Super Bowl Sunday
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY
-Idolatry in Modern Day America-
“You shall have no other gods before me”
1. Polytheism and idolatry were both common in the ancient world. Polytheism is the belief in many gods. Idolatry is the practice of worshiping created things.
2. In the 10 Commandments, Israel was told not to have ‘other gods’ or to worship ‘idols.’ Jewish people recited daily the shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) which called for fully devoted worship of the one true God.
3. Though the form of idolatry changes through time, humanity seems prone toward some type of idolatry. Paul argued that this is the natural consequence of rebellion against the one true God (Rom. 1:23, 25).
Questions to Consider
1. We tend not to worship statues like they did in the ancient world (and still in some places today), but in what ways does ‘idolatry’ still occur in our culture? What counts as worship? What counts as idolatry?
2. Let’s read Keith Drury’s article (on back). Do you agree that professional sports/athletes have become idols in our culture? Does this idolatry even invade the church? Where do we draw the line?
3. How have recent events in the world of sports and celebrity served as a warning to those who have idolized these athletes and actors?
Why is it that most of us Evangelicals are so silent about the powerful grip the god of sports has on American men (and women)? We attempt to help people break their habits of drinking, smoking, etc. But we say little about the most powerful competitive god of all -- American Sports.
Sport has all of the character of a good competitor for Christianity. It gradually captures a person’s mind, heart, and soul until he gives himself over to it with total commitment and fidelity. Left to its own, the god of Sports will fully posses a person and force the true God into second place. God doesn't like to have other gods before Him.
But, it's no wonder this god has made such headway in our culture. It offers so much that is similar to the real thing. We have our Holy seasons of Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, but the god of Sports offers the World Series, the Super Bowl and the Final Four. Few Christian Americans think, talk, and meditate on Pentecost as much as the Super bowl.
The really dedicated adherents of the god of Sports memorize and recite the Mighty Acts of the saints, now canonized into their respective halls of fame. Some fans even take the pilgrimage to these hushed galleries to admire their wax figures, and many trade their faces on trading cards like holy icons . Sports has its relics too, displaying footballs, baseballs, bats, uniforms and basketballs in glass cases in these hushed and holy spaces.
There are mysterious rituals like face-painting and end-zone dances. Hey, Sports has all the elements of a great religion! Sports offers high emotion, stories of grit and determination, pain and sacrifice, victory and defeat. And it all occurs in a gigantic structure in the center of town, reminiscent of medieval insistence that the local cathedral be the highest building in town, thus projecting its importance and might.
And, I admit that most church folk have never thought of Sports as a competing god (well many women have). We've heard so many speakers who worship at both shrines that we assume the two religions are compatible. And, perhaps to an extent, they are. Perhaps God doesn't mind us keeping a backup god hidden in our footlocker. But, when the Sports god begins to take *first* place in the life of a man or woman, it is time for ministers to honestly call a god a god.
Adapted from Keith Drury article “God #2”
For more from this writer visit http://www.drurywriting.com/keith/
-Idolatry in Modern Day America-
“You shall have no other gods before me”
1. Polytheism and idolatry were both common in the ancient world. Polytheism is the belief in many gods. Idolatry is the practice of worshiping created things.
2. In the 10 Commandments, Israel was told not to have ‘other gods’ or to worship ‘idols.’ Jewish people recited daily the shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) which called for fully devoted worship of the one true God.
3. Though the form of idolatry changes through time, humanity seems prone toward some type of idolatry. Paul argued that this is the natural consequence of rebellion against the one true God (Rom. 1:23, 25).
Questions to Consider
1. We tend not to worship statues like they did in the ancient world (and still in some places today), but in what ways does ‘idolatry’ still occur in our culture? What counts as worship? What counts as idolatry?
2. Let’s read Keith Drury’s article (on back). Do you agree that professional sports/athletes have become idols in our culture? Does this idolatry even invade the church? Where do we draw the line?
3. How have recent events in the world of sports and celebrity served as a warning to those who have idolized these athletes and actors?
Why is it that most of us Evangelicals are so silent about the powerful grip the god of sports has on American men (and women)? We attempt to help people break their habits of drinking, smoking, etc. But we say little about the most powerful competitive god of all -- American Sports.
Sport has all of the character of a good competitor for Christianity. It gradually captures a person’s mind, heart, and soul until he gives himself over to it with total commitment and fidelity. Left to its own, the god of Sports will fully posses a person and force the true God into second place. God doesn't like to have other gods before Him.
But, it's no wonder this god has made such headway in our culture. It offers so much that is similar to the real thing. We have our Holy seasons of Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, but the god of Sports offers the World Series, the Super Bowl and the Final Four. Few Christian Americans think, talk, and meditate on Pentecost as much as the Super bowl.
The really dedicated adherents of the god of Sports memorize and recite the Mighty Acts of the saints, now canonized into their respective halls of fame. Some fans even take the pilgrimage to these hushed galleries to admire their wax figures, and many trade their faces on trading cards like holy icons . Sports has its relics too, displaying footballs, baseballs, bats, uniforms and basketballs in glass cases in these hushed and holy spaces.
There are mysterious rituals like face-painting and end-zone dances. Hey, Sports has all the elements of a great religion! Sports offers high emotion, stories of grit and determination, pain and sacrifice, victory and defeat. And it all occurs in a gigantic structure in the center of town, reminiscent of medieval insistence that the local cathedral be the highest building in town, thus projecting its importance and might.
And, I admit that most church folk have never thought of Sports as a competing god (well many women have). We've heard so many speakers who worship at both shrines that we assume the two religions are compatible. And, perhaps to an extent, they are. Perhaps God doesn't mind us keeping a backup god hidden in our footlocker. But, when the Sports god begins to take *first* place in the life of a man or woman, it is time for ministers to honestly call a god a god.
Adapted from Keith Drury article “God #2”
For more from this writer visit http://www.drurywriting.com/keith/
posted by matthew at 11:14 AM
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