I didn’t learn much in seminary about the things that really matter in ministry—things like the fast-pitch softball matchup between my church and the Bible church down the highway. This ongoing rivalry determined our church’s self-image for the next year. If we won, we were ready to win the world for Christ. If we lost, I preached a long series on suffering, and we considered a name change to Mudville Church of the Closed Door.
I have watched with fascination the dramatic impact of athletics on the life of a church. Surely in the area of church sports, God has set before us a blessing and a curse.
THE CURSE OF CHURCH ATHLETICS
Competition can bring out the best in people, but my experience is it far more often brings out the worst. Selfishness, bad temper, cutthroat tactics, lying (“I did not foul him!”), cheating, pride, and disunity are just a few of the temptations. There are five “deadly sins” that are a bane to the church and pastor who have to endure them.
A bad reputation. We had a basketball team at my first church that was notorious throughout the city. We were thrown out of every Christian league we played in. We regularly had players slugging the refs, slugging the other team, slugging each other. “What a marvelous outreach to inner-city gang teenagers,” someone might say—except these were church men, some board members! When I was introduced to a group of pastors, someone would raise one eyebrow and say, “Isn’t that the church with the basketball team?”
Unnecessary divisions. As if there are not enough things to tear a church’s fabric, throw in athletic competition by spiritually immature people. Some of the silly, stupid things that have blown up into major crises almost defy description.
Consider the nightmare of the aerated team jerseys. The women’s softball team bought new jerseys, choosing the kind that have pin-prick holes to allow for airflow. This created a scandal when some individuals in the church accused them of deliberately “inflaming the passions” of the male spectators. The elders called an emergency meeting when several on both sides of the issue threatened to leave the church. They mediated a compromise by requiring all women to wear T-shirts under their jerseys.
The disappearing athlete. Typical of many churches who make church attendance a prerequisite for participation in athletics, our congregation grew through the infusion of individuals who would endure an hour’s torture to have two hours of fun a week. I’ve seen some move from church to church for the various sports offered. Spring was softball for our church, fall meant the Baptist basketball league, winter the bowling league with the Methodists—frustrating not one, but three pastors.
Bobbled outreach. The stated objective of sports activity is often outreach, enabling Christians to rub shoulders with non-Christians and do “lifestyle evangelism.” Inevitably, the non-Christians behave like saints and the Christians act like Legion in the swine.
I’ll never forget the coach of one team who had been obnoxious during the game, complaining loudly to the umpire about calls, questioning the manhood of the league president, etc. About five nonbelievers observed this conduct. Afterward, this coach delivered the devotional, speaking from personal experience about the transforming work of the Holy Spirit on the heart of a saved person!
“Win-at-any-cost” competitors. Most church leagues try to be inclusive; anyone can participate and see action in every game. The other common objective is to use athletics for the fun and fellowship of the congregation. Without fail, though, one team will stack its roster with the best players from wherever they can recruit them and approach each game as if it were a jihad, the “Mother of all Battles.” Their aim is to crush, annihilate, destroy, demoralize, and humiliate their beloved brothers and sisters in Christ to the glory of God.
Our church had two softball teams in the church co-ed league, one mighty (with all the best players) and one that was not quite as talented, made up of young couples out for fun. I happened to be in attendance at the game where “it” happened. In true David and Goliath form, the weaker team was close going into the 9th inning, and actually had tied it up when the coach, an intense competitor, made a tactical error that just about split the church. He had been in the game earlier but had allowed himself to be substituted for. Now, in the bottom of the ninth with the chance to win, he put himself back in as a pinch hitter for one of the girls, at best stretching two rules and shattering the spirit of fair play in the process. He went on to get the game-winning hit.
The other team, with blue veins bulging on their necks and temples, screamed, and one couple stomped off, shaking their fists and threatening dire consequences. The impact rippled through the church the next Sunday, with groups taking sides as they heard of the events. Both demanded that the church discipline the other group, the coach, the people who stomped off, etc.
The resolution finally came when I got the two ringleaders of the trouble together, handed them butcher knives, and told them they might as well start carving up the church, because that’s what they were doing with their attitudes. The sight of those knives had its impact. Both asked forgiveness of the other and helped reconcile their respective groups.
THE BLESSINGS OF CHURCH ATHLETICS
I’ve wondered if anything could balance out the heartaches involved in church athletics. There are a few worth considering.
Test for maturity. Sports may get ugly at times, but you get a good measure of an individual’s maturity by the way he or she competes. If someone is hiding behind a mask of spirituality, sports will rip it off. If you see consistent hostile behavior, inability to work on a team, rebellion to authority, or a mouth out of control, then you have a pretty good indicator of that person’s behavior in a committee or board situation. I’ve recognized several who were not ready for spiritual leadership by watching them compete. It’s also possible to discover some positive talents and abilities.
Paul exhorted Timothy to test prospective elders and deacons for their fitness. Timothy could have taken that advice and organized the Ephesian Christian Basketball League.
Team building. Though I have little athletic ability, my first year here I joined a group of younger men from the church who played in the Molson Beer Touch Football League. Being on that team and playing non-Christian teams built friendships. We prayed together before every game and encouraged each other throughout. We would bring oranges and soft drinks (instead of beer) for the opposing teams. That involvement continues to affect the men who shared that experience.
Given good leadership, a team can gain many interpersonal and spiritual benefits.
Entry points. Church athletics can be an entry-level involvement in church life. When outreach is taken seriously by a team’s leadership, lifestyle evangelism can occur there. We have gained many young couples and singles through their participation on our softball teams. After each game, the teams head for a fast-food restaurant, where friendships are forged. This year, we plan to field a “platinum” team of men and women over 40 to increase opportunities for participation.
PRINCIPLES OF CHURCH ATHLETICS
I have learned several principles the hard way that may be helpful for others struggling to manage church athletics.
Determine your church “sports philosophy.” Plenty of secular teams exist for people who just like to be involved in athletics. Church leaders need to document their reason for having church sports teams. A vision statement, goals, and results expected are part of this document. If the church has a vision statement, then church athletics should support it.
Whether the goal is outreach or fellowship, all coaches should assume their responsibilities based on that goal. State clearly the place of “winning” in your philosophy.
Screen your coaches. A pastor can head off problems by selecting the right people to coach. If the church does not have a screening process, develop one that states a coach’s spiritual qualifications and job description, as well as some forum for accountability. The coach should be viewed on a level with a small group leader. Spiritual maturity is a non-negotiable quality.
Establish rules of conduct. We developed specific rules regarding such things as loss of temper and complaining to game officials. A loss of temper required a one-game suspension and an apology to the team. Complaining to game officials resulted in an apology and a two-game suspension. Depending on the seriousness of the problems, we either posted the rules of conduct or had participants sign a “team covenant” and commit to a code of conduct.
Participate. In spite of limited ability and assorted aches and pains, I now participate in the athletic life of the church. Through church athletics, I’ve discovered some of the warmest and most enjoyable times of koinonia I have had in ministry.
People need to see their pastors experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. They need to watch them mediate when two people start fuming with each other. They need to observe them make mistakes—even to really blow it—and to watch how they respond. They need to behold how seriously they take things that ultimately aren’t that important.
I delight in the opportunity to demonstrate practical godliness, with all the inherent risks and benefits.
Play ball!
**********************
Ken Quick is pastor of Parkway Bible Church in Scarborough, Ontario.
1996 Christianity Today/LEADERSHIP Journal
