Church-Hosted Super Bowl Gatherings Blessed by NFL Policy Change

btaylor »

Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:05 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

Take Your Eyes off the Ball


As our post-Christian nation beholds the liberal demolition of everything American, one icon remains untouched by the agents of change: the great diversion, our unofficial religion, Sports.

This makes perfect sense in a world in which increasingly nothing else does. Sports have provided the ultimate American distraction for decades. What better way to keep God's people occupied, than season after relentless season of mindless "family devotion" to the athletes so "worthy" of our reverence, time, and financial support?

Oh, yes, I realize I am treading on "holy" ground. For years, I've avoided tackling this topic; but, today, the urgency I sense concerning the Church's need to repent compels me to write.

What does the Church in America have to show for the countless resources we've invested in the never-ending array of sports mania? What might have been accomplished, what devastation avoided, had we spent that time, money, and talent on godly pursuits? I'm just asking.

How many Christian parents are so addicted to sports, we'll dutifully sacrifice our children to the cause, often in an effort to relive our own "glory" days? (Please, spare me the "keep 'em busy and out of trouble" mantra.) Whom do we teach our sons and daughters to revere, and why? To what degree does one generation's blind allegiance to sports affect the next?

Maybe I'm just a spoilsport. Maybe God is pleased when parents take preschoolers to cheerleading practice. Maybe He appreciates getting out of church early during the playoffs. Maybe feeding the ravaging gambling industry by betting on a game now and then is really just innocent fun. Maybe throwing a Super Bowl party is a great way to show lost people how we honor the Lord's Day. Maybe Jesus was nailed to the cross so that we who refuse to raise our voices for righteousness' sake can yell and scream in the bleachers without condemnation.

Call me a pessimist, but the way I see it, the home team's clock is about to run out. While we've obsessed over invented foes, the real enemy has gained untold ground. Alas, the competition in which we now find ourselves, though surreal, is not a game. Could it be time to turn off the HD, flush the season passes, and teach our kids about heroes of the faith?


Lord God, we have squandered Your blessings on so much of no eternal consequence. Open the eyes of Your people and show us Your heart regarding our love affair with the things of this world. Bring Your Church to repentance for worshipping idols and forsaking You. Show us how we can invest the remainder of our days for YOUR glory. In the name of Jesus and for His sake, we ask it. Amen.

NBC Rejects Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad

btaylor »

Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:58 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 3

Take Your Eyes off the Ball


As our post-Christian nation beholds the liberal demolition of everything American, one icon remains untouched by the agents of change: the great diversion, our unofficial religion, Sports.

This makes perfect sense in a world in which increasingly nothing else does. Sports have provided the ultimate American distraction for decades. What better way to keep God's people occupied, than season after relentless season of mindless "family devotion" to the athletes so "worthy" of our reverence, time, and financial support?

Oh, yes, I realize I am treading on "holy" ground. For years, I've avoided tackling this topic; but today, the urgency I sense concerning the Church's need to repent compels me to write.

What does the Church in America have to show for the countless resources we've invested in the never-ending array of sports mania? What might have been accomplished, what devastation avoided, had we spent that time, money, and talent on godly pursuits? I'm just asking.

How many Christian parents are so addicted to sports, we'll dutifully sacrifice our children to the cause, often in an effort to relive our own "glory" days? (Please, spare me the "keep 'em busy and out of trouble" mantra.) Whom do we teach our sons and daughters to revere, and why? To what degree does one generation's blind allegiance to sports affect the next?

Maybe I'm just a spoilsport. Maybe God is pleased when parents take preschoolers to cheerleading practice. Maybe He appreciates getting out of church early during the playoffs. Maybe feeding the ravaging gambling industry by betting on a game now and then is really just innocent fun. Maybe throwing a Super Bowl party is a great way to show lost people how we honor the Lord's Day. Maybe Jesus was nailed to the cross so that we who refuse to raise our voices for righteousness' sake can yell and scream in the bleachers without condemnation.

Call me a pessimist, but the way I see it, the home team's clock is about to run out. While we've obsessed over invented foes, the real enemy has gained untold ground. Alas, the competition in which we now find ourselves, though surreal, is not a game. Could it be time to turn off the HD, flush the season passes, and teach our kids about heroes of the faith?


Lord God, we have squandered Your blessings on so much of no eternal consequence. Open the eyes of Your people and show us Your heart regarding our love affair with the things of this world. Bring Your Church to repentance for worshipping idols and forsaking You. Show us how we can invest the remainder of our days for YOUR glory. In the name of Jesus and for His sake, we ask it. Amen.

NBC Rejects Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad

btaylor »

Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:42 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

Thank you, Daniel! :)


Reality Check

So, the media gods of the sports mecca refused to accept tithes and offerings from pro-lifers eager to sacrifice millions for a 30-second ad. So, what?

Should Christians aspire to contribute to the coffers of an establishment that has served only to distract us from the truth? Did we really hope, amid the godless revelry of the Super Bowl, our big bucks would change hearts in half a minute?

The redeeming factor in this fiasco is that, once again, it is blatantly obvious: It's all about abortion.

While we've been busy being entertained, 50 million innocent lives have been snatched from our midst. Their blood is on our hands. We've traded the right to birth, our discernment, and our future for a mess of pigskin and pottage.

Forget the Super Bowl. The only venue God's truth requires is a repentant heart.

NBC Rejects Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad

btaylor »

Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:00 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

Reality Check

So, the media gods of the sports mecca refused to accept tithes and offerings from pro-lifers eager to sacrifice millions for a 30-second ad. So, what?

Should Christians aspire to contribute to the coffers of an establishment that has served only to distract us from the truth? Did we really hope, amid the godless revelry of the Super Bowl, our big bucks would change hearts in half a minute?

The redeeming factor in this fiasco is that, once again, it’s blatantly obvious: “It’s all about abortion.”

While we’ve been busy being entertained, 50 million innocent lives have been snatched from our midst. Their blood is on our hands. We’ve traded the right to birth, our discernment, and our future for a mess of pigskin and pottage.

Forget the Super Bowl. The only venue God’s truth requires is a repentant heart.