Most American churchgoers would rather attend church than watch their favorite football team, a LifeWay Research study shows. But a few die-hard fans are willing to miss out on worship to watch a game.
About 1 in 7 churchgoers (15 percent) said they’d skip church in order to watch their favorite football team, according to a survey of 994 churchgoers.
Researchers found most of the faithful balk at skipping church for football.
More than 8 in 10 (83 percent) disagree with the statement: “I would skip a weekly worship service in order to watch my favorite football team.”
Many worshippers had particularly strong feelings — nearly 7 in 10 (68 percent) strongly disagree.
‘Divine revelation’
“Most churchgoers put divine revelation ahead of division rivalries,” said Scott McConnell, vice president of Nashville-based LifeWay Research. But churchgoers are more devoted to their team. Especially when the team is doing well.
Two years ago, Daniel Espy, pastor of The Bridge Church, Snohomish, Wash., hosted a special 8 a.m. church service in order to accommodate Seahawks fans, whose team had found success after years of struggling.
The early service started as a joke on the church’s Facebook page. Espy joked that all churches in Seattle should hold early services, so fans could worship and then watch a playoff game. The idea took off and eventually landed the church on the front page of the local newspaper.
These days The Bridge has two services, making it easier for church members to worship before games. Still attendance goes down when the Seahawks have an early game.
Kickoff time
“Attendance can swing about 30 to 40 percent, depending on kickoff,” Espy said.
LifeWay Research found faithful football fans in the West (22 percent) are more willing to skip church than those in the South (13 percent) or Northeast (13 percent.)
About 1 in 4 church-going men (22 percent) said they’d skip church to watch football. That drops to 1 in 10 for women churchgoers. Catholic football fans (20 percent) are more willing to skip church than evangelicals (12 percent).
Espy said he’s taken a good-natured approach to those who skip church to watch football. He said that works better than a guilt trip.
“Honestly we just try to show people that Jesus is better than football,” he said.
(BP)
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