Pastor’s Note
Kickball Christianity
One of the interesting phenomena about growing up near New Orleans was that Halloween costumes never seemed odd or out of place even if it was a Tuesday night in August and even if there was no apparent reason to be dressed up. There never seemed to be any self-evident reason not to dress up! To this day most New Orleanians will still do Halloween whether it is October 31st or not!
October 31st has a special significance for those of us in Protestant and Reformed Churches. In 1517 it was the date that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenburg, Germany. In the Protestant church we have remembered and celebrated that day as ‘Reformation Day’ because of the ripple effects set in motion by Luther’s bold assertions. (NOTE: if you are unfamiliar with the details of Luther’s protest and the content of the 95 Theses it would be worth carving out some research time for yourself this month! GOOGLE: Martin Luther, 95 Theses, or Protestant Reformation)
One of the glorious and beautiful distinctions that the Protestant Reformation gave back to the church was a ‘World and Life View’ that approached life in such a way that all things (which weren’t inherently sinful in and of themselves) could be seen, viewed and enjoyed as gifts from God. This stood in stark contrast to the prevailing worldview that emphasized a sharp distinction between ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ things. Pre-Reformation life was more ‘categorical’. From vocational choices to choices of how to spend leisure time, clear and bright lines were drawn between things ‘for me’ and things ‘for God’. The Protestant Reformation was a movement aimed at ‘reforming’ how we all viewed all things to the glory of God and seeing that line erased (or at least blurred) in all areas of our lives.
So what does that mean? I was asked to answer that question for a Christian School in Memphis during an October 31st assembly a few years back. They only had a few parameters: 1.) Don’t mention Halloween (I guess they didn’t want the email!) 2.) Talk about the Reformation and 3.) You’ve got 10 minutes. “Oh, no problem!” I thought. All of my sarcastic mental circuits were burning on overload—summarize the Reformation in 10 minutes, don’t mention Halloween ON October 31st and perhaps I could change water to wine (or at least grape juice) for my opening ‘act’!
This is what I decided to tell the kids: Martin Luther came to set you free from Bible class and send you out for recess and kickball! They all sat up at this point, much more eager to listen than they had anticipated they would be. My premise was short and sweet: religion and Christianity as ‘classes’ or ‘periods of time’ in the school day were not at all what Luther intended. His contention was that Scripture was to be foundational and fundamental to EVERYTHING, not just ‘Bible class’! If we understand Scripture correctly then we will find glory, beauty, purpose and design in everything INCLUDING kickball. I’m not sure whether the kids got the full weight of what I was trying to say, but I can assure you they would have all elected me czar of the universe that day! “Kickball for All!!!” was the cry! “Hmmm…” I thought, “Luther would like this!”
So what does that mean for you? I guess that means you can get out the old kickball, set up the bases and get the neighbors talking. I’d love to overhear someone in line at a Huntsville grocery store ‘wondering’ about those wierdos at Southwood who play kickball at 40, who dance in the rain or wear costumes when it’s not Halloween. There would be something very Reformed about that. They might gossip that the ‘new pastor’ is from New Orleans and then roll their eyes. So, if someone asks you whether you are dressing up for Halloween tell them ‘of course’ and by the way at Southwood we dress up the other 364 days too, not because of the New Orleans connection, but because of the Biblical one!