Mar 3, 2009
A Rumor that’s not...
There’s one making the rounds that my son is playing organized sports. Please allow me to set the record straight; that is not a rumor it is a fact and is definitely no secret. It is widely known that Grant plays football. Why does he? Because after much consideration and prayer I decided that the positives outweighed the negatives, and so allowed him to play. I have never thought that team sports for kids were wrong, and so I made the decision without consulting anyone but God. I thought that it would be good for him, and it has been. There are other sports from which he has been forbidden, and his school has been very understanding and respectful of our religious beliefs. He is not allowed to dress immodestly, nor is he allowed to miss regular church services. My wife and I have never allowed his sports activities to interfere with or infringe upon our responsibilities to the congregation or to God.
POLICY vs. BIBLE
NTCC’s stance concerning sports has always been a policy, based not upon the bible, but upon Pastor’s oversight of the flock. (A policy is practice established to discourage unwanted actions or activities, it is not a bible doctrine or commandment.) A Pastor is a Shepherd and must guide the flock away from all apparent dangers. If he sees you going down a potentially dangerous path, it is his Biblical right and obligation to warn you in an effort to protect you; but the control of your life is still yours! God made us free moral agents. “He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.” Proverbs 15:32
When the focus among brethren in Servicemen’s Homes, shifted from God to playing sports, Pastor stopped it; within the ministry and the bible school. Sports, in and of themselves, are not wrong, if the participant is modestly dressed, and maintains the proper conduct of a Christian. If a person becomes angry at a referee or something, the sin of anger isn’t really linked to the sport, but comes from his heart. Can a Pastor tear down his influence with the members by over-fraternization and over familiarity? Yes. Is it all too easy to have our vision diverted from Christ and onto other things, yes! These were factors in Pastor’s mind when some of these decisions were enacted.
Pastor Davis and I have different views on some things; motorcycles, paint colors, what constitutes good food and especially coffee! But I have made my opinions known to him, and he respects my views. I have never been one to just say ‘yes’ to everything, which in his view, is a virtue not a vice. We also agree that this in no way represents the ‘touching of God’s anointed’ or renegade behavior. As a result of these personality differences my “call” has been and is different from his on some of these minor things; but there is no ‘division among us’. Our objectives and motivation are one and the same: glorifying God and helping people to make it to heaven!
M.C. Kekel
There’s one making the rounds that my son is playing organized sports. Please allow me to set the record straight; that is not a rumor it is a fact and is definitely no secret. It is widely known that Grant plays football. Why does he? Because after much consideration and prayer I decided that the positives outweighed the negatives, and so allowed him to play. I have never thought that team sports for kids were wrong, and so I made the decision without consulting anyone but God. I thought that it would be good for him, and it has been. There are other sports from which he has been forbidden, and his school has been very understanding and respectful of our religious beliefs. He is not allowed to dress immodestly, nor is he allowed to miss regular church services. My wife and I have never allowed his sports activities to interfere with or infringe upon our responsibilities to the congregation or to God.
POLICY vs. BIBLE
NTCC’s stance concerning sports has always been a policy, based not upon the bible, but upon Pastor’s oversight of the flock. (A policy is practice established to discourage unwanted actions or activities, it is not a bible doctrine or commandment.) A Pastor is a Shepherd and must guide the flock away from all apparent dangers. If he sees you going down a potentially dangerous path, it is his Biblical right and obligation to warn you in an effort to protect you; but the control of your life is still yours! God made us free moral agents. “He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.” Proverbs 15:32
When the focus among brethren in Servicemen’s Homes, shifted from God to playing sports, Pastor stopped it; within the ministry and the bible school. Sports, in and of themselves, are not wrong, if the participant is modestly dressed, and maintains the proper conduct of a Christian. If a person becomes angry at a referee or something, the sin of anger isn’t really linked to the sport, but comes from his heart. Can a Pastor tear down his influence with the members by over-fraternization and over familiarity? Yes. Is it all too easy to have our vision diverted from Christ and onto other things, yes! These were factors in Pastor’s mind when some of these decisions were enacted.
Pastor Davis and I have different views on some things; motorcycles, paint colors, what constitutes good food and especially coffee! But I have made my opinions known to him, and he respects my views. I have never been one to just say ‘yes’ to everything, which in his view, is a virtue not a vice. We also agree that this in no way represents the ‘touching of God’s anointed’ or renegade behavior. As a result of these personality differences my “call” has been and is different from his on some of these minor things; but there is no ‘division among us’. Our objectives and motivation are one and the same: glorifying God and helping people to make it to heaven!
M.C. Kekel
Labels: Sports
Posted by mck at 7:20 PM 13 comments
3 comments:
1Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blamless, the husband of on wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality,apt to teach. (Question)How can RWD be a bishop or church elder if he have had more than one wife.
Anonymous,
NTCC believes this verse means one wife at a time (not a polygamist), other folks believe this means one wife per lifetime.
I think it means one at a time, but I haven't studied this verse out for a lot of years. I am not in the Ministry at this time, so is a moot point for me personally.
My first wife abandoned me, and then committed adultery by getting remarried. So, I am double covered.
Gregory
That blog wreaks of BS! I remember getting in trouble for throwing a football around let alone have my own kid in the sport.
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