Brown10985:
I too fall into scrupulosity often which is why I’m wondering if I’m thinking this way because I’m being scrupulous or not. It has been mentioned in this thread that such things as going to a ballgame and playing cards creates fellowship for family and friends which glorifies God. I agree 100%. Though can’t you gain fellowship with friends or family while working together at a soup kitchen or gain fellowship with friends or family while evangelizing and taking the money you would have used to go to that ballgame and give it to the poor? I can’t help but feel selfish to engage in these activities when I could be spreading the Word or using the money that I would be using to see that movie and use it to give to someone less fortunate.
I think we need to remember that God created the world and everything in it, and “God saw that it was good”. So long as we are mis-using the gifts God gives us, I think it’s fine to take advantage of the many fine things that he created, even if they don’t have overt religious significance.
I think people make too much of the division between “secular” activities and “religious” activities. You don’t check your religion at the door when you go to a ball game, any more than you check your American citizenship at the door when you go to church or to a soup kitchen. When you go to a ball game, give thanks to God for the green grass in the stadium and the athletic talents of the ball players and the for the hot dogs and fresh roasted peanuts, and pray for the safety and enjoyment of everyone there.
No matter what you are doing, you can always say “Well, I could be doing more good if only…” If you are at a ball game, perhaps you could be doing more good at a soup kitchen. If you are at a soup kitchen, perhaps you could be doing more good at a battered womens’ shelter. If you are at a womens’ shelter, perhaps you could be doing more good caring for the dying in the slums of Calcutta. If you are in the slums of Calcutta, perhaps you could be doing more good counseling women at a crisis pregnancy center.
I think the challenge is to serve God the best you can in whatever situation you’re in, and give thanks to God for the opportunity to do so. Recognize that it is important to set aside time to do specific “community service” type stuff, according to your means and abilities. But we have to recognize that there are many problems in the world that we will never have the opportunity to fight ourselves, but our brothers and sisters in the faith are willing to take on those challenges. So we pray for them. If everyone does their part, then nobody has to do everything.
The words from Ecclesiastes may also be relevant here, “To everything there is a season, and daytime to every purpose under the heavens.” (you know the song…)
