Training Children: Choosing Christ Over Worldly Sports and Entertainment

Training children to participate in worldly entertainment and sports is a path that leads away from Christ and toward the ruin of the soul6MR 127.1+1. Instead of encouraging these diversions, parents must educate their children in useful work and spiritual growth to prepare them for the higher school aboveEd 215.1+1.

The passion for football, cricket, horse racing, and other selfish gratifications is a snare manufactured by Satan to keep God out of the thoughts of the youth6MR 127.1+1. These sports do not promote a desire for truth or righteousness; rather, they lead to a fever of unrest and a loss of relish for the common duties of life14LtMs, Ms 96, 1899, par. 17+1. The intellect is enfeebled by such pursuits, making it impossible to prepare for the future immortal life14LtMs, Ms 5, 1899, par. 7.

Rather than giving in to the customs and games of a worldly-polluted society, parents should train their children in Christ’s linesSpTEd 170.2. This involves teaching them to bear their share of life’s burdens and to find recreation in some line of effort that is usefulTEd 131.1+1. Physical activity should be found in manual training and work that trains the hand to helpfulness11MR 161.3+1.

Indulging every whim and allowing children to follow their own inclinations makes them selfish, exacting, and a curse to those around themCG 180.2. True parental love is not a blind affection that avoids discipline, but a sanctified love that subdues the will and corrects errors through patient reasoningCG 234.4+1. Parents are responsible for forming characters that can resist temptation and stand unsullied amid the moral pollutions of this ageCE 175.3.

Choose to make the home a place where the Word of God is the standard, instructing children in the requirements of God diligentlyCG 304.4+1. By avoiding worldly theaters, card-playing, and match games, and instead cultivating a taste for Bible knowledge, you lead them toward the marriage supper of the LambCG 512.1+2.

...h time is spent by intelligent human beings in horse racing, cricket matches, and ball playing! But will indulgence in these sports give men a desire to know truth and righteousness? Will it keep God in their thoughts? Will it lead them to inquire, How is it with my soul? All the powers of Satan are set in operation to hold the attention to frivolous amusements, and he is gaining his object. He is interposing his devisings between God and the soul. Satan will manufacture his diversions, that men may not think about God. The world, filled with sport and pleasure-loving, is always thir...— 14LtMs, Ms 96, 1899, par. 17

Among the youth the passion for football games and other kindred selfish gratifications have been misleading in their influence. Watchfulness and ...— 6MR 127.1 (1990)

As a rule, the exercise most beneficial to the youth will be found in useful employment. The little child finds both diversion and development in play; and his sports should be such as to...— Ed 215.1 (1903)

But do not substitute play, pugilistic boxing, football, matched games, and animal exercises, for manual training. All of this stripe and type should be vigilantly prohibited from the school grounds.—Letter 27, 1895, pp. 1-3. (To F. Howe, May 21, 1895.— 11MR 161.3 (1990)

...os;s banquet, prepared to keep souls from accepting the call to the marriage supper of the Lamb and preventing them from receiving the white robe of character, which is the righteousness of Christ. They become confused as to what it is right for them as Chri...— AH 518.1 (1952)

Through the love of pleasure, horse racing, cardplaying, cricket and football matches, the intellect is enfeebled. Is this the way in which Christ would have those formed in His image devote their time? God has gi...— 14LtMs, Ms 5, 1899, par. 7