By Megan Hill
A few weeks ago, our son’s baseball team played its last inning, and his coach walked to the bleachers. He wanted to nominate our son for the all-star team. It’s a thrill for any boy who loves the game like ours does: a chance for a summer’s worth of at-bats, dugout chatter, travel to other towns, and improved skills.
With games on Sundays.
This was the first time our family had to confront the issue of Sunday sports, but, with three athletic children, it won’t be the last. Pastors say children’s sports have become the biggest challenge to church attendance for American families.
The idea that Chariots of Fire runner Eric Liddell made it all the way to the 1924 Olympic Games before being asked to compete on a Sunday seems almost quaint. Today, the littlest T-ball player is routinely expected to show up on Sunday, and the demands only escalate as children get older.
The Association of Religion Data Archives recently reported that some churches have responded to the loss of families by adding alternative service times on Saturday, so church members can attend both sports and worship. Additionally, many churches have increased their offerings of sports-related activities, hoping to appeal to families who prioritize athletic involvement.
While churches and parents who endorse Sunday sports may think they’ve found a solution for their families, postponing worship-focused Sundays until after the season is finished forces children miss out the spiritual life lessons they need to learn right now. “For while bodily training is of some value,” says 1 Timothy 4:8, “godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also the life to come.”
Read more at http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2013/june/sunday-sports-dilemma-church-practice.html