Having spent a great deal of time in getting to know the Lord, and also being an athlete growing up in sports, I would think that I might know a thing or two about this subject. I was raised Baptist, and the church never had an issue with my participating in school sports. That said, I was very confused when I met my future wife. She was raised Pentecostal, and her church believed that it was wrong to play organized sports for religious reasons.
My wife has not been in the Pentecostal church for years, but I did attend a few services with her over the years. More importantly I have spent hours talking with her Mother and Stepfather on the subject. Also, I have spent plenty of time researching this issue scripturally and prayed over it. After all of this, I have an opinion on the matter that is well founded.
I can find absolutely nothing wrong with kids participating in team sports. Rather, I find that participation in these sports can actually enhance their spiritual side, and teach them to be better Christians. It was my experience that a great many kids were brought to a relationship with the Lord through sports in school. Both through the FCA and through the various functions it supported. Now the FCA did not require participation in sports to attend, but they certainly encouraged it.
That said, what good does sports do to bring kids closer to the Lord?
For one thing, sports teaches a child to work together with people. This closeness breeds a special kind of togetherness that is special indeed. Some of my closest friends were those that I played sports with growing up. There is a kinship that you gain when you work together for any common goal. Sports gives children a chance to see that early, and it helps them in their future lives as well.
Sports teaches children how to overcome problems in positive ways. This is certainly a Christian principle, and is a good thing for any child.
The main reason that was given to me for why a child should not participate in team sports as far as the Pentecostal church was concerned was because the child would be around non-believers. To me that is the most ludicrous statement I have ever heard.
For one thing, a child is around those same non-believers in school every day. How is on the field any different? For another thing, and more importantly, is it not the believers duty to spread the Word? If not through open and direct conversation, a child can spread the life of Christianity through their actions on the field. Showing sportsmanship, compassion and humility are certainly ways in which they can do this.
The truth is we are crippling our children if we are trying to keep them out of these world experiences. It is one thing to keep them away from gangs and dangerous life situations, but to group team sports into that same category is sad and manipulative at best. We should concentrate our efforts instead of making sure our children are accepting and know how to forgive. Without that forgiveness, then who shall forgive them?
