Sabbath sports

Yesterday as I was walking home from the fireside, I passed a group of guys playing catch across the street. Then on the corner opposite my apartment, there was a gathering of guys and girls playing what looked like mini-baseball. In times past I’ve gotten invited to play games on Sundays as well (usually games like Rook and Cranium, not poker or anything like that :)). And I got to thinking: are these activities appropriate for the Sabbath?

My gut instinct says no. The Sabbath is the Lord’s day, and everything I’ve ever learned about the Sabbath has said that it’s a day of worship and holiness. Maybe I’m just blind, but is there anything worshipful about playing catch or baseball or Rook on Sunday? It seems like on Sunday we’re supposed to focus on the Savior, the Atonement, and the gospel. I’m trying really hard to come up with a reason why sports on Sunday could be worshipful and holy, but I honestly can’t think of a single thing. It’s entertainment. And that often seems to be people’s focus, outside of the church block. Once they get home they change into their normal clothes and turn on movies or play games or, it seems, do anything to get their minds off the Lord.

By movies, I don’t mean church movies. Are Disney movies really appropriate? Sure, they’re generally harmless, and I have no qualms about watching them on any other day. But I fail to see how The Little Mermaid or Tarzan helps me worship the Savior and remember the covenants I’ve made.

As for games and sports, the one reason I’ve heard is that they provide a bonding experience for families (and I guess roommates, here south of BYU). I think it’s great that families spend time together, even essential. But it still doesn’t seem to help focus on Christ. If families are in the Mafia together and knock people off for their “FHE,” I don’t think anyone would excuse their behavior under the guise of “bonding time.” Can’t activities like sports and games wait until Monday?

I don’t want to give the impression that I think all the Saints are violating the Sabbath or anything like that. Certainly not. That’s self-righteous, prideful, and hypocritical. I just think there are a few areas that perhaps could be improved.

For example, a lot of people change out of their Sunday clothes as soon as church gets out. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that — if there were, there’d be a commandment about it. And yet it seems to me that changing clothes makes it awfully hard to remember that it’s still the Sabbath, that it’s not just a normal day. On the few occasions where I’ve worn normal clothes on Sunday, I’ve forgotten it was Sunday. Every time. Maybe I’m just absentminded. At any rate, I feel like staying in my Sunday clothes is a small sacrifice to show my love for the Lord. And I have to say that girls who don’t change out of their Sunday dress are quite attractive. :)

In case any get the idea that I think sports are evil, let me make it quite clear that I have nothing against playing sports. I myself haven’t gotten much into it (except on rare occasions), but I think it’s great. On the other hand, I think the obsessive watching of sports is largely a waste of time. What good does it do? All that time and passion could be far better spent doing things that actually benefit humanity — building homeless shelters, sending humanitarian aid to undeveloped countries, etc. Sure, the Olympics are great for international relations, but other than that, televised sports are just entertainment. That’s it. I’ve tried to think of other benefits but come up dry. Is there any justification for being so into watching sports? I realize I’m biased, since I have no interest in sports, but from an objective (yeah, right) standpoint, what good is sports addiction? It takes over men’s lives, often pulls them away from their wives (football widows), and for the life of me I can’t think of how it makes one a better person. Creating a competitive drive doesn’t really strike me as progress, frankly; instead, it tends toward strife and war and pride and all that bad stuff that destroys civilizations.

Them’s strong words there, Ben. No, I don’t think that sports will destroy civilization. (Though that’s a rather funny image… :)) I’m really in the minority here, and I’m not entirely sure that watching sports is as bad as I say. Granted, I can’t come up with much good about it, but that probably stems more from a lack of knowledge than it does from anything inherent in the activity itself.

I understand where you’re coming from, but that’s probably because we came from a family or cultural background that choose not to do certain activities on Sunday. I think it is harder for people who weren’t, to see a discrepancy, if there is one. I remember being so disappointed when I found the people I respected or looked up to engaged in what to me seemed frivolous activities on Sunday. I think God, through our leaders, gives us standards (that are sometimes ambiguous) and individuals are responsible to adapt them as the spirit guides them. There are different levels of spirituality, but also different circumstances. All I know is that while I may wear a dress all Sunday long, that doesn’t mean I’ve kept it holy.

I believe one of the best resources of what is appropriate to wear and do on Sunday is the “For the Strengh of the Youth” Pamphlet.

http://www.lds.org/youthresources/pdf/ForStrengYouth36550.pdf

As far as sports, I should probably avoid another tirade on that matter.

I’ve certainly considered that as the reason for my perspective, and I’ll admit that a lot of what I said no doubt comes from the way I was brought up. But I’m trying to see it from a more objective viewpoint, and even if I hadn’t been raised this way, I think I would have come to the same conclusion. And of course not doing those things doesn’t automatically mean that we’re observing the Sabbath — there are innumerable ways to break it. I guess what I’m saying is that avoiding those things helps me personally to keep the Sabbath day holy.

good point.

Ah, but watching sports doesn’t have to be an idle activity. I have crocheted baby booties while watching a BYU football game with my brothers.

No, I agree that watching sports can be taken much too far. For example, watching golf really couldn’t even be classified as entertainment. Maybe a cure for insomnia, though…

As for my part, I don’t really have a problem playing games on Sunday. Sports might be a bit much, but my extended family usually gets together every Sunday, and we like to play games and such. To me, bonding with family will always be Sunday appropriate (as long as we aren’t breaking other commandments, like your mafia example). I mean, I’m sure you might talk about things with your family that day that aren’t centered on Christ. How is this that different than playing a game with your family? (However, I draw the line at going to visit friends on Sunday. I try to stay in my apartment and hang out with my “family.”)

Also, your issue with televised sports is a little over the top. As you say, if we become obsessed with them, then of course it is bad. But that is because of the addiction to them, not because they are completely useless. It would be a similar problem to be addicted to work, studying, music, reading, etc.

Entertainment is, I think, a valid purpose. We do lots of different things only for entertainment: movies, tv, some books. I mean, how does reading a thrilling adventure story or Jane Austen romance help the world? Perhaps we learn more about human nature. However, we also do that through sports: it’s a vicarious experience of the thrill of competition, just as novels are a vicarious experience of other life experiences.

When you put it in terms of addiction, no addiction is good. I have little interest in sports, but I love tinkering with puzzles or games or sometimes even napping. It’s a matter of preferences. I agree that it’s a vicarious means of participating in an event you otherwise could not. Let’s face it, less than 1%, less than .1% of the population ever could have the chance at playing in a professional game. It depends on your motivations for doing an activity.

Hence my views on Sabbath activities. Let’s be frank, one can only spend so much time actively thinking of and worshiping the Lord. We are a people with divided attention, even Peter could not stay awake in the garden of Gethsemane while Jesus prayed (you can read into that if you wish, but the words simply state he kept falling asleep). If your motivation for playing games is purely entertainment to fill up time or an activity for yourself then it may not be the best activity. But in some ways I can think of few ways to better worship the Savior than to build up good relations with other people through wholesome activities. It’s an act of connecting and sharing enjoyment, being there for one another, being involved in another’s life. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40).

In the end, it isn’t just actions one is judged on. Motivation is an equally, if not more so, important factor. One can do anything for the right or wrong reasons, and that completely changes everything. Don’t get hung up on what is or is not appropriate, focus more on your reason for doing something and that will tell you almost every time if it’s right or not.

[…] When I read that, I instantly thought of the recent trend I’ve noticed creeping into my writing here: a crack of criticism, small to be sure, but unchecked it could tear my foundations apart. For example, my Sabbath sports post was a bit too negative. It left a slightly sour taste in my mouth, even though I thought I was standing for what I knew to be true. (And in a sense I was, yes, but I’ll get to that in a moment.) And it’s been bothering me since then. […]

[…] May 2006: heavenly autographs, censorship, Sabbath sports, passion, dating, and seven reasons to study the classics. […]