Alcohol, the Emerging Church, and Getting The Job Done!
I have just finished reading an article sent to me on “Alcohol, Acts 29 (Churches), and the SBC.” The so-called “emerging church movement,” of which the Acts 29 churches are a part, has gained the reputation of being “soft on sin” in favor of providing an environment where unchurched people can feel comfortable. There are certainly extremes on both sides; from Mark Driscoll’s statement in his book, “Radical Reformission,” that abstinence from alcohol is a sin, to the exclusive views of some independents who don’t seem to get along with anyone but themselves. Somewhere in the middle are churches who say they want to connect with the unchurched wherever they are, even if it’s in a bar.
On March 4, NBC’s “Today” show capitalized on this issue which separates and confuses many Southern Baptists. In their report, “Beer and Bibles: New Churches Lure Young Members,” they interviewed an SBC pastor who’s church has ties to the emerging church movement, Darrin Patrick, founder and senior pastor of The Journey in St. Louis.
Although Patrick said that his church does not condone the use of alcohol, they do sponsor a discussion group, “Theology at the Bottleworks,” that meets in a bar where alcohol is available to participants. How does this fit in with traditional Southern Baptist culture?
Obviously, this issue is not going away. Every church… every serious believer will have to deal with it. The question is will we deal with it according to scripture or according to our culture… whether church or secular culture. Both are making constant impressions upon us.
First, it is obvious that Jesus was not soft on sin. Yes, he had more to say about the sin of hypocrisy He saw among religious people than He did the sins committed by His secular hearers; yet, He did not deny the presence of sin or its consequences. Let’s face it! Without knowledge of sin, there can be no repentance, and without repentance, there can be no salvation.
That having been said, are there “gray” areas that might be sin to one person but a valid choice to another; IE, the use of alcohol? I find that there are heated responses to that question on both sides! For me, I know that my testimony is more important than my choice options, and I am to refrain from anything that might cause my “brother” to stumble. So, “for me and my house,” alcohol is out!
But, most of the world does not share my view. The unchurched are influenced by a culture of humanism, secularism, and often hedonism. They are out there by the billions, all over the world; a world Jesus said we are to “go into” and make disciples. Unfortunately, a majority of traditional churches have maintained a philosophy of “if you build it, they will come.” But, they aren’t coming, and the Bible directive does not say that they have to! We are to go to them.
So, where do we go? Where did Jesus go? He went to a wedding feast, to homes where there were gatherings of questionable people, and He met on the street, by the sea, and on the hillside… anywhere people would meet with Him. And, He taught them… He taught them the Truth! Would He have gone to a bar and “had a drink” with them? In our culture, I question the “drink,” but I have no doubt that He would have been willing to teach any group who would have given Him a listening ear and a receptive heart. He loved people; He loved “real” people; and, those who came to Him, He never turned away!
The problem we are facing today is that we are more concerned about our preferences than God’s orders. We will debate culture and tradition in the church while never giving our lost neighbors a second thought. I don’t agree with much of the emerging church’s view of sin, but I am inspired by their zeal to reach the unreached. I can learn from them without laying aside doctrinal purity and without compromising my testimony of a saved man who is being conformed to the image of Christ. There is a world to reach, a commission to carry out, and a purpose to be fulfilled. Will we do it, or will we just sit around and argue differences on how it is to be done? If we choose the latter, I hope that our meetings won’t conclude with a couple verses from “So Send I You!”
What do you think?
On March 4, NBC’s “Today” show capitalized on this issue which separates and confuses many Southern Baptists. In their report, “Beer and Bibles: New Churches Lure Young Members,” they interviewed an SBC pastor who’s church has ties to the emerging church movement, Darrin Patrick, founder and senior pastor of The Journey in St. Louis.
Although Patrick said that his church does not condone the use of alcohol, they do sponsor a discussion group, “Theology at the Bottleworks,” that meets in a bar where alcohol is available to participants. How does this fit in with traditional Southern Baptist culture?
Obviously, this issue is not going away. Every church… every serious believer will have to deal with it. The question is will we deal with it according to scripture or according to our culture… whether church or secular culture. Both are making constant impressions upon us.
First, it is obvious that Jesus was not soft on sin. Yes, he had more to say about the sin of hypocrisy He saw among religious people than He did the sins committed by His secular hearers; yet, He did not deny the presence of sin or its consequences. Let’s face it! Without knowledge of sin, there can be no repentance, and without repentance, there can be no salvation.
That having been said, are there “gray” areas that might be sin to one person but a valid choice to another; IE, the use of alcohol? I find that there are heated responses to that question on both sides! For me, I know that my testimony is more important than my choice options, and I am to refrain from anything that might cause my “brother” to stumble. So, “for me and my house,” alcohol is out!
But, most of the world does not share my view. The unchurched are influenced by a culture of humanism, secularism, and often hedonism. They are out there by the billions, all over the world; a world Jesus said we are to “go into” and make disciples. Unfortunately, a majority of traditional churches have maintained a philosophy of “if you build it, they will come.” But, they aren’t coming, and the Bible directive does not say that they have to! We are to go to them.
So, where do we go? Where did Jesus go? He went to a wedding feast, to homes where there were gatherings of questionable people, and He met on the street, by the sea, and on the hillside… anywhere people would meet with Him. And, He taught them… He taught them the Truth! Would He have gone to a bar and “had a drink” with them? In our culture, I question the “drink,” but I have no doubt that He would have been willing to teach any group who would have given Him a listening ear and a receptive heart. He loved people; He loved “real” people; and, those who came to Him, He never turned away!
The problem we are facing today is that we are more concerned about our preferences than God’s orders. We will debate culture and tradition in the church while never giving our lost neighbors a second thought. I don’t agree with much of the emerging church’s view of sin, but I am inspired by their zeal to reach the unreached. I can learn from them without laying aside doctrinal purity and without compromising my testimony of a saved man who is being conformed to the image of Christ. There is a world to reach, a commission to carry out, and a purpose to be fulfilled. Will we do it, or will we just sit around and argue differences on how it is to be done? If we choose the latter, I hope that our meetings won’t conclude with a couple verses from “So Send I You!”
What do you think?
4 Comments:
You made the statement, "The problem we are facing today is that we are more concerned about our preferences than God’s orders". It sounds very similar to the problems Christ faced.
Christ came with a ministry of healing, Matt. 9:12 "On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick' ". He stated this while sitting among many tax collectors and sinners, in the house of a tax collector.
The Pharisees, on the other hand, had a different ministry; a ministry which required conformity to tradition, culture, and exclusivity. As a result they regarded Christ as, "...a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." Matt. 11:19.
This opinion came about because of a people who were more concerned with personal preferences than the will of God. I sometimes wonder if we don't get so wrapped up in trying to get what we want, that we try to impose these wants on God, in order to justify our actions. If we would only "deal with it according to scripture" much of this would be resolved.
In regards to association, Paul addressed this in 1 Corinthians 5, "I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people — not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world." These are precisely the ones who need healing.
We can't sit within the comfort and confines of the local body (church) and expect the world to come to us. We need to take the healing power of the gospel message to them. That would be in our neighborhoods and in the places that they frequently gather. We need to realize and understand the power of the gospel and the fact that we're the tools that God intends to use. And the fact is, if he doesn't use us he'll use someone else.
Matt. 5:13-14 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."
May we all be willing to "follow God's orders" and be the light in the midst of darkness.
So I guess its ok to go into a topless bar to reach out to people that need to hear the word of god. I can bet on one thing most if not all people in the USA no all about christ. the word of god tells me not to be part of the world or the thing of the world. this is why I can't understand the sbc. the sbc seems to do what ever to fit in.
In comment to the last post by "wlc346", I can understand your concern. Certainly as Christians we are "aliens" in this world, for our citizenship is in the Kingdom of God and we are called to live accordingly. In living a Godly, Kingdom life, we are not to participate in the sins of this world. Without a doubt, going into a topless bar would constitute participation (unless your a blind man), and as a Christian we should have no part in this. Christ said in John 17:18, "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world". We have a responsibility, we have been sent and commissioned to carry the message of repentance and forgiveness to a lost and dying world (Luke 24:47).
No doubt, most of the world has heard the name of Christ. But, to know Christ as their Lord and Savior is a different subject. The Ethiopian had the Word of God, but when Philip asked him if he understood it, the Ethiopian responded, "How can I....unless someone explains it to me?"
We must be willing to be that "someone" who Christ sends into the world. That does night mean participating in the world's sin, or we would no longer be light in a darkened world. By being the light, we are not "fitting in", we are dispelling the darkness through the power of the Gospel.
So are you saying that biblically it is a sin to consume alcohol? I understand the part about causing your brother to stumble. But does that mean in all instances the consumation of alcohol should be abstained from? Obiously if your brother or sister has an alcohol abuse issue you should not drink in front of him/her. But what if you are out with your wife for a celebretory dinner?
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