This is quite sad:
A new report released by NPR outlines that a number of congregations across America are now using beer as a way to attract new members.
The effort is an experiment in finding methods that will appeal to those who otherwise would not set foot in a church. Some beer-based gatherings are held right in the the church building, and others are hosted at the local pub.
One of the locations highlighted in the report is Fort Worth, Texas, where Church-in-a-pub, sponsored by “Pastor” Phil Heinze of Calvary Lutheran Church, is held each week at the local bar.
“I find the love, I find the support, I find the non-judgmental eyes when I come here,” attendee Leah Stanfield told the publication. “And I find friends that love God [and] love craft beer.”
Approximately 30-40 people meet for the weekly gathering, which includes Bible readings, fellowship and communion–all over pizza and beer at Zio Carlo pub.
Some at least see this as wrong:
However, some pastors have expressed great concern and caution over increasing attempts to reinvent church—using carnal methods to attract men.
“Rather than relating with people by becoming like people, the Church is to present the glory of God,” Scott Brown of the Center for Family Integrated Churches told Christian News Network. “When people come into the church, they should see a completely new kingdom, a completely new community. They should see how different God is than they are and how much more wonderful He is, and how His ways are much more beautiful than their ways.”
Pastor Eric Ludy, President of Ellerslie Mission Society, has made similar statements in expressing his concerns about the Church seeking to attract the world by appearing “cool.”
“The problem is Jesus wasn’t cool. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, Jesus didn’t do it the world’s way. He came in and offended the world,” he told reporters. “He came in and did everything the wrong way. … We actually want to indict Jesus and say, ‘You know what? If you had known as much as we know you would have done it differently.’ We want to appeal to the world’s sensibilities and somehow draw them to the Gospel. Jesus didn’t do any of that.”
“The Bible says, ‘Raise Him up and He will draw all men unto Himself,’” he continued. “The key is we lift up the Gospel. We give the straight and narrow path. We give it undiluted and people will start respecting us because we are not giving them something that will tantalize the flesh. We are giving them something that will bring life to their spirit.”
The Bible did foretell of such things:
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5 KJV)
Jesus spoke of people that do things like the above and it wasn’t good:
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)
You say, “Now, Patrick, what is wrong with using beer to reach the unsaved?”
Well, This:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV)
This scripture above pretty much sums up why, after 21 years of being involved with the Evangelical/Pentecostal/Read any version of the Bible that you want — crowd; I left. There is no separation from the sin-depraved world anymore. They teach it — sometimes — But, they do not practice it at all.
In fact, the last Church I went to here locally before hanging it up with the confusion crowd; had no dress code at all. In the winter time, going to that Church was fine. Everyone usually covered up; as it gets quite cold here in the Detroit area. However, in the summertime; it is was rough for a single guy like me. The women simply wore, what they wanted, and it usually was little or nothing at all. I mean, don’t get me wrong; they were good-looking women and all; but it is pretty hard to concentrate on the Lord, when you have women dressing like two-dollar whores all around you.
Now, please; know this, and I really mean this one: I am not writing this from a Spirit of judgement — but rather a spirit of sadness. It saddens me to see that the Church of today is steeped in such apostasy. However, the Bible did say that these days were coming and for we as true believers to be on the lookout. 50 years ago, this sort of a thing would never fly in a Church, at all. It is quite to see how far the Church has went from the principles of the Bible and has adopted a, “whatever works” mentality.
It is just a sign of the Lords return…