I ran across this example of the recognition of the brokenness of sports –
In an endearing and humorously heartening response to the unending madness that is parental overreaction to youth sports, a suburban Chicago park district has installed permanent metal signs designed to remind parents that their young athletes are, first and foremost, young. Furthermore, the Buffalo Grove parks signs insists that they come to grips with the fact that their young athlete almost certainly will not ever compete professionally.These signs were installed in Buffalo Grove, IL. (For the rest of the article, click here.)
I applaud the recognition by the city and the park district of the problem. I appreciate their creativity in addressing the problem.
What I want to point out is the limitations of this solution. In doing so, I know I run the risk of being called a “grumpy old man” but, none the less, I think it needs to be said.
Reminders of truth are good. They might even bring about some behavioral change for the short term.
What reminders fail to do is acknowledge the depth of the problem. The problem here is not just a behavioral one. The problem lies deep in our hearts.
We have an idolatry problem – one that drives the behavior that these signs are trying to address but without mentioning the problem.
Reminders alone can’t bring about the required heart transformation that is required for dealing with this problem.
There is only one power great enough to break the idols that surround this larger heart issue -ie idols of our children, of our sports, our friends and their opinions – and that is the gospel.
“The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16 (The tense of the verb believes is present – involving ongoing action.) We experience the power of God to save us from such idols, to change our hearts, and bring about the desired behavioral change the signs suggest as we believe the gospel.
So while I like the idea, what I like most about the signs is that they point us to our need for the gospel.
