Holy Bowling October newsletter Townsend/2010

In the third and fourth centuries, especially in Germanic areas, it became customary for men to disarm themselves before entering into the sanctuary for worship. The bulk of these weapons were simple wooden clubs--not elegant, but effective as protection against highway bandits and wild animals. Thus, it became common for the back of the church to fill up with a pile of the wooden clubs during services.
Gradually, congregants developed a kind of game associated with this practice of leaving these signs of animosity and violence behind them. After services the men would collect all these clubs, pile them together and compete among each other to see who could knock down the most clubs as possible by rolling stones at them. The more clubs knocked over, the more sins the individual was believed to have left behind.
Eventually this contest became more intentional and more organized, ultimately developing into nine pins--a bowling game. Knocking down sins turned into a much-anticipated pastime on Sunday afternoons. By the time of the Reformation, bowling ninepins had grown well beyond the church's parking lot to become a hugely popular betting game at taverns and inns. It was Martin Luther's favorite sport, and he is often credited with being the one to standardize the game of bowling with nine pins.

Luther loved the symbolism of Christians as holy bowlers, enthusiastically bowling over all the sins that kept them from seeking God's fullness and fulfillment.

Since God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14), and since the crown of life awaits us, what “clubs” get in our way to faithfully love and serve Him? What wrong actions and attitudes need to be removed that are keeping us from going where God is calling us to go? Since Jesus has “bowled” over our sins with His precious blood and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers, what keeps you from fulfilling your purpose here? As you wait to be in His presence eternally, it is my prayer that you know you have been declared free by the grace of Jesus Christ. “The gift given freely by God in Christ Jesus our Lord is everlasting life.” (Rom. 6:23b)
Release the chocks and blocks of your life with the help of the Holy Spirit. Repent and believe.

Happy bowling!

In service to Jesus,

Pastor Mueller