"These people relate to the church probably just as positively as they do to sports...only less actively."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1928
Dear Christian Parents,
This letter is not intended to (1) create guilt, (2) return to "the Law", or (3) attack anybody. Rather, it's just my attempt to get at and explore a phenomenon which I and pretty much every single pastor I ask about these things are curious about.
Let me preface this letter with the following statements that I really do believe are true. Athletics are good, build character, and help children grow. If our kids commit to a team, they should be taught to stand by their commitments. I played sports in school (albeit, poorly!), and am glad I did. My daughter plays, and I'm glad she does.
With that being said, let me ask some question that have arisen from lots of conversations, lots of watching and listening closely to people, and lots of (frankly) grief over what I think is a damaging trend among Christian parents and their children concerning athletics and the body of Christ. My point here is not that you must be at church every single time the doors open or you are a "bad Christian." Far from it. My point is not that your child should or must always choose a church event over an athletic event. Far from it. In fact, my point is simply that there is now an observable, verifiable shift in priorities among Christian parents that is overall damaging to our kids, to the body of Christ, to our corporate and individual witnesses, and to our and our children's spiritual development.
With that, some questions to (honestly) ask yourself.