Tuesday, 01 July 2008
-
Christians at the Bar: Yea or Nay?
So God, Jesus, and a man walk into a bar....
Throughout my college years, I have met and/or seen many of my Christian counterparts in bars and clubs, myself included. I always had one of two reactions: 1) "What are you doing here?" and 2) "Hey...! It's good to seee you! Um... This is awkward."I will admit, I ignored God a lot through those years so that I could have my "fun" without Him while I was out. Ironically, the majority of the time, I'd go out with my Christian friends. We would all egg each other on and encourage having a great night with a great buzz. I did a lot of that my freshman through junior years of college; by the time senior year came around, I had sobered up and realized that graduation was right around the corner and I'd have to behave like an adult. It was at this time that I also came back to Jesus. To be honest, I was never the type of person to drink heavily or do really crazy things while out; it was always about simply having a good time and relaxing a bit from all the long hours of studying that we'd put in. So when I came back to God, I started questioning my behavior and what other people had thought of me during those years that I frequented the bars and parties with my friends (who after I moved away and quit partying, also quit hanging out with me.)
Looking back, there's some things that I'd do differently, but at the same time, all those things contributed to the perspective I have now. Not everyone who goes to the bar is out to get wasted and act a fool; some of them were just like me - simply out to spend some time with friends, and it happened to be a bar.
Now that I'm out of college, I definitely have cut back a lot on going out to the bars. Occasionally I will still go out to a bar with friends just to catch up and hang out a bit. When I go on Facebook these days, I'll see pictures from fellow Christians who are just starting out their college years going to bars and clubs. It makes me think about the decisions that we make as Christians and whether or not others question our beliefs when we show up at places like bars and parties. My mentality now is: We are set apart from the rest of the world. When we show up at a bar or a club, aren't we just telling the world that we're just like them and we can do the same things they can? So then it seems as though we're not set so much apart from the world if we do these things.
My question: Although it's not right for Christians to frequent bars, clubs, keg parties, etc, is it okay for Christians to occasionally drink at a bar? (By occasionally, I mean once or twice a month.) Does it make a difference whether you're going out with Christians or non-Christians?
-
recommend
- recs 3
-
share
-
email
- sent 0
Related Posts
Post a Comment
- Back to revelife's Revelife Site!
- Note: your comment will appear in revelife's local time zone: GMT -05:00 (Eastern Standard - US, Canada)
Comments (166)
@Opposite_Way@xanga - Hey! Pretty cool! I just read it, and it was really interesting, thanks for sharing!
I just think that Alcohol is sth affecting our mind so much(you may be more High and say sth bad even u haven't get drunk yet) . We might get exciting feeling with just little alcohol. If we are really in Jesus, we won't spend times on bars instead we like to spend time on Jesus. If you have mission to save ppl in bars, that's maybe another story.
On a personal level, I should stay aways from bars, being a recovering alcoholic.
On a non-personal level, I think it depends on the Christian. We all know our boundaries and tolerance levels and we should accept them. If you aren't going to be going out to get drunk, then I don't see anything wrong with going out with your friends. However, you're right - people have a preconceived notion about how Christians should act and that's probably a good thing. Many people don't expect to see a group of Christians out at a bar. There are other ways to have fun that don't involved the serving and drinking of alcohol surrounding you.
So, if you haven't a problem saying no to alcohol or going against the "labels" (whether good or bad ones) others have set for you... I see no problem in it. But listen to your heart and what God has for YOU specifically.
It really depends on the person, I think.
Here at Bethel Church here in Redding, CA, we actually have a bar outreach. A team goes out to the bars and share's God's love with the people there. We've had a number of people get saved through that. One of the rules, being on the outreach team, is no alcoholic beverages while doing outreach. Sodas are ok.
We do suggest that anyone who has had a problem with lust or drinking in the past year not do the bar ministry.
@jmsnooks@xanga - so if we are supposed to stay away from places inhabited by "worldly people", where are we supposed to go? monasteries? convents? the 1950's?
don't know if it has been mentioned or not, but...
i would look into studying Romans 14.
"Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth." John 17:17
@Opposite_Way@xanga -
Jesus drank wine that had alcohol in it. Comparing what they said about John the Baptist who drank no wine and himself Jesus said in Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say,'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children." If the wine he was drinking was juice what he said makes no sense. It is not a sin to drink it is a sin to get drunk. Just because something is taught in a church doesn't make it true.
There's nothing in the bible saying you can't frequent bars. It tells you not to be a drunken moron, but you can go hang out at the bar all you want.
Heck, if nothing else I'd say it encourages you, if only to try to help those who are slovenly and lost.
Don't misconstrue the message. I don't even believe in it and I'm familiar.
To each his own...
The key is, as you indirectly mentioned, moderation. The occasional drink and party is fine. As i frequent the club scene and enjoy a good buzz. Its when one uses the two as an escape from personal issues rather than dealing with them, that it becomes reason for concern. God is our escape from hardships, bar none.
Also, there is a time for work and a time for play. Being responsible enough to know the appointed time for each AND having to the discipline to know and recognize your own limits is what it means to use your God-given intelligence and Free Will. I believe that Christians (myself being catholic) in general receive a rep for being judgmental sticklers who don't know how to have a good time. And on the flipside, some Christians take themselves WAAAY too seriously.
After all, Jesus' 1st miracle was turning water into wine at a party.
We should kick it,
Ekit.
Ok, LOVE the topic first of all!
It is harmless to go to bars as a Christian, depending on what you're going for. It is not okay to get drunk at the bars, simply because it is a sin. Obviously, If you go to a bar I know you will be tempted to drink, so if you can't control your drinks to a state of tipsiness I'd recommend not going on account of God's approval. Yet, since I am a college-bound student I understand the action of putting God on the backburner while you have your fun. God knows everything you are going to do before you do it, so you can't be making a mistake if you find yourself at the bar singing Karaoke with some guy named Jim. But, it's not right to try to preach to your friends about God's word if you're not following it yourself (ie practice what you preach).
Now, there are also those Christians that may not be going to the bar to get smashed, enjoy a fun night with friends, or sing karaoke. Some may actually be going to follow God's will and spread his word. Ok, I know this is EXTREMELY rare, if at all attainable in this country but just think about it. If God did command one of his people to try to turn the lives of alcoholics and other sinners around, then it is feasible to believe that one very faithful Christian would be bold enough to go in a bar and try to assert the word of God. It is far-fetched but it is really the only good reason a Christian should be in a bar.
As you said in your blog, Christians being in bars are not a good example to those non-Christians. So, basically don't go to the bar unless you're trying to make it a more positive place. Or, I guess if you're the designated driver...even though you shouldn't be condoning their actions. But that's a WHOLE 'nother blog.
i was a Christian all through college, and I went to bars with friends (both Christian and non) whenever I felt like it. I had some of the best conversations with non-christians about God in a bar, because they felt more comfortable there than if they had walked into a church.
The world's a mission field, why not a bar too?
God would want us to be happy, and our happiness would come from serving him in the manner that we feel right. So, I would go to a bar, and show that I'm a believer by conducting myself appropriately unlike most other people at the bar. I don't think shying away from the world is a solution.. how else do you put your morals to test?
Many of the great Reformers used to meet regularly at the local pub to debate and discuss theology over a brew or two. I have missionary friends who meet at a bar that caters to ex patriots - they call it "Luther time." They drink, they share stories, compare notes, pray together, and share from open bibles at the bar, drinks in hand. In that culture there is no association between drinking and "evil."
The biggest threat for me at a bar is drinking alone! Now that would be bad. So next time one of y'all wants to chat about the word of God over a drink, take me along!
It's a tricky one. I guess we have to know our own limits and honestly assess why we're there. If you want to spent quality time with people (which seems tricky in bars!) then fair enough, but if you're not robust enough to avoid caving in to lust, drunkenness etc, then it's not good for your personal wellbeing or witness. Nonetheless, I know God can work in these places- I reject the idea that we should avoid bars altogether- some of the best outreach i've seen is in bars and clubs- places where many people are at their most vulnerable.
@frogbabe23@xanga - trust me, drinking is so much more fun when you're 21+. and i don't mean in the "woooh i'm legal let's get trashed!" sense. it's just relaxed and easy and there's no pressure anymore. plus, kids never drink the good stuff. there really is an art to beers, wines, and hard liquors (although i don't know much about that) and it's fun to taste all the great, well-made stuff.
also, there is a Vineyard church in Brooklyn that meets in the back of a bar and it's a pretty awesome way to minister to the surrounding community.
nice blooging i like your style of writeing i think you have a good head on your shoulders! im glad to except you as a freind if i get the word out there about the phalse prophet jesus of zion james kingsley if you could help get the word out there then maybe i wont feel so alone on my fight to get this man off the internet hes robing people of their very souls!
from jeff!
@msoh4377@xanga - i didn't think drinking was the same as cussing or having premarital sex.
I say absoutely NOT. We are to put down our fleshly desires, take up His cross, & follow Jesus. Seriously, would Jesus be leading us into a bar??
Thats a tough question - I mean I think really it is something you have to take up with God. If someone was an alcoholic, or really involved in club activity while living in sin - it would be crazy for them to go because it might take them over again. But for the person who it wasn't a problem, if they feel no conviction about going - and never compromised their relationship with God then it might be ok. But definetly talk it up before God and let Him tell you if it is ok or not. There might be bigger reason why or why not go to.
@Babycakez3@xanga - it's obvious that you can't just flip a switch and change your life around, but it's learning from the experiences that help you become who you are. if we were to stay in this tiny little bubble of Christianity, which i did in high school, i think we'd never be able to relate to non-Christians and show them that it is possible to go from one lifestyle to a healthier one.
Oh, man. On an online forum I was a part of, the "Drinking" thread was the alltime biggest most controversial thread. After I put my $0.02 in (although drinking is not scripturally prohibited, drunkenness is, and not all things are beneficial...combined with what I've seen it do in my family, others may - I cannot.)
But, to the question at hand, Christians at a bar...I don't see why not. I find myself feeling like a fish out of water at a bar, but I enjoy going to a place like Applebees (restaurant with a bar), sitting at a table, and ordering Mozzerella sticks and Dr. Pepper.
@jmsnooks@xanga - not all males who go to bars are out to take advantage of women.
@ChrisRusso@xanga - i agree!
There are denoms that teach tea totalling and others who serve alcohol in the church service. It is not decisively spoken of in scripture. Being drunk is. Being of the world is. Considering others who have addictions is. But Jesus turned water into wine that could get people drunk (the steward said, "Usually the good wine is brought out until the guests are drunk, then the wine which is lesser...). So we know God is not anti-alcohol, at least not anti-wine. It is also written that strong drink should be saved for those who are grieving. So He is not 100% ant-strong drink.
Therefore, examine your heart and the heart of those going to the bar with the Holy Spirit. If He doesn't give you any reason not to go this time, you are free to go.