CHURCH SPONSORED RECREATION AND THE WORK OF THE CHURCH

By Rodney Pitts

Over the past 20-30 years there has been a dramatic shift in the direction of the work of most churches of Christ. Churches that once performed the simple works of preaching the Gos­pel, edify­ing the saints, and helping their needy, now place a great deal of emphasis on the work of providing recreational activities for the members. With this change have come announcements of church sponsored pizza parties, cookouts, ball teams, camps, ping pong tournaments, smiling contests, and even pie throwing contests at the church building! Don’t believe it’s gone that far? Well, I can produce the proof!

One of the more frightening things about this shift is that these recreational activities have be­come so much the “norm” among most churches of Christ, that any church that objects to them is immediately branded as “anti” and in opposition to the ways of Christ. Considering these churches’ determination to go “full speed ahead” in the area of recreation, surely the scriptural evidence in fa­vor of church recreation must be overwhelming, right?? Well, that is the question that we want to address. For, if the scriptures condone church sponsored recreation, no one can object; but, if God’s word shows it to be an unscriptural addition, we must reject it with every ounce of our strength (Rev. 22:18-19).

Recreation and the Revelation of the Spirit

In I Corinthians 2:9-13 Paul emphasized that when he declared the “testimony of God” to the Corinthians, he “determined not to know anything among [them], save Jesus Christ, and him cruci­fied” (I Cor. 2:2). Although we know that Paul did not mean that he preached on no other subjects but Christ and the crucifixion (i.e., Paul spoke of baptism and the Lord’s Supper - 1:13-14, 11:17ff), his point is that all that he preached was directly related to God’s sav­ing plan for mankind through Jesus Christ. Why did he restrict his mes­sage this way? Because the Spirit restricted his message to these points! Paul, like every other per­son, was dependent upon the revelation of the Spirit to know the acceptable ways of God (read I Cor. 2:9-12). He could not preach what he “thought” God would want, but only what the Spirit revealed. We, too, are under the same obligation (II John 9; I Cor. 4:16). Therefore, anything we might desire to do or preach “in the name of Christ” has to first be found within the words of the Spirit, which were written by the Apostles and prophets in the N.T. (see I Cor. 2:13; 14:37).

With this in mind it is necessary to ask some questions concerning whether church sponsored recreation is truly a part of the revelation of the Spirit. The first question that comes to mind is whether anyone can confidently say that church recreation is directly connected to the message of “Jesus Christ, and him cruci­fied”? If someone an­swers “yes,” I won­der how any church or preacher could pos­sibly be pleasing to God if they did not em­phasize recreation?? Are there any parts of God’s plan we can leave out?

Second, if recreation is directly con­nected to God’s plan for saving mankind, you would expect to find: (1) the first cen­tury church being com­manded to provide recreation; (2) some guide­lines given to the church in this area; and (3) at least one example of recreation being practiced by the local church in the N.T. Yet, not one of these can be found! How can it be part of the “things of God” if the Spirit has said nothing about it within the word (I Cor. 2:11)? I can easily find where the church was involved in evangelism, edification, and benevolence; but, I have never found or been shown one single scripture that even mentions church recreation. Doesn’t that sound a bit strange for a work that is di­rectly connected to “God’s plan of salva­tion”? Brethren, think about it.

Recreation Is Optional?

If recreation is a vital part of the N.T. church’s work as many brethren are now claiming, then how could it possibly be an optional work? I know of no one, however, that says a church must provide recreation or be condemned by God. Yet, churches of Christ are obligated to do the works of Christ (i.e., evangelism, edification, and be­nevolence) if they have the ability and the opportunity. A church cannot simply take or leave the job of evangelism, etc., and be acceptable to God. Yet, is anyone ready to say that any church of Christ that has the opportunity (which most all do), and the ability (whether it be large or small), must do all the rec­reation for its members that it can possibly do or be condemned of God? I have no problem saying this about the works of evangelism, edification, and be­nevolence. But, will anyone say this about recreation? If not, then recreation cannot be a part of the work of Christ for the church!

Recreation and Self-Sacrifice

In Philippians 2:29-30 Paul told the Phi­lippians to hold men like Epaphroditus in esteem “because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service towards me.” In other words, Epaph­rodi­tus was to be highly esteemed because he was willing to risk his life for the “work of Christ!” With this in mind, I would ask: Does anyone hon­estly believe that Epaph­roditus would have risked his life for ball­games, ping pong, and pizza par­ties?!? Yet, if rec­reational activities are the “work of Christ,” are we not required to risk our lives for them? Now, I know and hope that my brethren and I would risk our lives for evangelism, edification, and benevolence. But, I know of no one that would risk his or her life for church bowling. Do you? If not, how can it be the “work of Christ”?

Recreation and the Assemblies

The assemblies of the saints are de­signed by God to edify Christians through worship of Him and study of His will. In these assembles I see all as­pects of the church’s work being practiced without pen­alty. What do I mean? Well, in the assem­bly the work of evangelism (I Cor. 14:15-17), edification (I Cor. 14:26), and even be­nevolence (I Cor. 16:1-2) are performed weekly with the blessing of God. Yet, how many would be willing to take time within the worship service to watch a Disney movie or to play a ball game? Or, how many would even be willing to take up a collection specifically for a Dis­ney movie within the assembly. I know of none, or at least very few. I wonder why recreation is so dif­ferent from these other works. If rec­reation truly is an authorized work of the Church that can be done in glory to God, then what scripture allows the other “works of Christ” to be present within the assemblies, but rejects recreation? Breth­ren, there is no such scripture!

Recreation and Fellowship

Finally, many brethren would like to justify their church sponsored recreational activities by claim­ing that they constitute biblical fellowship (KOINONIA). The New Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon and others do define koinonia as “to share.” Yet, to simply say that recreational meals, etc., are “fellowship” because Christians “share” in these activities is to misuse the word and to take it out of its biblical context. Nowhere within the whole of the N.T. are recreational meals, etc., ever described as fellowship. Such activities might be called “association” or “keeping com­pany” with one another, but not fellowship (see I Cor. 5:9, 11). In every context where the word fel­lowship is connected with the church, it carries a spiritual meaning and never refers to social activi­ties (get a concordance and look up all these verses for yourself). Also, if recreational meals, etc., were truly biblical fellowship, would it not be fellowshipping a heathen if one such person ate or played with Christians during one of the activities? If not, why not?

Also, if brethren can justify church sponsored recreation on the basis that it is “sharing,” then what are these brethren going to do with Luke 5:10? In this verse it says that James and John were “partners” (KONONOI - fellowshippers) with Simon” in their fishing business. Does this mean that since these disciples fellowshipped (shared with) each other in a fishing business that the church can now run a business in the name of fel­lowship? Isn’t it interesting that those who try so desperately to get recreation into the word fellow­ship will try just as hard to reject the church’s run­ning of a business enterprise to make money to do its works. Yet, we have a scripture that calls a business arrangement a “fellowship,” but not one single scripture that ever calls recreational activi­ties fellowship? Think about that, brethren.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to say that I have nothing personally against members of the body of Christ coming together and enjoying one an­other’s company. In fact, who should Christians want to be with more? But, this is a far cry from diverting the time, energy, and funds of the church from its God-given works of evangelism, edifica­tion, and helping its needy to the man-made works of pizza parties and baseball! Surely we can all see the difference between what is truly the “work of Christ” and what are clearly the works of men. I hope and pray that these words have resulted in the glory of God and that brethren will be brought closer to a more perfect unity through their con­sid­eration and study. &