Is Organized Sports Satanic?

[rush4hire]

I got it straight from Grace Jacques, Ellen White granddaughter, who lived with Ellen White at Elmshaven, near PUC. Mrs. Jacques used to teach at Loma Linda elementary school, and during that time she lived on our street and was friends of my family. We visited her later when she was the official guide at the Elmshaven home during the 70s. She has told on video about Ellen White playing ball and catch with the boys and girls at PUC.

Well that's not too hard to believe. I just have a hard time imagining Ellen White caught up in the spirit of baseball. So I have to assume it was just catch, or hitting the ball for fun, or they organized a game for kids? What kind of picture are we supposed to get here?

What exactly did the woman tell you? Maybe she considers playing catch, playing baseball. Someone said she said something like children should play with balls to help build their motor skills, but when they get older, they should do more practical things with real tools and such things that would be dangerous for children.

And we still don't know what that field was dedicated for. Every school has a playground. That would be normal.

Did she suggest the school should organize a baseball team and play against other teams? Did they set up a concession stand and sell tickets? Did they have those seats? What are they called?

I'm not trying to make something of myself, but all my life, I have hated sports. Anything to do with any sports have been the most lonely, most miserable experience. I couldn't ever figure out what people where getting so excited about. I really didn't fit in. Also I was never good at any sports, which made everyone hate me. I mean I was always picked last. Also, I never danced, though everyone else was. I was the most unpopular kid at every school I attended. I never had any friends. I didn't even fit in with the people in my family. My grandpa would get excited about football and my uncles would come over and they would watch the game together, and grandpa would listen to the baseball game on the radio when we went to the lake.

But I thank God for that. If I had fit in, I may never have gone a searching and may have never found.

But I hate this world, and I hate sports too.

[color:#BF0000]Luke 16:15 .. but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

[John317]

Originally Posted By: John317

I got it straight from Grace Jacques, Ellen White granddaughter, who lived with Ellen White at Elmshaven, near PUC. Mrs. Jacques used to teach at Loma Linda elementary school, and during that time she lived on our street and was friends of my family. We visited her later when she was the official guide at the Elmshaven home during the 70s. She has told on video about Ellen White playing ball and catch with the boys and girls at PUC.

Well that's not too hard to believe. I just have a hard time imagining Ellen White caught up in the spirit of baseball. So I have to assume it was just catch, or hitting the ball for fun, or they organized a game for kids? What kind of picture are we supposed to get here?

It was just a bunch of the young students going out and playing a game of baseball on a Sunday afternoon along with a picnic, etc. It wasn't a school competition against another school or anything like that.

The problem is that a lot of people seem somehow to get the wrong idea of Ellen White. She wasn't at all a kill-joy or someone with a gloomy face!!! On the contrary. She was fun to be around and she loved life. She didn't tell jokes or anything like that, but she enjoyed seeing people having fun and being happy. She was a wonderful neighbor too. Her neighbors had no idea that she was a prophet or had written books. Most of them just knew her as a godly Christian woman who would take them food or hot soup when they were sick.

If you ever get a chance to visit PUC, be sure to go to the Elmshaven home of Ellen White and watch the videos of Grace Jacques remembering what it was like growing up in Ellen White's home. I believe 3abn has in the past also shown segments of the videos.

[rush4hire]

The problem is that a lot of people seem somehow to get the wrong idea of Ellen White. She wasn't at all a kill-joy or someone with a gloomy face!!! On the contrary. She was fun to be around and she loved life. She didn't tell jokes or anything like that, but she enjoyed seeing people having fun and being happy. She was a wonderful neighbor too. Her neighbors had no idea that she was a prophet or had written books. Most of them just knew her as a godly Christian woman who would take them food or hot soup when they were sick.

That's nice. I suppose you read about the soup and the neighbors and stuff somewhere, or the lady told you all this?

Not that I doubt all this is true.

Also I like tennis quite a bit. It's just good exercise and it can really take your mind off business. And it's hard to get caught up in it. You can be thinking about something else the whole time. And Tennis is fun to play, but very boring to watch. But I guess there is also such a thing as tennis fanaticism. I guess it's just that any good thing can be abused.

[Woody]

Quote:

"In the night season I was a witness to the performance that was carried on on the school grounds. The students who engaged in the grotesque mimicry that was seen, acted out the mind of the enemy, some in a very unbecoming manner. A view of things was presented before me in which the students were playing games of tennis and cricket. Then I was given instruction regarding the character of these amusements. They were presented to me as a species of idolatry, like the idols of the nations." Ellen White CT 350

[John317]

Originally Posted By: Ellen White

The problem is that a lot of people seem somehow to get the wrong idea of Ellen White. She wasn't at all a kill-joy or someone with a gloomy face!!! On the contrary. She was fun to be around and she loved life. She didn't tell jokes or anything like that, but she enjoyed seeing people having fun and being happy. She was a wonderful neighbor too. Her neighbors had no idea that she was a prophet or had written books. Most of them just knew her as a godly Christian woman who would take them food or hot soup when they were sick.

That's nice. I suppose you read about the soup and the neighbors and stuff somewhere, or the lady told you all this?

Not that I doubt all this is true....

Yes, all those things can also be found and are well documented in the various biographies written about Ellen G. White's life.

[rush4hire]

Quote:

...the students were playing games of (1.) tennis and cricket. Then I was given instruction regarding the character of these amusements (2.). They were presented to me as a species of idolatry, like the idols of the nations. {CT 350.1}

There were more than visible spectators (3.) on the ground. Satan and his angels were there, making impressions on human minds. Angels of God, who minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, were also present, not to approve, but to disapprove. They were ashamed that such an exhibition (4.) should be given by the professed children of God. The forces of the enemy gained a decided victory, and God was dishonored. He who gave His life to refine, ennoble, and sanctify human beings was grieved at the performance (5.). {CT 350.2}

Note what's going on.

1. They where playing games of tennis. This means they where holding a competition, perhaps a tournament.

2. It was for amusement, not exercise.

3. There where spectators. It was a spectator sport. My wife and I play tennis for exercise, and sometimes with the people there to be social, but there is not a stadium full of spectators. If a crowd began to gather, I would go home. I would not want to encourage those people to waste their time watching me get my work-out. Some people just really need to get a life!

4. It was an exhibition. This is where the "stars" show off for a crowd. This fosters pride and self-exaltation. The famous players that get paid alot are really an abomination. They are paid millions for playing some stupid sports. And I hear people talking about such-and-such player that was drafted and he went from $6 million / year to $8 million / year, and the people think about this and get starry eyed wishing they could be that guy. That's really some kind of tragic. "..ye shall be as gods,", (Gen. 3:5).

5. It was a performance. (see #4.)

Look at how much Ellen White says about exercise. This is a very important thing in a world where most of our labor is not so manual as it was when everyone got out to chop the wheat. Now we have combines. Back then we had to haul water from the well, and everything required manual labor, but now we have machines doing work for us. Back then, exercise was taken for granted, but now we have to go out of our way for it and make sure we do it, or we will be slobs and unfit for ministry. Remember Doug Bachelor plays racket ball to keep in shape and he can do a back flip on stage. That's a powerful testimony for the health message.

And don't try to say that's the same thing as showing off. It's not like he's giving a big exhibition. He's just saying that we should be in good shape.

[color:#BF0000]Luke 7:35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

The children of spectator sports is great crowds of people wasting their time and forgetting about God.

The children of non-spectator recreational activities, which technically could be called sports, is just good exercise and good, clean fun.

There's really a great big difference.

[John317]

I think that's a pretty good analysis, Rush.

[Woody]

You certainly know how to embellish a quote.

Ellen was talking about Avondale College. I don't think the students were makin millions of dollars by playing during PE.

There were not any big crowds. And no famous players.

[John317]

You certainly know how to embellish a quote.

Ellen was talking about Avondale College. I don't think the students were makin millions of dollars by playing during PE.

There were not any big crowds.

However, if Ellen White wrote as she did about students at Avondale college, those same principles would apply even more so in today's sports world, wouldn't they?

[Jaycee]

I love sports! Played both Squash & Touch footy during high school and currently play Squash one night a week. Couldn't think of a better way to keep fit.

Does that make me a satanist? :S

[Woody]

Sometimes John ... I wonder if you even read the posts or just declare ignorance.

[Woody]

I love sports! Played both Squash & Touch footy during high school and currently play Squash one night a week. Couldn't think of a better way to keep fit.

Does that make me a satanist? :S

No you fit in just fine. Well ... perhaps just a few might think of you as evil. But hey ... any squash player is well respected here by me.

[fccool]

I certainly think that Satan uses organized sports a the circus that keeps people away from being informed on important issues... yet I don't see sports as being inherently "evil".

I've played sports up to a semi-pro level. I certainly don't think that league sports are "healthy" because these over-exert the body and push it to the limits it was not built to be pushed, as some coaches go waaaay too far.

Yet, sports are like kitchen knives... they are means to an end. You can use these to cook a delicious meal, or you can stab someone in the back. I think this is the case with everything that God created. Nothing of itself is "evil" ... it's misuse of things that is evil... and not a thing in itself.

The same goes for sports.

[Neil D]

I love sports! Played both Squash & Touch footy during high school and currently play Squash one night a week. Couldn't think of a better way to keep fit.

Does that make me a satanist? :S

Oh, you are a full fledged flaming real larger than life Satanist........

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NOT!

Coulsty, come and talk with us internationals more often...I think you would like it if some came by just to tease you a time or too....And there are some [looking at Redwood knowingly] who would do that.....

[rush4hire]

You certainly know how to embellish a quote.

[Neil D]

When it comes to EGW, my agenda is to put things in proper perspective....I think I know Redwood enough to say his 'agenda' is the same....

You are out of perspective...you need a new one....

[Woody]

Originally Posted By: Redwood

You certainly know how to embellish a quote.

How so?

Originally Posted By: Redwood

Ellen was talking about Avondale College. I don't think the students were makin millions of dollars by playing during PE.

I never said they did.

Originally Posted By: Redwood

There were not any big crowds. And no famous players.

I never said there was.

Why are you always trying to twist my words and add things that are not there? What is your agenda?

Let me see my friend ... Post # 186861 at the top of the page.

You quote Ellen White about the students at Avondale and immediately list the following:

And I quote:

Note what's going on.

1. game 2. Amusement 3. Spectators 4. Exhibition 5. Performance

All that I stated is in there. And you are directly referring to the students at Avondale.

Back to you ...

Read what you write ...

No twisting or adding here. Just quoting your faulty thinkin. But I do appreciate you backpeddling.

[rush4hire]

When it comes to EGW, my agenda is to put things in proper perspective....I think I know Redwood enough to say his 'agenda' is the same....

You are out of perspective...you need a new one....