It is a risky
thing to criticize another man’s religion, but that is my intent today.
Actually, my target is not the religion of one man, but perhaps the closest
thing we have to a national religion—SPORTS—and particularly the effect of this
religion on children.
When I was young (shortly
after the dinosaurs died off), league games for children were not held on
Sunday. In our town, many churches had Wednesday evening classes for the whole
family, so schools and sports leagues avoided games and practice sessions on
that day as well. I know it is not realistic for me to hope that I can roll
back the clock, but the professionalization of children’s sports is screaming
out for a return to sanity.
By the professionalization of children’s
sports, I mean an attitude that places the success of the team above the
welfare of the child. Every child must be at every practice session, or that
child will not be allowed to play. The schedule of practice and games is
intense because the level of competition requires total dedication.
The resulting
pressure on family life can be severe, especially when two or three children
are involved. Sally is dropped off at a practice field on one side of town by
her mother who is planning to attend Willie’s game on the other side of town.
Dad can hardly ever watch either Willie or Sally because he is busy coaching
Jimmy’s team. And this goes on night after night, Saturday after Saturday, and
Sunday after Sunday. If the children are involved in more than one sport, it
goes on month after month.
Another problem with
the professionalization of sports for children is the damage it does to their
religious education. If children are required to be at all games and practices,
and if these are held on Sundays or at other times of religious instruction,
parents must choose between teaching faithfulness to God and faithfulness to
the team.
The issue is not
that children may miss twelve out of fifty-two weeks of lessons. My concern is
the implicit message we are giving: “What’s the problem? You can worship God
whenever you want, but you can only play baseball a few weeks a year. Don’t be
such a legalist!” In other words, “The true God won’t mind if you split your
worship between Him and the religion of sports.”
The Bible,
however, says we should teach our children to put God first. “You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you
sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when
you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7).
I encourage
parents to share this article with other parents. Go as a group to organizational
meetings with this message: I believe the
physical activity and the team spirit of this sport are good for my child.
Therefore, I will do my part to help the team. I will help with fundraisers or
coaching or transportation. I will not allow my child to quit in the middle of
the season. I will bring my child to games and practices that do not compete
with needed family time or with the worship of God. But you may not take
control of the life of my family, and I will not give the soul of my child to
the team.
If enough parents band
together, you can make a difference, at least on the local level. Oh, and by
the way, you need to protect children of different faiths. The leeway you want
for your child must be granted others also.
(I wrote this for the December 1, 2012 Allentown Morning Call.)
