Replies

Maybe I am a bit confused here, but I don’t see how Churches and the Super Bowl go together.

Maybe they are not mutually exclusive, but it’s not exactly a religous message I think - and should a church be where people gather together to watch the Super Bowl?

I Wonder how something like that half-time Janet Jackson breast exposure act would go over if it was being shown in church...

You posted: Maybe I am a bit confused here, but I don’t see how Churches and the Super Bowl go together.

Maybe they are not mutually exclusive, but it’s not exactly a religous message I think - and should a church be where people gather together to watch the Super Bowl?
***

Our church doesn’t have Sunday evening services. There is a youth group meeting, but no evening worship service. Our fellowship hall is used for all sorts of activities, most of which are religious, some of which are not, some of which are mixed (Men’s BBQ fundraiser, etc.). I don’t see anything inherently wrong in coming to the church to watch the game, although we don’t do it at our church.

I think you can put churches and the Super Bowl together in the respect that it is a time of fellowship for the members of the church. You need to remember, the Church is not the physical building. It is the body of believers. Not every single event that takes place inside the building necessarily has a "religious" message.

Probably most of these events are not being held in the regular sanctuary of the church (although it would be at ours), but more likely in a meeting or fellowship hall. For larger churches, social events like this are good ways to try and get to know new members of the congregation. As far as ridiculous stunts like the Janet Jackson event, well, if there had not been so much coverage about it after the event, most people would never have seen it. We were having a Super Bowl party at my house when it happened, but nobody watches the half-time as closely as the game. We barely noticed it and weren't even sure we saw what we thought we saw. I think church members would likely pray for her in a situation like that (I know they would at our church). Yeah, some would get upset, but they're going to get upset no matter where they saw it.

I don't think events like these are any different than a church having a fish fry on Friday nights during lent, or anything like that. There is a time for worship and also a time for fellowship within the church body.

Our church committees sponsor all kinds of activities to bring families and members together. We’ve had talent shows, bible study, potluck suppers, Mother’s Day teas, family game nights, teen nights, craft workshops, fried chicken luncheons and featured speakers (on medicare and healthy eating), to name a few.

I don’t see the problem of bringing members and their friends together for fellowship in the church setting. My kids grew up feeling very comfortable at church. Admittedly the Sunday worship service was probably their favorite part when they were young, but it was a regular part of their youth. And if sitting through the service as a pre-requisite for the usher chicken dinner to follow, they were game.

When we had an Argentine pastor we all got interested in the World Cup. A sports themed event sounds like a great way to bring folks together. Since we don’t serve alcohol in our small church, we wouldn’t get too many of our folks who’d rather have more traditional “adult” refreshments. But I can see this working fine in other congregations where you could get a good sized group of participants who wouldn’t miss it. (Or where those restrictions aren’t a factor.)

Maybe I am a bit confused here, but I don’t see how Churches and the Super Bowl go together.

It's a socail event for teh community, liek any other social event the church sponsors. Nothing wrong with that. Many people are attracted to organizations -- even churches -- by the sense of community. Having a Supre Bowl party is part of the sense of community. I fail to see how holding a party and showing the Super Bowl on a large screen somehow violatesthe NFL's copyright, but showing it on several smaller screens wouldn't. I'd get two 54" screens and put them up on each end of the room, just to poke the NFL in teh eye. GO BLUE!!!!!

Maybe I am a bit confused here, but I don’t see how Churches and the Super Bowl go together.

Fellowship.

You are not going to be at worship services 24/7. At some point, you will be doing recreational activities with friends. So, you look around for a group of friends to watch the Super bowl with and, after you consider your relatives, the people on your block and the people at work, you decide that the people at Church are your best friends.

So, you have the Super Bowl party at the Church Fellowsip Hall.

Admitedly, setting up the wide screen TV right IN the Church building right next to the pulpit and in front of the Cross is NOT Kosher.

If you are Catholic, you never have such a confusion.