Monday, 08 June 2009
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Would You Go to a Church That Met in a Bar?
Jay Bakker, son of infamous preacher Jim Bakker, has spent the past several years leading a cutting-edge church called Revolution in Atlanta and New York City. Bakker targets young hipsters with his gospel message, railing against Christian hypocrisy and legalism and championing God's abundant grace above all. Rather than confine his congregation in a stuffy nave and stained-glass windows, Bakker holds his church services at a bar in Williamsburg, a trendy punk neighborhood in Brooklyn. Bakker himself is a recovering alcoholic, and believes that holding services in a bar attracts a crowd of people who would rather gouge out their own eyes than darken a church door.
I think it's commendable that Bakker convenes his church at a bar. It's a stellar opportunity to portray the church as a loving community of grace and get away from the stuffy rules and traditions that many non-Christians associate with church (whether they are accurate or not).
What do you think? Would you go to a church like this?
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Comments (111)
I have been to a church at an RV park that met beside a pool table that had a huge Budweiser ad. It's a great memory. Also, I heard Jay Bakker speak a while back and liked most of what he had to say, though I don't agree with all of his opinions.
yes i would, as long as the message is the same, they' re just reaching out to different people.
I wouldn't attend- but I can appreciate how it could reach people whom nothing else could.
I wouldn't ....
Sounds good to me!
I go to an opium den when I need spiritual advice.
No. This is that same question I think that has been asked about a billion times on Revelife, you must be running out of material. Worship is to be done in a church. Period. Not a bar, or a Starbucks, or a classroom, or an empty whorehouse. A church.
Whether I went or not would depend on the messages being taught. I think it's a great outreach to go to where the people are, I also think that if it's saving the church money (so that they can give back to God and take care of people) then that's also good. If they're meeting there just because it's cool and trendy, that's just as unfocused as the people who need pews and stained glass.
The environment means nothing, God is the point.
@scrambledmegzntoast@hardestlevel - may I ask why? Just out of curiosity.
I would go, sure. But I would want to make sure I was called to that church if I was to stay I think you would need to be called to that kind of ministry/fellowship.
Now a coffee shop church I would help start if I had like minded people.
@scrambledmegzntoast@hardestlevel - that is a biblical principle?
It doesn't matter where you meet because we are the body of christ . A church is just a building . In the bible people some people had church in there homes so really it doesn't matter because people are the church .So I think What he is doing is amazing and unconventional. I totally applaud Jay for thinking outside the box :)!
It depends on the message that is preached. If it is in line with the bible, yes. If not, than I would not go there.
@scrambledmegzntoast@hardestlevel - A church is nothing but a building used for the gathering of a group of people for worship. Technically, a bar, Starbucks, classroom, or empty whorehouse is a church.
I would visit it. That's cool that he's reaching out to people in unusual places. In my city there's a church which meets in a movie theater that advertises itself as being for "people who hate church." I kind of like church so I might not go, but it's probably a good thing that it's there.
Fuck yes I would. That sounds like a good old time! I'd probably spend the entire service drinking...there is no better way to salvation. :)
I think a church can meet anywhere!
I'll go anywhere because G-D is everywhere, in everything and in everyone.
@scrambledmegzntoast@hardestlevel - Are you serious? Are you saying we can only worship God in a church?
We're supposed to worship Him with our lives and what we do-- no matter where we are.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer
your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your
spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1
If you're right, I guess that means I can only give my life to God in church... and I remain a slave to sin outside of it
@pnigophobicpk@xanga -Â
When you want to address me in a less overbearing and condescending manner, I might respond to you.Read Acts-- the early church met in people's houses or in public arenas such as "Solomon's Portico" until persecution made the latter impractical. There was no such thing as a "church building" until Constantine made Christianity legal over 300 years later. (I'm not saying that's good or bad, just a fact of history.)
So I think we should care a lot more about whether real worship is happening than where it's happening.
I'd probably be happy to go to a church in a bar myself, as long as the jukebox isn't too annoying. The one exception would be if a lot of Christians in the area were noted for being legalistic anti-drinking spiritual abusers-- then I'd definitely be happy to go to a church in a bar. As Luther once said, sometimes we need to loosen up a bit and spite the devil!
@scrambledmegzntoast@hardestlevel - How about a full whorehouse? Those are the best
I don't know, there is just something about hearing the word of god while indulging in sinful pleasures of the flesh, you know?
personally, I wouldn't.
it may be a little too distracting.
Simple. No.
@flowerspushthrudirt@xanga - @mrsviolet - The literal presence of Jesus in the Eucharist demands respect. A bar, or warehouse, or Starbucks, or wherever, is not respectful to the presence of our Lord. Sections 1180 and 1181 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church say this:
A church, "a house of prayer in which the Eucharist is celebrated and reserved, where the faithful assemble, and where is worshipped the presence of the Son of God our Savior, offered for us on the sacrificial altar for the help and consolation of the faithful - this house ought to be in good taste and a worthy place for prayer and sacred ceremonial." In this "house of God" the truth and the harmony of the signs that make it up should show Christ to be present and active in this place.
Yes, the Holy Spirit is present everywhere, but when we get together as the community of believers to worship our Lord, we need to do so in a respectful manner, and in a place that is respectful of His presence. In the Catholic Church, we don't just get together once a week on Sundays. The Mass is celebrated every single day, and a Parish is more than just the knave and other areas that make up the church building. There are community areas, recreation rooms, libraries, and schools.
Church isn't a building. It's the people that make it a church.