People who've learned to play—and play well with others—are ahead of the pack. "I would rather be ruled by men who know how to play than by men who do not know how to play," G.K. Chesterton wrote. "The playground is a place for humanizing those who might otherwise become tyrants."

In his book Surprised by Joy, C.S. Lewis wrote, "The compulsory games had banished the element of play. The rivalry was too fierce, the prizes too glittering, the ‘hell of failure' too severe." C.S. Lewis possessed a heightened sense of play and fun throughout his life, but because he felt inadequate, he didn't participate in games while young.

No less an astute theologian than St. Thomas Aquinas argued that a "Christian can play and romp to the glory of God as much as he can eat and work to the glory of God." In Aquinas' commentary on Aristotle, Aquinas wrote: "As a man needs from time to time to rest and leave off bodily labors, so also his mind from time to time must relax from its intense concentration on serious pursuits; this comes through play."

The Best Games

The best games are those that fit your group's culture and interests. Just because something was a big hit at another youth ministry on the other side of the country doesn't mean it'll succeed in yours. Some questions to determine which game will suit your group best include:

• How many people are expected?

• What equipment or supplies are required?

• What is the age range of the students?

• What are the physical abilities of the students?

• Where will the game take place?

• What time of day will you play?

• How much space will you need and have available to use?

• How much time will you have?

• What is the anticipated weather to be like?

The best games are fun to describe, fun to watch and fun to play. They require little or no skill so that everyone is on equal footing. The best games don't require a lot of equipment and don't have a lot of complicated rules. They don't leave kids feeling like losers or embarrass the overweight, self-conscious and shy participants. The best games bring people together so that when the game is over, the players are better friends than when they started.

The best games are ones in which students don't get hurt. Most youth workers rarely consider safety issues. Many times games are planned with no thought given to potential dangers. However, a trip to the emergency room with a student who was injured during a youth group activity will change attitudes toward safety. Safety matters. Put it first.

Being safe does not equal not having much fun. A few minor changes or adjustments can turn a risky game into a safe one without reducing the level of fun. Obviously games that involve motorized vehicles, slippery surfaces, protruding objects, heavy physical contact, turbulent water and hitting people with any type of projectile deserve special attention before you decide to proceed. Any game is wrong if you know someone will get hurt. The safety-smart youth leader anticipates danger. Bring your great game idea to life with a simulated test run, using your staff as crash-test dummies. As you play, you will be able to identify the danger points and make changes before you present the game to the youth group.