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Should God go to the ballgame?
LA Times ^ | August 18, 2007 | Tom Krattenmaker

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: baseball; christians; dodgers; faithday; god; mlb; separation
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To: Darkwolf377
I should clarify, the first amendment answers the article’s author’s concerns about combining Christian events with sports events. You didn’t really echo his concerns, but raised your own.

I put two answers in one post, which could be confusing.

81 posted on 08/18/2007 6:01:17 AM PDT by Forgiven_Sinner (Here's how to prove God's existence: ask Him to reveal Himself to you.)
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To: BipolarBob

“You better go back and re-read.”

Actually that’s what you need to do. Peter was specifically instructed to ignore parts of the law, because the Law is written on our hearts now and it does not serve God to keep rituals which have been superseded.

In Romans chapter 3, Paul discusses Law versus Faith. Here he says,
“But we know that whatever things the Law says, it says to those who are under the Law;”

If you read the whole passage, you’ll find that the context is that Christians are not ‘not under the law anymore’.

“Obeying the Law does not save us. Only grace does that.”

To be more specific, it is ‘grace through faith’. Eph. 2:8

“Our feeble efforts to obey the Law come short but through the sacrifice of Jesus we are made acceptable. “

As I said above, the Law is imprinted on our hearts, and that is what admonishes us not to do those things, since Jesus came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it.

If you want to assert that we still must maintain the Sabbath, then you must reconcile that belief with what Paul said:
Col 2:16 “Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or in respect of a feast, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath”
Rom 14:4 “Who are you that judges another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. But he will stand, for God is able to make him stand. One indeed esteems a day above another day; and another esteems every day alike. Let each one be fully assured in his own mind.”

“We are still not to murder, commit adultery blaspheme God or break the Sabbath.”

You realize that the Law is not just the 10 commandments, right? That means if you believe we must keep the Law, then we must keep all of it, not just a part of it.


82 posted on 08/18/2007 6:09:38 AM PDT by webstersII
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To: Darkwolf377

“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 guess those goofy bastards are under the impression they are free people.


83 posted on 08/18/2007 6:16:52 AM PDT by L98Fiero (A fool who'll waste his life, God rest his guts.)
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To: SShultz460

“Do they even allow FCA (Fellowship of Christian Atheletes) in Highschool any more?”

Of course they do. And Young Life also has a presence.


84 posted on 08/18/2007 6:20:16 AM PDT by gracesdad
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To: Darkwolf377
Calm down. Why all the YELLING?

Because some PEOPLE are HARD OF HEARING around HERE.

Don't YOU have ANY COMPASSION for the DEAF?

:-)

85 posted on 08/18/2007 6:35:38 AM PDT by lowbridge ("We control this House, not the parliamentarians!” -Congressman Steny Hoyer (D))
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To: shrinkermd

There is a segment of the population that will not participaate in any event unless there is some church involvement. They are well represented on this forum and I would expect they will applaud the effort.


86 posted on 08/18/2007 6:38:38 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Hillary's color is yellow.....how appropriate)
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To: 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."

And how does the LA Times feel about "Gay Day" at Disney Land/World?

87 posted on 08/18/2007 6:41:26 AM PDT by lowbridge ("We control this House, not the parliamentarians!” -Congressman Steny Hoyer (D))
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To: shrinkermd
A complete separation of church and sports is neither practical nor necessary.

Nor constitutional.

But must religious activity in major league sports skew so strongly in a conservative direction? If they are here to stay, here's hoping faith days at Dodger Stadium and other ballparks eventually live up to their name and embrace more than one form of religion.

"Dodgers Stadium" means "embracing more than one form of religion"?

88 posted on 08/18/2007 6:48:57 AM PDT by lowbridge ("We control this House, not the parliamentarians!” -Congressman Steny Hoyer (D))
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To: Paleo Conservative

It was sarcasm.


89 posted on 08/18/2007 6:50:14 AM PDT by SALChamps03
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To: shrinkermd

I’d like to suggest that this just might be one of the most idiotic op-ed columns ever to appear in the LA Times. I mean Billy Madisonesque “the entire audience is dumber for having read it” idiotic.


90 posted on 08/18/2007 6:51:29 AM PDT by RichInOC (Jesus is coming back soon...and boy, is He ticked off. [I'm trying to keep it clean.])
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To: Joe Boucher

Lucky you, It seems as if God has a mighty big gudge against the poor Pittsburgh Pirates...........


91 posted on 08/18/2007 7:32:33 AM PDT by Yorlik803 ( When are we going to draw a line a say"this far and no farther")
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To: Darkwolf377

The Bible says Go to all the world and tell the truth and the story of the Gospel. You call it wearing it on your sleave, I call it obedience to God. Jesus didn’t do his ministry in secret, it wasn’t done only in the synogogue, it was in the public place in the market place. Jesus didn’t hang on a cross privately, it was public and in the face of the world. Whic is where his ministry should continue.


92 posted on 08/18/2007 7:39:58 AM PDT by Armed Civilian ("Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.")
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To: Darkwolf377
Talk about whining. You trolled this item. You said so in your first post when you stated
"Yes, I'm aware of what I'm setting myself up for here."
So...now you've gotten precisely what you asked for and you start whining. Your remark was clearly intended to spark a controversy. So you have...what's the beef.

Why should Christians have to hide their Christianity? Is this pagan Rome? I see no big deal of a bunch of Christians getting together to go to a ball game. As someone said what's the difference between this and "Boyscout night?"

These people get to associate with like-minded people who won't act like a bunch of beer sotted, obnoxious heathens...so what? Is that so offensive to you?

Our forefathers had no problem openly displaying their Christianity in public. Jefferson openly attended church services held in the Capitol Building.

So if it so offends your sensibilities for a bunch of Evangelical Christians to gather for a ballgame, don't watch and don't go to the game.

Imagine...hundreds of Christians gathered together in fellowship..."Oh, the humanity!" "Say it ain't so Joe."

No one is forcing you to do either. So stop whining like a five year-old (unless you are a five year-old).
93 posted on 08/18/2007 7:40:18 AM PDT by Sudetenland (Never underestimate the ability of a Liberal to lie.)
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To: Darkwolf377
Someone call the WAAHHHHH!mbulance.

You have an odd challenge with maturity. This was your third childish comment.

Sorry you can't handle someone discussing the issue, as opposed to taking you victim pose.

I am not a Christian, but nice try. I won't let facts get in the way of your apparent bitterness.

94 posted on 08/18/2007 7:44:21 AM PDT by montag813
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To: SShultz460

Do they even allow FCA (Fellowship of Christian Atheletes) in Highschool any more?

What the heck is that? Never heard of it. I graduated 20 years ago and never heard of that. Oh yeah, sorry I went to Catholic School. Still that seems like some fifty’s club or something.


95 posted on 08/18/2007 7:47:02 AM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: napscoordinator

Guess your school didn’t kick ass in Football :p

jk bud


96 posted on 08/18/2007 7:50:27 AM PDT by SShultz460
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To: webstersII
You realize that the Law is not just the 10 commandments, right? That means if you believe we must keep the Law, then we must keep all of it, not just a part of it.

The law for all mankind is just ten commandments. The Hebrews had additional laws. Col. 2:16 refers to additional holidays and sabbaths that are not part of The Sabbath. Sometimes they would honor an emperor or a certain person or event. Jesus said "if ye love Me, keep my commandments". These refer to the ten commandments.

97 posted on 08/18/2007 7:50:32 AM PDT by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, but I swear I didn't see it in my rear view mirror.)
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To: SShultz460

Now if it was Suicide Bomber Memorial Day at the park, that would be a different ball game.

Are you kidding? As long as it is announced so that all non suicide bombers not show up, I would be all for it. The half time show could be a blast!!!!


98 posted on 08/18/2007 7:50:51 AM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: lowbridge

Actually, the San Diego Padres recently had a “gay night” at one of their games. And it wasn’t after the game and you didn’t have to buy a special ticket to attend. Homosexuality was celebrated during the game itself. A homosexual singing group was trotted out onto the field to perform, and the stands were filled with homosexual couples kissing and groping in front of kids and their parents.

This even occurred on a night when there was also a special kids’ promotion, so there would be more children present than usual.

Did this upset the L.A. Times, I wonder?


99 posted on 08/18/2007 7:51:18 AM PDT by puroresu
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To: napscoordinator

what is this?

My greatest blasts?


100 posted on 08/18/2007 8:15:48 AM PDT by SShultz460
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