Super Bowl party at church

[JohnDeereFan]

You mean as opposed to being called a Laodicean church or that they are using gimmicks and attempting to trick people into the Gospel? Those charges are not full of hostility and being judgmental?

First of all, I never said anything about a "Laodicean Church".

Second, no, I don't see how what I said was hostile or judgemental. Perhaps you could explain it to me.

We won't be having a Super Bowl Party at the church, but Jesus warned the Disciples about forbidding a person from casting out demons in Jesus' name. (Mark 9:38)

He told Peter to just be concerned about his life and not what He had in store for John. (John 21)

And those verses are relevate because...?

If you don't think a SB party is the way to go, then say so and why. But just because another church feels God is calling them to do it to reach people, doesn't make them a backslidden church.

When did I ever say they were a backslidden church?

Yes.. I do have hostility toward those that are like the people Jesus had hostility towards.. .Legalists

Do you know what the Bible means when it talks about legalism?

People that think because they "DO" or "don't DO" something makes them more Godly.

Who here has said anything like that? All I said is that I think such a celebratory atmosphere isn't consistent with such a solemn thing and that I don't think we should use gimmicks to get people in to hear the Gospel.

Godliness does not rest upon what we do or don't do..
But in this thread we have Christians calling other Christians "Laodiceans".. and other slanderous terms just because they do something different than having a preaching service on Sunday night...

But I didn't so why are you taking it out on me?

Jesus didn't mince words toward the Religious right of his time... He called them hypocrites because they held to man-made standards instead of having their hearts right.

No, actually, He called them hypocrites because they held themselves to one standard, while they held those under them to another standard.

They based their Godliness on what they did....or didn't do.

In the same way that fundamentalists do today...

Godliness comes from within...not what we do from without.

Actually, I never said anything about Godliness one way or the other, so you're barking up the wrong tree.

Jesus had compassion on sinners...

What does that have to do with the Super Bowl?

I'll do what Jesus did... stand for truth.. not man made traditions that are not even Biblically based.

Um...isn't basing the Gospel around the Super Bowl a "man made tradition that isn't Biblically based"?

Hey, "The Who" are doing the half time show.. that could be our Nursing home service!!

It isn't really the Who. It's a Who tribute band featuring the two surviving members of the Who.

I am not taking it out on you.. I quoted you to answer your question... NOthing personal brother!

Sure sounded personal when you were being so nasty in your response to me.

Wow, besides legalism at it's worst, we are seeing idolatry over a building with 4 walls.

Nobody has said anything about recreational things in the church building being wrong, but that the idea of interrupting or pre-empting a church service to show a football game is wrong.

There's my position in a nutshell. If a church normally has services and is worshiping God during the time the SB is on, then they should not cancel services in order to watch football. If, however, the church does not normally have services at that time....go for it.

Like I said, why not just DVR or Tivo the game and watch it after church? That way, both problems are solved.

 

[matt wade]

I'm not against having fellowship or parties or just informal, fun things at church, but the problem with the Superbowl is that the Superbowl typically takes place during the same time as our Sunday PM service and I don't think the service should be pre-empted for a ball game (and I say that being a huge football fan).

There's my position in a nutshell. If a church normally has services and is worshiping God during the time the SB is on, then they should not cancel services in order to watch football. If, however, the church does not normally have services at that time....go for it.

 

[tinytim]

That's the problem when people forgets that we are the church.. not the building...
The church should be present everywhere.. not holed up in a building.

HEY.. here's an idea...

Let's take a Baptistboard field trip...
Lets go to the Superbowl!..

Forget about separate parties.. Let's go where the action is...
Let's meet at the Superbowl, and have a tailgating party.. where we can reach out to others!...
We will have food, (and for some of you old fashioned fundamentalists.. we will call it "Potluck"..)
We will have music.. (some Southern Gospel too)
We can pass out tracts... (even put some in the men's bathroom where they will fall into urinals.. because we are too chicken to actually talk to the people we are giving them too)
Then we can go to the game!...

Hey, "The Who" are doing the half time show.. that could be our Nursing home service!!

 

[tinytim]

First of all, I never said anything about a "Laodicean Church".

Second, no, I don't see how what I said was hostile or judgemental. Perhaps you could explain it to me.



And those verses are relevate because...?



When did I ever say they were a backslidden church?



Do you know what the Bible means when it talks about legalism?



Who here has said anything like that? All I said is that I think such a celebratory atmosphere isn't consistent with such a solemn thing and that I don't think we should use gimmicks to get people in to hear the Gospel.



But I didn't so why are you taking it out on me?



No, actually, He called them hypocrites because they held themselves to one standard, while they held those under them to another standard.



Actually, I never said anything about Godliness one way or the other, so you're barking up the wrong tree.



What does that have to do with the Super Bowl?



Um...isn't basing the Gospel around the Super Bowl a "man made tradition that isn't Biblically based"?



Nobody has said anything about recreational things in the church building being wrong, but that the idea of interrupting or pre-empting a church service to show a football game is wrong.

I am not taking it out on you.. I responded to you to answer your question... NOthing personal brother!

*edited to replace "quoted" with "responded to"

 

[sag38]

Nobody has said anything about recreational things in the church building being wrong, but that the idea of interrupting or pre-empting a church service to show a football game is wrong.

In fact you called it a "gimmick." So, according to your logic there are many who won't come out to a regular Sunday evening service. They typically stay home. But, let Baily Smith come preach and the place is packed out. So, using Baily Smith to draw people who otherwise wouldn't attend, is therefore a gimmick and wrong. After all the church is preempting the regular service in order to host a big time preacher. And, I would also bet that there will be some type of special music that isn't the norm. That too, according to your logic, would be a gimmick.

 

[webdog]

Nobody has said anything about recreational things in the church building being wrong, but that the idea of interrupting or pre-empting a church service to show a football game is wrong.

Who has even alluded to this? You are arguing something that hasn't been said.

 

[Bob Alkire]

Nobody has said anything about recreational things in the church building being wrong, but that the idea of interrupting or pre-empting a church service to show a football game is wrong.

But, let Baily Smith come preach and the place is packed out. So, using Baily Smith to draw people who otherwise wouldn't attend, is therefore a gimmick and wrong.

I should stay out of this because I don't have a dog in this fight. I wouldn't want the church that I'm a member to have anything to do with the super bowl at church or change our meeting or what ever. Members can do what they want at home or any other place. I'm not for bring singing groups into the church on Friday night or Saturday night, but others are free to do what they think is best. I know I'll show my age here, but I don't believe car washes cake or pie sales or what ever at church or for the church is the best way to do things. But what others do is their business, not mine.

But to use your line of reason here( and I'm just giving you a hard time on this) how would the football fans feel who paid to see the ball game in the middle of the fourth quarter, we are going to stop the game and Baily Smith preach for between a half an hour to an hour. Or we are going to change the time of the ball game until after Baily Smith has had the last alter call. I don't think the fans will go for that today.

Times have changed. When I was in high school, no games in any sport on Wed. night, pro games didn't come on the radio until 1PM on Sunday.

 

[Jon-Marc]

You didn't have my answer: I wouldn't go to it if they were; I do not like sports at all.

 

[sag38]

I hear you Bob, but the times we live in have changed whether you or I like it or not. Are we going to try and reach them where they are or are we going to lamblast non-Christians for not adhering to our traditional ways?

 

[Bob Alkire]

Are we going to try and reach them where they are or are we going to lamblast non-Christians for not adhering to our traditional ways?

My friend, I'm not lambasting non-christians for not adhering to our ways. It is the Christians that I have problems with, and that starts with me.

I recall Bob Harrington, the Chaplain of Bourbon Street, man I loved that man's work. It hurt when he had his fall and I know of others who fell as he did trying to be to much like the world to reach the world. Thank God, I hear he is back living for his Savior.

I have no problem with the lost and what they do, if they don't accept Christ as their Savior, this is as good as they are ever going to have it. My problem is with we who are saved, are we teaching our children, are we and our family a testimony for Christ to the world. I don't even think that I should tell another church how to run their church. They have a head of their church as I do, and He is Jesus Christ. As W. A. Criswell said one time when I was around him, he was ask why are there so many churches, he said to meet the needs for the many different Christians, one church might not be as good a fit for one as other and they both are fine churches.

 

[Johnv]

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. If a congregation wants to accommodate a Superbowl party and move/modify its regularly scheduled worship, let 'em.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Who has even alluded to this? You are arguing something that hasn't been said.

Several of us, myself included, have said this.

In fact you called it a "gimmick." So, according to your logic there are many who won't come out to a regular Sunday evening service. They typically stay home. But, let Baily Smith come preach and the place is packed out. So, using Baily Smith to draw people who otherwise wouldn't attend, is therefore a gimmick and wrong.

Not necessarily. Do people know that they're coming to hear Bailey Smith preach? Are they told that they're just going for some fun, recreational thing and then Bailey Smith walks out, out of the blue, and starts preaching?

That would be a gimmick and would be wrong.

After all the church is preempting the regular service in order to host a big time preacher.

But isn't the purpose of hosting the "big time preacher" still the preaching of the word of God?

And, I would also bet that there will be some type of special music that isn't the norm. That too, according to your logic, would be a gimmick.

Whoa there! Don't say "my logic" because it isn't. You're making things up and attributing them to me.

I believe I was very clear that I was talking specifically about telling sinners they were going to get one thing, and then giving them another.

I love the people who object to the Super Bowl fellowships, yet will have gospel concerts/singings, etc, eschew preaching for testimonies, and generally jettison any form of Biblical worship to suit itching ears. This comes up every year at this time. Prediction: we'll get nowhere, just like normal.

The difference is that we can look in the Bible and see where singing and testimonies are a Biblical form of worship and can be an evangelism tool. Football is not.

 

[TomVols]

I love the people who object to the Super Bowl fellowships, yet will have gospel concerts/singings, etc, eschew preaching for testimonies, and generally jettison any form of Biblical worship to suit itching ears. This comes up every year at this time. Prediction: we'll get nowhere, just like normal.

 

[Palatka51]

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. If a congregation wants to accommodate a Superbowl party and move/modify its regularly scheduled worship, let 'em.

Sunday is not the Sabbath. Howbeit, if the brethren are assembled for fellowship in worship regardless of the day, we should not forsake that. At last I saw, the majority of those that assemble at stadiums tend to assemble for betting and beer drinking. I've been to a few of these professional events, Baseball, Football and what not and just grew tired of having to pass someones brew to them or worse, having it spilled on me as they step over me to get back to their seat.

 

[Jerome]

How about when the pastor himself is absent from all Sunday services, having flown out of town to see the big game firsthand?:laugh:

 

[Johnv]

Sunday is not the Sabbath.

Good point. Manmade corporate customs is even less sacred than the Sabbath. Which makes it even less of an issue.

How about when the pastor himself is absent from all Sunday services, having flown out of town to see the big game firsthand?

LOL!!! Seriously, a pastor is entitled to time off just like everyone else. If he wants to use the time to go see a ball game, that's his prerogative.

 

[sag38]

My goodness I guess I'm in trouble then because I missed a church service to attend a college bowl game. And, I'd go to the Super Bowl if someone would give me air fare and tickets. Anybody feeling generous?

 

[tinytim]

It's called Vacation.. I get 2 weeks a yr.. and while I use them to go back home.. IF I wanted to use it for a Ballgame.. there would be nothing wrong with it.

 

[tinytim]

Sunday is not the Sabbath. Howbeit, if the brethren are assembled for fellowship in worship regardless of the day, we should not forsake that. At last I saw, the majority of those that assemble at stadiums tend to assemble for betting and beer drinking. I've been to a few of these professional events, Baseball, Football and what not and just grew tired of having to pass someones brew to them or worse, having it spilled on me as they step over me to get back to their seat.

LOL.. I can see it now... you get pulled over for running a stop sign after the big game... and after Bubba spilt his brew-sky all over you....

"No Ossifer... I promise ossifer.. I have not been drinkin... I'm a preacher...

I didn't do it.. Bubba did.. I only drink Pepsi!!!"

LOL!!!!!! Gotcha!

 

[Jim1999]

The late Billy Sunday used to preach, in baseball lingo, from the pitcher's plate in Yankee Stadium.

Cheers,

Jim