What is it about alcohol that makes it so desperately avoided? What is it about swearing that makes you such a despicable person to do so? Or vices in general? The answer is the same to each question: the potential for abuse. So then it's something we can decide to do, then why is it so culturally frowned upon?
In different parts of the world, none of it is wrong. It is all simply a part of the culture. So guess what? We Christians even have a form of moral relativism. Some of us really need to wake up because our inability to have a beer or two at a bar costs us a chance to evangelize. It seems strange to think about, but I have honestly had some of the best philosophical and spiritual conversations at bars, often with people who have no belief in God at all.
Some of us think of people in bars as people who are at the end of their rope and need something to help them cope. Why isn't that the perfect place to evangelize? Jesus often sought out the destitute, the socially unacceptable, and those who were ready to give up to tell them that he had the breath of life. Do we, as Christians, have a superiority complex? Yes, we certainly do. And subconsciously, it has to do with the way we cannot accept our own faults. We reconcile our guilt with our need to feel good and the guilt will vanish. But we have a mission. We have a calling and we know it. And we ignore it, preferring to live safely in our airtight Christian bubbles while there are people who want to drown their guilt by killing themselves. That is not faith, that is religion. And religion has been proven to rot our souls.
In no way am I saying that we all should live the same way. If you feel convicted not to do certain things, then by all means, do not do it. But I have a pretty good idea that some of us avoid those things because it is "right" to do so. But anytime we turn down an invitation to the bar with people who need to know Jesus, we may be turning down a chance to introduce the two of them. And for what? To preserve your idea of right? Make no mistake, some of us will take that as an acceptable loss. It is not, however, acceptable to God to lose an opportunity to talk about your faith. And that's what it comes down to: sharing the story God has given you.
You have faith for a reason. Share it. You have life for a reason. Receive it. You have hope for a reason. Give it.
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I agree that alcohol is avoided because of its potential for abuse, but isn't that what living a Christian life all about? The Bible talks about us as Christians being the chosen ones and we have been sanctified in Christ. This means to be set apart from others. Yes, that does imply and invoke a small degree of arrogance, but Jesus didn't walk into bars or other places to preach. He met with people one on one or in small groups. When others heard what he was talking about, they gathered around to listen. The Bible teaches us first and foremost to be like Christ and not to entangle ourselves in what is evil. In other words, yes, we need to preach the word, but at the door of the bar, not by going in.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. The more we stand outside the bars the more we give off that air of arrogance that has destroyed God's standing for years. But I definitely think we should work on restoring our standing with people before they will think any differently about God.
ReplyDeleteBasically, just for clarification, sometimes what's "right" for most Christians can fail non Christians. We think because we are keeping commandments that aren't actually commandments, we are doing the right thing. But every missed opportunity is a missed opportunity. Regardless of the situation. I'm not saying, "Get wasted!", but I am saying to step outside of your comfort zone a little for others, while staying grounded in what you believe.
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