In my early years of local church ministry while in seminary, I was the Director of the Jack Henton Christian Life Center at St. Luke’s UMC in Memphis. Like a lot of churches in the 1990’s the CLC was a new building that added recreation and activity space, rooms for church and community use, as well as a food pantry and other resources for outreach and engagement of the neighborhood.

My favorite days were Saturdays, especially during basketball season. Games would start early and go all day. Church and community teams from across Memphis might have their league game scheduled at any number of gyms, including St. Luke’s. Players from as young as age 5-6 to 15-16 would come through the doors excited to play their game. The energy from the enthusiastic crowds, made up primarily of parents and friends, was generally positive and the games were a welcome relief from the routines of work and school during the week.

I did not realize it at the time, but some of my first sermons were preached as the teams gathered at center court before a game. A prayer would be offered and the teams were introduced. After several Saturdays of watching game after game, I noticed that there were times when the competitive spirit and desire to win created an intensity that resulted in players and coaches arguing with each other or the fans in the stands loudly expressing their displeasure with the referees. It was especially disturbing when the players were really young and all they could do was watch as the adults yelled at each other and used words that the kids knew they would get in trouble for saying.

Sure, these are common occurrences at many secular sporting events. But to watch players and fans who were representing institutions whose purpose was to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ act this way was really disheartening. One Saturday, I decided to be more proactive as the facility manager and challenge everyone to “raise their game” in a way that had nothing to do with the outcome on the scoreboard.

Instead of just offering a prayer and introducing the teams, I asked everyone gathered if they were required to be there, or did they choose to be there? No one said they were required to be there. They chose to be on the team. They chose to let their kids play. They chose to come and watch the game. They chose to be a coach or a referee. Thus, I reminded them that by this choice they had the privilege of playing in the game, coaching a team, or being in the bleachers to cheer and support the teams.

Consequently, by their words, actions, attitudes, and behaviors they would choose to create the environment in which these young people would play their game. The game itself was meaningless on its own. It is playing, coaching, officiating, and supporting the event in a Christian manner that is the true privilege. Church-sponsored, recreational activities should be the safe place for people of all ages to have a chance to play. Otherwise, they might never be able to engage a sport in a more competitive, secular setting where all that matters is how good you are and did you win?

When we claim the name of Christian, we choose to follow His example in the game of life and in our relationships with others. May we also choose to let our actions and attitudes also reflect the spirit of fair play, giving others a chance to take part, and representing our faith communities in a way that gives glory to God, rather than ourselves. It that, we experience the privilege of bearing winning Fruit for the Kingdom!

Serving with Christ, serving with you,
Rev. Dr. David Weatherly,
President & CEO