Continuing a series of posts on rules of the church, this list deals with recreation. When I was growing up, it was regularly taught that men’s ball games (baseball, football, golf) were ridiculous wastes of time for a Christian. Never mind the fellowship and camaraderie that comes from sports. A group of us at one of my old church families played volleyball once a month and we formed some great bonds with each other during those years that continue to this day. However, like good Pharisees, sports, for the most part, are decreed sinful or otherwise inappropriate for a Christian.

One fallacious line of reasoning has always been “Can you imagine <insert preacher’s name here> playing basketball?” (Or wearing blue jeans…yes, I’ve even heard that one.) What does that have to do with Biblical mandate? This amounts to nothing more than “comparing ourselves among ourselves.” I can’t imaging a catholic priest wearing blue jeans, but that doesn’t mean God wants him to wear a black shirt with a turned up collar.

2 Corinthians 10:12 – “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

Here are some of the rules for recreation:

  • Previous
    teaching    : Recreation is a sin. No fishing, no skiing, no boating, no
    ice skating, no amusement parks, no fairs, no ball games, no golf.
  • Slow shift in teaching: Some recreation is okay but must not involve
    other Christians, and counsel should be sought as to what is acceptable.
  • Current teaching: It’s acceptable to ski, boat, fish, hike, camp, etc. with another Christian, especially if children are involved; but no golf, organized sports, or ball games, with the possible exception of playing ball with children.
h/t to CB for the list of rules
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