart was not involved but fear of Hell got one to services--grace has removed the legalistic requirement--no fear of hell--heart is not in it--so attendance suffers] It may be that todays generation sees the hypocrisy of the legalism that require attendance but did not change hearts and are reacting to it.

But no matter the reason--we must do as the song says--"Come back to the heart of worship" I am convinced that it will happen only as we provide worship opportunities that have heart and our daily conversations with fellow members of the body where we attend are more about God and less about Sports,etc. [I know of a congregation that includes the University football schedule in the calendar of events each bulletin and new staff members are presented with a University sweatshirt as part of welcoming gifts--I believe that says something--something not good]
Blessings,
David

[Wade Tannehill]

David,

Very good. You've well summarized the issue at hand.

[David Weir]

The Bible makes it clear in both the Old and New Testament:
Old Testament Comments on Sports:

2 Maccabee discusses how priests abandoned the Jerusalem Temple to go watch sports at the local gym

New Testament Comments on Sports:

1 Corinthians 10 Do not engage in "pagan revelry", which was the imperial cult worship of sports at the Poseidon Hall and later in Corinthians Do not drink of the cup of demons. This refered to pagan festivals, which often were sporting events.

[Wade Tannehill]

David Weir,

Interesting. I'll have to look into that.