Posted on 06/28/2004 6:56:33 PM PDT by missyme
Two clergymen in Denver have found a new way of taking religion to the masses, they have opened a church in a nightclub. Every fortnight people are greeted by the founder Matt Honeycutt, who holds a pint of beer in one hand while welcoming people with the other.
According to The Daily Enquirer, it is mainly people in their 20s and 30s who are comfortable with finding God in a bar. They believe in following the teachings of Christ in a wholesome atmosphere that does not tolerate excessive drinking.
Mike Shepherd, the founder of the church has taken the initiative in order to reach out to the few drunkards who attend church.
"That's where believers are more likely to go if they're disconnected from God and the traditional church, but still have a tugging in their heart for something more," he said. (ANI)
Xer Ping
Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
Ping
I don't know about evil, But if your not in the Bar to get drunk what's the point? nothing can be more boring talking to a bunch of drunks when your sober...
I take it that you are from a faith that believes that drinking an alcoholic beverage is a mortal sin. I am not. That said, I don't believe that anyone you'll find in a bar is necessarily more sinful than the average person you'll run into in public. I'm not as optimistic as you are that people usually find their way to God, but I don't think people who frequent a bar are in any particular danger just by being there.
I usually go to a bar to have a drink, or sometimes two. Something expensive that I would not want to pay the $ for the bottle. Getting drunk is not the purpose, nor is it the goal. From time to time there are drunk people who humiliate themselves and their families with their behavior. I guess I believe that adults (I admit the word "adult" no longer has a conotation of "responsibility") who are responsible can go out and have a few drinks and behave accordingly.
Absolutely not! I love to drink wine...
I am saying people that hang out in Bars where the clergy attend our proably too looped to learn anything about Jesus and his message....
True, but I doubt that the Clergy is in those type of establishments....
I was joking! And somebody goes out and actually does this! It may be entirely legitimate, but I think it stand to reason that this will raise more than a few eyebrows...
Perhaps the clergy should be in the bad establishments. The worst establishments. Just maybe, the clergy should go to where the sinners are and reach out to them. The clergy should be in the bars, whore houses and places of ill repute. Go to where the sin is and you will find the future of the church. Let them repent and come back to grace.
I bet...I once went to a church social gathering and saw the pastor drinking and smoking, he did not act out of line maybe he was a bit louder than usual but it just felt kinda weird, like seeing your mother drunk...
Agreed, unless the clergy is partaking in the SIN too..
and with what is happening with some of the clergy lately, they just might be worse than the sinner there attempting to save....
I am saying people that hang out in Bars where the clergy attend our proably too looped to learn anything about Jesus and his message....
Not at all. Our Theology on Tap meetings are well-advertised events. It's not like a minister just hangs out there and approaches people about Jesus, hoping for a convert. They are set up as a meeting for young adults to have a discussion with a featured speaker about theology and church issues in a relaxed setting, where we can order a beer or two. Most people who show up are aware of what's going on, and behave accordingly. The events in the article you posted seem to be similar to these. The sessions here in my town used to take place in the basement of one of the local churches, but attendance has tripled since it was moved to a bar downtown.
Sure. But I would say that most clergy get beat up in the media. Most folks of the cloth are good people and that there are a few bad apples in every barrel. And having A beer and A smoke (or two) is not partaking in the sin, it is just having a beer and a smoke. Now, if your clergyman is slumped over at the bar screaming that he is Peter Pantsless, then there is a problem.
Well if it's working then great, but people in general will use every excuse to explain there behaviour and there are many people that will use the message of GOD to continue with there problems....
Sure. You'll find those people everywhere.
Somehow I just can't imagine Billy Graham or the Pope having a beer and a smoke in the local bar, and I bet if you saw them there you would look twice...
I'd look twice because I'd be glad to see them. And then I would buy them each a beer and pack of camels and tell them it was nice to finally see some Christians who were not holier than thou judgemental stone throwers. Although I have great respect for both the Pope and Billy Graham-I do not have much respect for a lot of their fundamentalist judgemental followers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.