Winning Young Converts
With Gimmicks and Games

We live in a society that has their minds conditioned toward entertainment. Just stop for a moment and briefly consider the many forms of entertainment offered to young people today.

Television – still probably the number one avenue of entertainment with every channel imaginable at one’s finger tips.
Movies – whether one travels to the theatre, Blockbuster to rent, or orders Pay Per View movies at home.
Internet – young people spend countless hours on the Internet surfing the Web and visiting popular sites like You Tube and My Space.
Video Games – it may be Xbox, Play Station, or the new Nintendo Wii, but many boys and girls, teenagers, and even college students spend long hours playing their favorite games.
Sports – one of the most lucrative entertainment markets in this country draws young men and women from every walk of life.
Cell Phones and iPods – and oh how we love our technological gadgets such as the ability to send text messages or download our favorites iTunes.

Our nation has reached a place where we expect to be entertained. Young people are so accustomed to being entertained that there is hardly an aspect of their lives that is void of it – and this would include the church that they attend.

In recent years, denominational churches have felt compelled to play catch up in providing various forms of entertainment for their young people. Many churches have experienced a significant drop in attendance. The number of members in many denominations was dwindling. And their biggest void has been young people. Teenagers and young adults had become quite bored and apathetic toward the same old thing at church services. So many stopped coming altogether. Church leaders began to ask the question: “How can we successfully draw the young back into our assemblies? And not just have them attend, but be actively involved.” One of the effective ways they’ve discovered was by providing fun and enjoyment through exciting games and activities.

Not too long ago I remember hearing about why a young person did not want to continue coming to Bible class anymore. She had visited a denominational church in town that provided food and games for the kids. And so she commented that she had a lot more fun going there. Well, there’s no way we could compete with that of course. All we were offering was the same old gospel story in our classes and assemblies, with no food and games. It’s both amazing and disturbing as to what churches today will stoop to in order to “convert” young people to their particular denomination! It is not the Bible that is ever advertised anymore, but games, concerts, crafts, and great food. And to little surprise their parking lots have filled up once again. 

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m all for food and games in their proper place. But the local church has never been that place. The inspired apostle wrote: “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Paul rebuked the saints in Corinth for eating common meals in the assembly instead of at home (I Cor. 11:20-22). He said one of the reasons he wrote to Timothy was so that he would “know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). The work of the Lord’s church is not to be fleshly, but spiritual. Modern churches despise the worship of God by their games and gimmicks, and various forms of entertainment. It is vain worship (Matt. 15:7-9).

And so Christian young person, what do you say the next time you find yourself in a conversation with a denominational friend about why “your church” does not offer the same programs and activities that all other churches in town offer? Remind them that sin is still man’s greatest problem (Rom. 3:23; 6:23), and all the fun games in the world won’t save a sinner from hell. Tell him or her, that the gospel saves (Romans 1:16), not games or gimmicks. Tell them that you enjoy recreation and entertainment as much as the next person, but are determined to worship God as He directs (John 4:24). And kindly let them know that since the Bible is our spiritual standard, it grants us no authority (1 Peter 4:11; Gal. 1:6-9; Rev. 22:18-19) to add such things to the work of the Lord’s church.

That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 1:9

Showtime
Worship In The Age of Showbusiness
By Dan Chambers