I never liked Little League when I was a kid. Coaches Pitch was fun. Little League was dreadful. It wasn’t my coach. It wasn’t my team. It wasn’t even the t-shirt. It was stepping up to bat.
Those of you who know me know that I am not athletic. It’s always been that way. I was always the kid that got put in left field. My problem with Little League was that I was afraid of the ball. That ball seemed to fly 100 MPH and it always seemed to come right at me. Because I was afraid of the ball I would step back from the plate. Because I stepped back from the plate I never hit the ball. That is why I gave up my Little League career in 4th grade.
One thing I have noticed about the kids in the community where I live is that they LOVE Little League. I see it every day during the summer because the baseball fields are adjacent to our church property. People practically idolize it. This is what bugs me about Little League. Red flags are shooting up all over the place and I feel obligated as a shepherd to do something about it.
Each summer when baseball starts it becomes #1 to so many of the families in my church. Parents let their kids miss AWANA, camp, and Vacation Bible School. Why? Because God forbid that Junior miss a practice or a game.
Here’s what concerns me. What are kids learning when baseball trumps everything at the church? One thing I learned a long time ago was that what’s most important to you dictates your schedule.
So what am I going to do? I don’t know for sure. I need your help. This morning on the way to my office, here are some things I jotted down.
1) I am going to pray that the parents in my church will practice wisdom and discernment in their decision making. After all, the ball is in their court, right?
2) I am going to preach to my kids about the priority of God and His church. Hey, if I was the senior pastor and the congregation started missing church like crazy because of golf, I would address it because I am obligated as their pastor/shepherd. I am not going to preach against Little League. I don’t have a problem with sports. I do have a problem with making sports an idol of the Christian’s heart.
3) I’m going to ask God to give me loving boldness when I have the opportunity to “speak the truth in love”. The next time a parent tells me their kid won’t be in AWANA because of baseball, I am going to lovingly confront the issue and share my heart. No more burying my head in the sand.
4) I am going to ask my Pastor to partner with me on this. I know him and I know that he will.
What else should I do? Any other pointers?
i think you’ve hit a home run! it’s annoying when fellow christians take their eye off of Christ and put their eyes on the ball. not only in little league, but in life! the ideas you’ve mentioned above are fabulous follow thru’s to remedy any “idol bug”! God’s awesomeness far exceeds any trophy! so many of us, myself included, want victory… be it in a game or in any area of life. i believe i heard John Piper say that we shouldn’t be striving to walk in victory but we should be striving to walk in obedience! what a statement. when we walk in obedience we will experience victory… but the goal should be obedience! i can’t really offer any additional advice other than to say; preach the Word! i know you will:)
I never thought that I would ever end up like some of those little league parents…but then my son starting swimming. He loves to swim. He’s worked so hard to swim better, training twice a day, private lessons, eating right, sleeping better, etc. Now I understand better why some folks are so consumed with their kid’s sports. It’s not that I even have the illusion that he’s going to the olympics, it’s all of the work he’s put into getting better that I want to honor. Yet at the same time, I want him to understand and know that God is first and that we, as a family, will live that way. It’s a difficult thing to balance, because the coach and his teammates pull on one end (sometimes dangling opportunities for promotion to a “higher level” in order to attract a higher commitment level). So, my husband and I try to remain true to our commitment to worship God faithfully. It’s really a hard balance–as a children’s minister, I see many kids who are involved in dance, piano, sports, school…and their parent’s don’t support them prioritizing church. They float in and out. I’m looking forward to hearing how it’s working, I think I’m going to have to be more bold, like you…
My son loves baseball. I love participating with him in baseball. I don’t think that we are any less Christian for loving an activity together. If anything, I think it enhances our relationship with each other and by way of that enhances our relationship with God. We do not play on Sundays but yes it may or may not be a choice we make instead of extra activities at church so as Vacation Bible School or youth outings. I think that you should be thankful to see memebers of your chuch at a baseball field with their children rather than see those children being dropped off at a field with no one there to see their great hits or double plays or even thier strkeouts. God Bless.
We have faced the same problem here for many years, with several sports. When I was a part of the youth ministry, I would hear my youth pastor talk about how he didn’t like, football, baseball, wrestling, etc…. It wasn’t till I sat down and heard him out that I found out why. All the sudden the sports became number one! I now face the same problem now!! I think your 4 steps are excellent and there’s only one I would add, that may not even be possible for you.
Set the example. Its hard to juggle even one sport and ministry. I am in Tae Kwon Do, along with a kid from our church, and every other kid knows I’m in it. (They come watch me test!) But sometimes I have to miss tournaments, and practices, and classes I really want to be at just to GET READY for ministry! Both the families at church and the families at Tae Kwon Do see this and respect it. No one on either side is angry, they understand. Now I can speak from my own experience when speaking to parents and kids. It’s hard to do both, but very possible.
ana shaw,
Thanks for the feedback. Good points here. Keeping your eyes on Christ is so critical. I think the Apostle Paul would have put his kids in Little League if they expressed an interest in joining, but the minute that baseball became an idol in their heart and more important than eternal things they would had a serious talk. That’s “frank-ism” for whatever it’s worth! Ryan
Joni,
Thanks for being open and honest. My daughter is 2 years old so I haven’t lived it yet in my own family. I hope that I stay sensitive like you are and true to my commitments and to worship. Your son working hard and becoming a better swimmer brings glory to the Lord - I really believe that. Keep striking a balance! Ryan
a baseball mother,
That’s a good reminder about how activities and sports can bring families together. How sad it is to see a kid dropped off at every game and picked up when the game is over. I am thankful that the parents in my church are supporting their kids. I am concerned when I see a pattern of putting sports or dance class or other activities over the church and the spiritual development of their kids. Ryan
Allison,
Thanks for the encouragement that you can do both - but it takes work. Sometimes you have to make some tough choices but I am glad to hear you are making them. The Bible promises to “Delight in Him and he will give you the desires of your heart” (paraphrase). As you make those tough choices that please Him He will make sure the interests and desires in your heart are fulfilled. Amen? Ryan
This seems like a factor in our culture. I tend to want to do ‘church’ sports like Upward. We launched their program last year and it was really successful. It gave families a sports option that didn’t conflict with church. It promoted a more balanced schedule with only one hour practice per week. We redefined sportsmanship. It attracted many new families to our church.
Now baseball is another deal. I think your list is a great place to start. Keep us updated.
Hmmm…this bugs me too, but I do have a little different opinion and one that may or may not be popular!!! I think as parents we must determine and help our children determine what sports we will participate in and how they will affect our priorities. Our priorities should match what the Bible says. The Bible says we are to be salt and light to our communities, little league sports would be a great way to do that. The Bible also says we are to keep the Sabbath day holy. So to participate in Little League that you knew was going to interfer with church services on Sunday, would be a sin. But to participate in a sport that would take you away from camp or VBS, I think the parent and child would need to talk about that before committing to baseball. If you commit to baseball, than you should COMMIT. I think sometimes we Christians become “too Christian” and remove ourselves from the community, thus never becomming salt and light. Now idolizing ANYTHING is an entirely different thing and I think that becomes a heart issue. Signing up to play little league that doesn’t meet on the Sabbath would not be idolizing, in my opinion. There are many lessons that can be learned when a family plays a sport together and memories that will be made to last forever. A family that commits themselves to loving God and loving others can most definately find a perfect balance!
I think you should coach. What a better way get to know families outside of your church and to show them that it is not a us versus them it is a God who meets you where you are. Sometimes you have to leave the walls of the church to get people stand within the walls.
I feel that you may be way off base on this one.
You are assuming that ‘CHURCH’ provides the only form of spiritual formation in a child’s life. I’m a CP, and have struggled for years with the twinge of bitterness when families choose other activities over the ones I’ve planned, and prayerfully organized for their own children, but sometimes spending time together as a family, enjoying sports, can be more beneficial to the life of a family than anything I could ever plan at church. There are always extremes, and I’m not speaking to that; I’m simply saying that with all the things we plan (VBS, Day Camps, Summer Camp, Parent’s Night Out), I have to understand that Baseball, Football, or Dance will sometimes be chosen over my activities.
I’ve tried to reach out to these families, by attending some of the games, and getting myself involved in their life outside of church. It’s not my place to tell parent what to do with their time, but it is my responsibility to be involved in their lives, and to offer encouragement to raise their children to be followers of Christ.
Make any sense at all?
to be honest, i don’t have a huge issue with missing midweek AS LONG AS your priorities are straight. it’s all about the heart and what your heart is seeking. what is the motive? are you not only playing sports, but living your life to glorify God? it is heart breaking to see families who idolize the sport and are more excited about their kids sports gear then whether their kid is wearing their spiritual gear. as carmen put it, a balance is key. if you can view and prioritize sports properly then by all means… their is NOTHING wrong with that. however, the moment that we begin to exalt the game over our God we have crossed over into sin. it’s not just sports. it could be tv, computer, people… the list goes on. we all need to remember to ask ourselves what our motive is. this appears to be a hot topic:) great conversation!
Tony,
Three churches in our are do Upward with great success. I try to send our kids there for the same reason you started it in your church. Thanks for the feedback. Ryan
Carmen,
Great points! It’s so nice to hear from you when you post on the Blog. In case you don’t know it, Carmen and I went to school together when in high school and were in the same youth group.
Thanks again Carmen, this is a fresh and good perspective.
Ryan
Wow great post…I have coached little league for over 15 years and have been able to pray with hundreds of children and adults that I maybe never would have been able to before…The Lord used it to reach one of my assistants who got saved and on fire for God and now has his whole family in church and plays the guitar for the praise team…
i coached as a heathen and not long after i was saved and coaching t-ball i had gotten into some strife with some folks inluding my dad…I went home that night and told the Lord i was quitting ooacing and was convinced that t-ball was from the devil!!! The Lord lovingly spoke to me that t-ball was not from the devil but my attitude was…
I do agree about the priorities but i think it only reveals people’s hearts and hunger levels which would be there regardless of little league…i refused to practice or play on wednesdays or sundays it made some parents mad but it simply wasn’t an option for me…
i admire you for trying ryan and i had many kids that did not have the ability to play ball in school but developed enough to at least enjoy playing some backyard ball or playing at a picnic or reunion…some of the best relationhips i formed were with these guys.
Question: instead of trying to get kids to come to our events and take them away from the sports activities, why aren’t we encouraging our folks to go out and serve them? What better way for God’s people to Make Him Look Good than getting out of our comfort zone (the church building), put our activities on hold and serve people?
God doesn’t care what day of the week it is when we are on a mindset of serving Him. Everyday is sacred and holy and a GREAT chance to worship by serving. How am I less of a believer or worshiper of God if I am working a concession stand on Sunday to better serve other parents and kids.
BTW, I’m not a parent of a Little Leaguer, but I hope someday to be. I am a Children’s Pastor who LOVES it when parents tell me they won’t be around on Sunday because of another commitment they have with their kids. Instead, I celebrate with them and encourage them to Make God Look Good as they serve. They learn more through serving than I could ever hope to teach them on Sunday Morning. It’s all about the mindset.
In my leadership role at the church, it has frustrated me when people chose anything over the church (can you guess what mindset prevailed in the home I grew up in?). The idea of choosing anything over the church was just plain foreign to me. I questioned the “spiritual life” of anyone who would choose something else over the latest Bible Study.
Then I began to view life as a series of divine appointments. Now regardless of what drives a person’s decision, I want the group in Bible Study to be exactly the people that God has chosen for that study. As we prepare for the Bible Study, I begin to pray that God would work in the hearts of those He has chosen for the study, and that they would set aside their own agendas in favor of His.
Now, while I think we should have 100 women in Bible Study every time, I am content even if we have 2 - because I believe that no matter how many we have, God has prepared the way for exactly those whom He has ordained to be there.
I do agree with you that worship must take precedence over sports, but I also sympathize with those who face the practical struggle of finding the balance in their own home. In my own home, finding that very balance may take a unique twist within the coming year - perhaps not one that you would agree with, but one that I am at peace with.
In the end though, what I want to challenge and encourage you with - is to begin praying that God would prepare the hearts of those He would have to participate in your ministry events. When families state that they are choosing sports over the church - just tell them how you are praying, and ask them if they have prayed for God’s direction in this decision. Trust them as the people to whom God has entrusted those children - and then whether your VBS has 7 kids or 70, give it everything knowing that God has sent exactly those that need to be there.
Now as for the suggestion that you coach . . . I would recommend being an assistant to your dad
Jeramy,
I don’t quite line up with your theology about Sundays, but sure agree about making Jesus look good wherever you go. That’s a dynamite point. Thanks for the post brother. Keep serving the Lord and loving those kids.
Ryan
Renae (AKA Evan Doyle’s mom),
Thanks for taking time to write. I sure hear what you are saying and see a lot of wisdom in it. Next year all three kids of yours will be out of the children’s ministry and in the youth group, so do what you want with them! Just kidding! ha ha.
I am not taking lightly the difficulty of striking that balance and teaching your kids to honor God first in their heart. Sometimes I feel unqualified to even talk about this stuff because my daughter is 2 (going on 10).
My passion is that children will love God with their whole heart and that the person and work of God will always reign #1 in their hearts. I fear that running kids to this game and that activity while putting God’s work on the bottom shelf might hinder that. That’s my 2 cents worth.
Ryan
Hey all, I just saw another post on this topic on another blog that I came across. The link is:
http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/2213/Jim_Elliff
The author makes some good points. I would encourage you to check it out.
Evan
Wow Evan, great find! Every once in a while you remind me why I don’t mind you prowling the internet for strange facts - and to think, you’ve done it twice in the same day!
i agree we serve or should serve God everyday but Sunday and Wednesday evening are days set apart in this country for Christians to serve God and one another by gathering together in worship…I beieve we should make this a priority in our lives not to be religous but to faithful come to a place of unity to help fulfill the call of God upon our local church…My pastor always says the largest congregation of believers in any given city is the one that stays home because they don’t see the need to go to church
Eric Liddell ran in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. His best event was the 100m. There was only one problem - the heats were on a Sunday. Liddell pulled out. While the heats were taking place, he was preaching in a church. Some days later, he ran in the 400m. Nobody gave him a chance. What happened? Eric Liddell won gold, breaking the world record in the process.
So did God honor his stand for the Sabbath? Some food for thought.
The church has done a great job of creating these ’sacred cows’ that ‘must’ be adhered to. Even worse, we have come to the place where we chastise those who don’t see eye to eye with our thoughts (this is not a reference to replies to my post…this is a generalized statement to how the church approaches secular society). With a cluck of the tongue, we shake our heads and continue on our ’sacred day’ while the world could care less. They are not influenced by our choices of non-participation. In fact, they don’t even notice. In short, we have failed to impact our communities because we voluntarily remove ourselves from the very people we are here to share a life worth living!
Which brings me to my question. What is the point of church? Is it to worship on Sundays? If so, then we have surely succeeded. But I don’t think that’s why we are here and I don’t think that’s the point of the church. Now, a statement will surely be made that churches (and more specifically Sundays) designed to worship God and edify the believer. And I would agree with that statement. However, I ask these questions in response: What better way is there to worship God than to serve? Isn’t that what Jesus stated was our greatest command (love one another)? How can we truly edify believers when we don’t send them out to follow the basic commands of God?
The church spends more time training people than doctors spend in medical school! I’ve been through EE, Paul/Timothy, Sunday School, AWANA, RA’s, VBS and retreat upon retreat all with the expressed goal of preparing me to one day share Christ. Yet, as outgoing as I am, I’ve never walked up to a total stranger and shared my faith. No, the people I have shared Christ with are people that I have invested in. Not just for the purpose of giving the ABC’s of salvation so my job is done but to walk with them and help them discover a life worth living. This requires incredible commitment and purpose on my part. It requires courage. But most importantly, it requires me to exit my comfort zones, leave my fellow believers and walk across the room. To sit next to another parent at my children’s swimming lessons and actually learn about them. Not with an ulterior motive of sharing the gospel, but to laugh with them, cry with them and share with them how my life has been changed by the Creator of the Universe. That in a world that lacks absolutes, there is One.
This is where Little League comes back into play. If I can help people to see that baseball is a phenomenal way to build relationships that ultimately Make God Look Good, then I have succeeded far more than me playing games with kids on Sunday morning ever will. If a child can observe their parent making a true effort to reach out to people, then they learn more than my little memory verse game can get across about what it means to follow John 15:12 (which has been our memory verse for several weeks). So, while Sunday (and/or Wednesday) is an important day in regards to setting aside time to specifically say “Thank You” to God and to cheer on my fellow Journeyfolk as they become People of Impact, it should never become my crutch, my equipping time for an encounter that may never come to pass or my excuse for not serving the people God so desperately wants to save.