Super Bowl and Church Services

If one reaches the world for Christ by worldly measures, worldly measures will keep them. But God's Word says 'Wherefore, come out from amongst them and be ye separate; and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you'

 

From Paradise to San Antone? Poor guy! What are you doing at Randolph? I was a Flight Commander at OTS 1979-1981 when OTS was at Lackland's Medina Annex. Is there anything there now? I know OTS moved to Alabama.

UK B-Ball is big here, of course (right now, they are ready to burn Tubby in Effigy, [which is a small town just outside Lexington]). Are you going to watch the movie "Glory Road?" I saw the game live on TV, and remember the shock on the UK players' faces when the entire UTEP team, including 5'6" Willie Worsley, slam dunked the ball during warmups. Then they proceeded to slam dunk Rupp's Runts. After this game, Rupp reluctantly signed his first black players.

As for the Super Bowl, our version of it is March Madness, and it goes on and on. A friend of mine had a prayer meeting with his deacons before Wednesday night church during the NCAA Tournament a few years ago. When they emerged, a few minutes after the start of the Wed. service, one of the Deacons signalled to his brother leading the music as to what the halftime score was...

 

To a degree there is nothing wrong with being creative to reach souls. As I stated, it is just my opinion that working services around a sports event is not right.

 

There are dozens of ways to rationalize our carnal Christianity. There was a time when it was "Lions"(Leo) vs "Christians" at the Circus Maximus--and the people loved it.

That which is flesh is flesh, that which is spirit is spirit--they do not mix.

The NFL is well supported--how about the missionary to the Congo?

Nominal Christianity is alive and well. Will the Lord find any of The Faith when He returns?

Selah,

Bro. James

 

Possible many will be watching a sports game cheering madly, ogling cheerleaders, and laughing at beer commercials.

 

And what would they be doing if the Super Bowl were not on?

 

If the super bowl wasn't on during church night, many that were watching a sports game cheering madly, ogling cheerleaders, and laughing at beer commercials would be sitting in the pews as dead as a doornail looking like they were saved into a mule faced religion, sad to say.

 

Most nominal Christians have a very rational rationale for their carnality--they usually have a religion which conforms to their lifestyle instead of seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

The religion of Jesus is not of this world. The world hates Jesus and His followers. That has been true since before Lucifer fell.

One can be a "master" of religion and still be lost--see John Ch. 3, Jesus and Nicodemus.

 

In all seriousness, I haven't watched a complete sports contest in 25 years, let alone one on super Sunday night. I find sports boring, even UK games, but some of my friends....

Our Sunday night service will go on as scheduled, but the youth are going to have a special get together after church to watch the rest of the game.

 

Well, okay then. How about those Broncos?! Sure glad Sports is in the Fellowship section. I can't imagine the condition of my soul in one of the debate areas.

 

If I were a lost sinner, the last place I would want to go watch the Super Bowl is at church or a church-sponsored event. Just give me my remote and a lazy boy.

As a Christian, I feel uneasy about chagning services for a sporting event. Our church won't change times, and I fully support that. But I also am thanful for TiVo.

 

Andy

I disagree - why is it do you think that bars are so filled with patrons to watch big sporting events. I think that it is because watching the big game is somewhat communal in nature. We love to have others around to whoop to when our team does well or moan and groan when our team does poorly. At our church, for the past several years we have had sunday school class parties on super bowl sunday, and have invited friends and family to join together. At halftime we watch a devotional tape. In my opinion, this is just one more way that we can open the doors of the church a bit wider to let non Christians see the light.

We have had people show up at our Super Bowl parties that had never darkened the door before. We also get people at our Harvest Festival (Haloween replacement), AWANA Club, and even those that only attend at Christmas and Easter - who when life starts to close down on them come back to us, as we are thier church - or at least the only one that they know. As a result we are able to lead these people to Christ.

 

An interesting set of priorities. What if what they see is more carnality instead of light?

Most folks have difficulty with light--because our deeds are evil. There is really no way to harmonize the two.

Someone once quipped: "How do you tell which ones are the Christians? They all act about the same?"

Selah,

Bro. James

 

I guess as in any situation, it is up to us ro show them light! My hope is that we are much more able to show them light at a sunday school party as opposed to them being down at the local bar.

I think that same guy said to me that he always invited at least two baptists fishing with him, because if he just invites one, the one will drink all his beer.

Even Paul said that he was all things to all people, I guess you might have had a hard time with his priorities as well!!!

1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19 For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law--though I myself am not under the law--to win those under the law. 21 To those who are outside the law, like one outside the law--not being outside God's law, but under the law of Christ--to win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. 23 Now I do all this because of the gospel, that I may become a partner in its benefits.

 

In church history they had no gimmicks, just the Gospel, and people turned from their wicked lives and were saved.

Sure, sometimes preachers went into bars and preached. But what happened? Did they park themselves alongside the others and celebrate with a pint? No! They preached the Gospel, called sin sin and whoever would listen they led out of the bars and into the church.

The more I look around many modern churches and the more I learn about church history the more tired I become of gimmicks in the church.

God help us get our priorities straight. God give us such a fervour for Him that we would not give a care for what the Premiership football or Superbowl results are.

 

Well, someone's got to reach the mafia. I think I'll become a gangster so I can reach them...

 

Peace.

This is not about a Pizza Lockin at the fellowship hall with Proverbs for dessert; nor is it about handing out Bibles at the entrance to a brothel. It is about a daily walk, 24-7, which is different from the world, and they can see it--The Holy Spirit uses the disciples to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement to come--which makes them ready to hear the Good News.

The Apostle Paul spent most of his ministry preaching in synogogues, jails and places like Mars Hill--he could talk with right reverend doctors or to jailers. He also preached to Kings.


Selah,

Bro. James

 

I find it interesting that so many are quick to criticize a church for moving services for an event to share the gospel with people who do not know Christ. How dare a church host an event where people might respond to the Gospel!

In churches I have found that the ones who complain and criticize about moving an evening service are the ones who do not even come to the evening service.

Hmmmm makes ya wonder, huh?

 

For those of you who conduct these church Superbowl parties, how do you justify the display of these half dressed cheerleaders and sexually implicit and explicit comercials in the church house. We stand before our young men and tell them to gaurd their eyes and their hearts (like Job) and then we invite them over for a open show of it because its a special event...somehow it now becomes ok...I don't think so.

Max