The Preacher's Pen

It may be winter where you are but already printers and publishers are sending out VBS promotional packets. They are anxious to get everyone thinking about these traditionally summertime activities. Interestingly, I saw an article recently about ""a new kind of VBS that's attracting more children than ever."" Who doesn't want more kids to come to VBS? I took the bait and read the article. Imagine my surprise to read about how a church in Chicago offers a ""Summer Funner Theater"" in which kids ""learn lines, songs, and choreography, and they play drama games."" Another church has found it can get capacity crowds by having soccer camp. Charging $25 per child more than 250 kids came for three hours every evening to learn soccer skills and play soccer. The article touted other churches offering basketball camps and even a Wet 'N Wild water camp.

Is it too much to ask what happened to vacation Bible school? I remember VBS as a child: it basically meant an extended Bible class. There would be an assembly (with songs and prayer), Bible classes (with real Bible teaching, not games!) and then another assembly to review what we learned and sing and pray again. I didn't know to ask about when the soccer lessons started or when we would do some choreography. By the very name I expected the Bible to be the center of what we were doing. Naturally, by the end of such weeks my soccer skills were not much improved, nor was I much better at acting. I did, however, know a lot more Bible.

If Jesus were asked which format was better, fun and games or learning God's word, which do you think He would choose?