By The Rev. Kenneth W. Chalker - Sabbath is meant to be enjoyed: Messages of Faith | cleveland.com

By The Rev. Kenneth W. Chalker

In the days immediately after the December death of Indians pitching legend Bob Feller, there were many articles filled with remembrances of his life and times.

One of the stories was of Feller describing his religious upbringing (or perhaps lack of it) in Van Meter, Iowa. Feller was quoted as having said, "We started out Roman Catholic. But the priest told my father he shouldn't play ball with me on Sundays. So, we became Methodists."

Feller and his family may have become Methodist. But it is quite likely that the Fellers did not spend very many spring and summer Sunday mornings in a Methodist church. If they had, it is very likely that in those years many Methodist preachers would have been just like the priest, advising Feller's father that playing baseball with his son on Sundays was a prohibited activity because it violated proper observance of the Sabbath.

When I was a child growing up in the Methodist tradition observed in the Midwest, Sunday religious restrictions on such things as playing baseball, going swimming, playing golf or involvement in any activity remotely associated with experiencing joy in life -- other than an occasional church picnic -- were carefully enforced.

via cleveland.com

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