I really like the parallel between the Church and a bar. I've always wondered what someone who's not familiar with the Church and Christianity would think if they walked into my church on a Sunday morning. My church is not terribly extreme one way or the other but I still always think that they'd be pretty uncomfortable. Kinda like how I'd feel in pretty much any bar in town. Or a night club, or a lounge.
Of course, if the Holy Spirit has worked in their heart enough to get them through the door, then I have to have faith that the work begun will be continued to completion.
The irony is that the Church has "worked hard" to separate itself from bars, dances, and other normal social gatherings over the past few centuries and we can certainly see the results. The family has been redefined, divorce rates are up, teen-age pregnancies and abortions are up, and the list goes on. At this rate, its not going to be long until the Philippines and Venezuela are sending missionaries to us!
If we want to reach the people who aren't comfortable in a church, then maybe church should be a lot less like church and a lot more like a bar. Cheers comes to mind...
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
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2 comments:
I like the idea of having church in a bar. I like bars, though... People are so real there.
I'm reading a book about small groups and this one group would meet in a bar. These people wouldn't step foot in a church, but they had a longing and hunger to know about God. Instead of expecting people to come to us, we need to be willing to go to them.
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