Posted on 08/18/2007 1:28:34 AM PDT by shrinkermd
On Sunday, Christian baseball fans will stream into Dodger Stadium for what is becoming more common fare at professional ballparks across the country -- "faith day."
Following the Dodgers vs. Rockies game, fans with special tickets will gather in a corner of the parking lot for a concert by the Christian rock band Hawk Nelson, an appearance by characters from the "Veggie Tales" Christian television program and testimonials by several devout Dodgers. The purpose, according to event organizer Brent High, is to promote the Gospel of Jesus.
...Critics of the Christianizing of pro sports -- including interfaith groups, Jewish leaders and secular progressives -- have voiced reservations about the seemingly ever-closer relationship between evangelical sports ministries and major professional sports teams. Frequent on-field religious gestures by players already rankle many -- does it really honor God to knock the snot of your opponent on the football field and then point to the sky? And shout-outs to God during live post-game interviews offend those fans who would prefer to enjoy their sports without a dose of in-your-face religion.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
If you can't figure out why some people wanted to go to this event then you are the odd fellow out?
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."
Zzzzzzz...
If you got some snide remark to make to me, do it to my face, once is ok, three times is a little annoying.
I half agree and half disagree.
One on hand, Christians have figured out that giving up prayer in school, taking a quiet and submissive place in society, and generally trying to be inoffensive has resulted in the Madeline Murray OHaire's (and other assorted control freaks) of the world to gain undue influence. For instance, the Padres just had a 'gay day' at the ballpark a couple weeks ago. Yeah, that's just perfect for kids to experience.
Things like 'faith day' are an attempt to correct the lack of activism and boldness that allowed so much devolution to occur over the last several decades.
On the other hand, why have a separate day? Every day should be 'faith day' at the ballpark. The whole idea of a separate event is silly. Christans should be open and confident about their relationship to Christ consistently, and it should be a characteristic of society everywhere.
The ultimate goal is influence at the highest levels of society in all it's permutations, establishing the Kingdom of God from the top down. Retreating into some quiet intimidation, as you seem to suggest, isn't an option.
And here we see why religion shouldn’t be pushed into the secular world.
I was taught very young that there are three things you should never discuss with those you work with, drink with or do business with...
A)Politics
B)Religion
C) How good the boss’ wife is in the sack
All good rules to follow.
Good post.
The above reminds me of when I was a kid and Boston's archbishop (I think) announced there'd be no more separate masses for gays. A liberal couple I was friends with went on and on about how evil this was. I repeated what my mom said, which was that gay people would have to go to church with everyone else--wasn't that precisely what they wanted, to be part of the whole community?
Similarly, I don't get the willful separation of days like this. If I'm a religious person, my faith is IN me, I LIVE it--God is on my side, I don't need to be put in a separate place, or have separate events to protect me from those evil Others.
I just don't get this cutting faith off into this separate, parallel world. Faith should be something that's IN you and LIVED 24/7--not something you need to have special events for. Are people that scared of someone sneering at them if they shout "Thank you God!" at a home run?
Amen.
Trust me, the ballpark thing won’t last long.
That is part of it, although people can have legitimate concerns without a hidden agenda. I myself am of a more formal branch of Christianity that recognizes a secular realm, and I really don't know what to think about people who are more exhuberant. God could not prevent the Holocaust but He helped my team win the football championship -- Yaay team, praise the Lord! I am probably being more than a little unfair.
On the other hand, when you see people use a double standard (Islam, New Age, atheism -- good, Reform Judiasm -- kind of tolerable, Conservative Judiasm -- kind of bad, Orthodox Judiasm -- bad, liberal Christianity -- almost tolerable, conservative Christianity -- bad, always offensive) you can be sure they have an agenda.
LLS
That being said, baseball is not the government and if this strategy gets people to buy tickets then, so be it. But I don’t want to hear any complaints when they have a “Gay Pride” day or a day for Muslims.
I’d have no problem with that at a ball game.
I am a Jew and I am sick and tired of these Jews-in-name-only (JINOs) purporting to speak for me. They are NOT real "Jews". Their religion is Socialism, their dogma is secular humanism. Therefore they have no right to call themselves a "Jewish leader". Every orthodox Jew I know is welcoming of Evangelicals because we know that they are far more supportive of the Torah and even Israel than phony JINO scumbags like Abe Foxman, who never lifts a finger for Israel and has nothing to say about deviants who violate the law of the Lord.
If you are so hostile to Christianity, why do you need to inject yourself into a thread like this?
That's a crucial point, that this isn't the government but a private organization. But as you point out, whatever good they get from this day will be down the toilet the moment they have a similar function for a "bad" group.
The smartest thing all around would be for them to just have the damned games, say everyone's allowed and can be themselves, but then we couldn't have that--this one would be bitching that someone said "Praise you, Jesus!" and this one would be mad that someone else said "Praise Allah!" and the next thing you know it'd be a hockey game. =)
Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres had a homosexual day at a game, with nary a peep from the MSM.
Someone call the WAAHHHHH!mbulance.
why do you need to inject yourself into a thread like this?
I didn't "inject" myself, I participated. A lot of interesting posts have resulted, not including your silly attempt to smear with that "hostile to Christianity" crap of yours. Sorry you can't handle someone discussing the issue, as opposed to taking you victim pose.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
In short, people are free to worship at a baseball park, or any other public or private place.
Now, for specific answers to your specific questions.
“Do people have to parade their religion ALL the time?”
The short answer is no—people don’t have to do anything publicly with their religion. Regarding Christianity, since Christianity changes who and what you are fundamentally, it cannot be hidden. Even when I was trying to hide my religious beliefs, people asked me if I was religious, since I didn’t swear and had a positive attitude.
“Yes, I’m aware of what I’m setting myself up for here. But whatever happened to praying behind closed doors, and not wearing your religion on your sleeve, but living your life as a person of faith?”
I’m beginning to understand your concern—a Pharisee-like parade of religion that insincere and hypocritical. That is always a danger. Jesus specifically forbade praying as a show, which was common practice at the time, but not public prayer in general, since He Himself did that.
“It’s the people who are always telling everyone how faithful they are who are the ones who usually have something to hide. In my experience, the people who are the truly religious do so without all this “Look at me!” stuff at non-religious occassions.”
I think you are assuming people who go to Christian concerts at sport events are trying to make such a statement. In my experience, they go simply because they like the music. It’s economically sensible to combine a concert with a sports event, because you get more attendance at both.
One day I prayed that the Jets would get Montezuma's' revenge...
5.56mm
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