The NFL has demanded a church not show the Super Bowl...
NFL officials spotted a promotion of Fall Creek Baptist Church's "Super Bowl Bash" on the church Web site last week and overnighted a letter to the pastor demanding the party be canceled, the church said.
[...]
Newland said his church won't break the law.
"It just frustrates me that most of the places where crowds are going to gather to watch this game are going to be places that are filled with alcohol and other things that are inappropriate for children," Newland said. "We tried to provide an alternative to that and were shut down."
Other Indiana churches said they are deciding whether they should go through with their Super Bowl party plans, given the NFL's stance.
My thoughts? You can't love Jesus and the Colts, so either the church is a cult or they are misguided on their choice of football team.
Seriously, how about telling the members to invite their lost neighbors into their homes for the game? Or how about going to your lost neighbor's house if they invite you?
There you go... thinking outside the walls again!
Posted by: Craig | 02/01/2007 at 04:22 PM
Or what about watching the game at the local sports bar and meeting some of the "boys" there? You'll have an immediate "in" with the crowd and opportunities to make some new friends that probably need reached with the gospel.
Posted by: Scott Eaton | 02/01/2007 at 04:23 PM
Yeah, sports bar is a fine idea Scott. I used to do that for U of Kentucky basketball games when we lived in KY.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 02/01/2007 at 04:36 PM
I was thinking about inviting Payton Manning over to my house to watch the superbowl. I may have Archie Manning and Johnny U there as bait. Not for nothin' but it may be the only shot the Bears have at winning.
But who knows. As John Calvin would say, all they need is a little luck.
Posted by: Rob | 02/01/2007 at 04:36 PM
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been denied the jumbo screen, Christian, family friendly, Super Bowl party. They whined with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our inconvenience?”
Anyway, I'm with you Steve. In fact, it looks like The Journey has organized that very thing - inviting people into homes of members for the Super Bowl.
Posted by: Joe Thorn | 02/01/2007 at 06:16 PM
At my old church, we had satellite without locals. We would order the game pay-per-view style. I don't know of any law that states that if you pay for an event there is a limit to how many friends can watch it with you. Seriously, the Colts are the ones who were invited as friends to the banquet. They will not enjoy the festivities. They will be sent to ... well God Bless the BEars. BEarrrsse
Posted by: Dan Barnett | 02/01/2007 at 07:11 PM
Go to someone's house?? What if they have.....beer!?!?! Nope I will not step outside of my bubble, me and my DC Talk albums and "Abreadcrumb and Fish" T-shirt will just have to miss the game...yeah right...Go Bears!!!! Go B-URL!!!!!!
Posted by: Los | 02/01/2007 at 11:03 PM
I'd go with the sports bar, myself. But people with kids might not think it such a grand idea.
Why do we have to "organize" members inviting people into their homes for the Superbowl? What, do church members not have normal social lives?
Posted by: Ryan DeBarr | 02/02/2007 at 07:01 AM
Steve, you know full well that it isn't Christian, sanctified, or even right if it isn't in the 4 walls of the church. Come on!
Posted by: The Hosh | 02/02/2007 at 07:38 AM
While I agree with you all about pushing the people towards the incarnational possibilities/opportunities with the Super Bowl I'm not sure we should sarcastically bash this guy for what they were doing. He seems genuinely upset that they had a fun "family" event planned and surprised that the NFL stepped in and said no to their party.
The right response would be to regroup and send his people or to encourage them to throw neighborhood super bowl house parties so they could get neighbors together. However I wonder if those of us who are inherently missional sometimes are too quick to jump on those who are more inherently attractional.
Posted by: Jason Roberts | 02/02/2007 at 08:32 AM
Are you sure they didn't just forbid the term "Super Bowl Bash"? The NFL owns the term "Super Bowl" and protects it pretty visciously. It is entirely possible they were upset about the use of the term. Just a thought. They surely cannot restrict the having of a party.
Posted by: Brian Hatcher | 02/02/2007 at 08:45 AM
What if we call it the "Soup-er Bowl?" We could sanctify it by collecting canned goods...(dang, I'm being way too cynical)
Posted by: Rob | 02/02/2007 at 09:32 AM
AMEN to the cult part and the incarnational living bro! What a great opportunity to reach out to many who would never step foot in a church, but would gladly come to our house to enjoy a fine ale and a great Bears win! By the way if you haven't all heard go out and get a USA Today and look at the back of the special Super Bowl section, Athletes in Action has a full page ad up about the faith of Tony and Lovie! Then roll over to BeyondTheUltimate.org, I pray these are both tools to use as you invite those neighbors into your homes! Thanks for the thoughts Steve! Go Bears!
Posted by: zach harrod | 02/02/2007 at 11:14 AM
AMEN to the cult part and the incarnational living bro! What a great opportunity to reach out to many who would never step foot in a church, but would gladly come to our house to enjoy a fine ale and a great Bears win! By the way if you haven't all heard go out and get a USA Today and look at the back of the special Super Bowl section, Athletes in Action has a full page ad up about the faith of Tony and Lovie! Then roll over to BeyondTheUltimate.org, I pray these are both tools to use as you invite those neighbors into your homes! Thanks for the thoughts Steve! Go Bears!
Posted by: zach harrod | 02/02/2007 at 11:16 AM
My home church did one of these a number of years ago. They canned it the next year, finding out the hard way that it has almost zero value for "outreach." I mean, what serious (and lost) football fan is going to watch the Super Bowl in a baptist church's fellowship hall?
Posted by: Danny Slavich | 02/02/2007 at 07:21 PM
Danny, a fine point.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 02/02/2007 at 07:23 PM
After stewing on this for a while, i'll admit that we are having a coomunity event that involves the game. We, however, make no claims about this being an outreach event. It is a community event that is open to whoever wants good barbeque (I'm making brisket and Ribs), good music (our band, which is a rock band comprised of Christians so they music for us on Sundays, is playing some of their concert stuff for us because many in our church only hear them in church and don't know that band any other way) and good fellowship. The incarnational idea is a great one, in fact during the season and playoffs a group of us gathered weekly at Buffalo Wild Wings and watched the games. BWW is also a stndard during Baseball and basketball season, but for this weekend we opted for a community event, partly because it fits our schedule (we only have a Sunday night thing once a month, and it is a community event involving copious amounts of food and fellowship) partly because the bulk of our community is college kids, most of which don't have a "home" in which to gather.
Posted by: Toby Taff | 02/02/2007 at 09:26 PM
Toby, no stewing! Yeah, I'm not making any claims that everyone has to be incarnational with the Super Bowl. Not at all. But the safe alternative idea isn't one of my favorites.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 02/02/2007 at 09:32 PM