Are Youth Sports an Idol? A Wake-Up Call for Christian Parents

Sports Are Idols and They’re Threatening the Future of the Church

Before you roll your eyes, let me clarify: I’m not saying your child shouldn’t play sports. They should. Sports build character, teach teamwork, and help them mature in valuable ways. But when the game begins to take priority over your family’s walk with the Lord, we’ve stepped into dangerous territory. At that point, it’s not just a pastime anymore; it’s an idol.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” – Matthew 6:24

I know the arguments:

• “This is their ticket to college.”

• “This is how they’re going to make it big.”

But let’s be honest: even legends like Usain Bolt didn’t start organized sports until high school, and he still made history. So we can’t justify sacrificing the church, discipleship, and family worship on the altar of an eight-year-old’s schedule.

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Key Takeaways

➤ Sports are good, but they are not God.

➤ Parents disciple, not coaches.

➤ Eternity outweighs opportunity.

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What’s Really at Stake

Missing a Sunday here or there happens; we all know life can be unpredictable. But consistently placing your family in a position where sports are prioritized over God is more than scheduling; it’s spiritual disobedience. And disobedience, however we dress it up, is sin.

I know why it happens. We love our kids and want to give them every opportunity to succeed. We imagine their future, and we think, If I don’t sign them up, they’ll miss their chance. But let’s slow down:

• Cheering from the sidelines won’t save their soul.

• A scholarship won’t secure their eternity.

• A trophy won’t grow their faith.

Only Jesus can do that. And only you, as their parent, can lead them in the way of discipleship. I get it, I do.

A Personal Confession

If you know me, you might think, Kayla doesn’t care about sports. And that’s true now, but there was a time. I loved softball. I played travel ball, all-stars, regular season, private lessons, you name it. But there were two days we never touched the field: Sundays and Wednesdays. Everyone knew those days were for church.

Somewhere along the last 20 years, that boundary slipped. Maybe it started with a makeup game. Perhaps a one-off practice. But now, the church takes the back seat far too often. And that drift, quiet as it seemed at first, has eroded our priorities.

Learning to Say No

Recently, my daughter brought home a flyer for the volleyball team. Every game was scheduled for Sundays. I told her no. Was she thrilled? Of course not. But part of my calling as her mother is to train her in the way of the Lord, even when it costs something (Proverbs 22:6). Sometimes love looks like saying no to opportunities that would draw our children further from God, even if those opportunities are “good” by the world’s standards.

A Reality Check

This may sting, but it’s true: your child has less than a 1% chance of going pro. But they have a 100% chance of meeting the Creator.

So let’s reframe our perspective:

• Obedience over opportunity (1 Samuel 15:22)

• Faith over fame (1 Corinthians 9:24–25)

• God over games (Colossians 3:23–24)

The enemy has always used distraction as a tool. He did it in Rome through the games, and it worked. We can’t afford to be blind to it now.

The ladder of success isn’t the goal. Eternity is.

TL/DR

Sports are not the enemy, but sports as idols are. When family schedules place games above God, children learn that faith is negotiable. Prioritize church, discipleship, and obedience to the Lord—because in the end, trophies fade, but eternity remains.

Define Your Terms

(Some might call this a glossary)

• Idolatry: When something, even a good thing, takes priority in our lives above God.

• Discipleship: The process of intentionally growing in faith and obedience to Jesus, and leading others (including our children) to do the same.

• Obedience: Choosing to align actions with God’s Word, even when it costs comfort, opportunity, or popularity.

• Eternity: The unending life we all face after death, either with God or apart from Him.

• Rome and the Games: Historical reference to how Roman culture used entertainment and sports to distract people from faith and truth, a tactic the enemy still uses today.

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