september.17.2009

Thursday, on our walk back from the Brewers Hill Pub and Grill I had the opportunity to pray with four other men who are seeking to know Jesus and encouraging me to do the same. It’s become a weekly rhythm of life to walk down to a new pub each week on a Thursday night, grab a drink, and talk about our lives and how the Lord is challenging us through the Scriptures. In the midst of our time I found myself reflecting on the fact that 5 men who love Jesus can comfortably go and sit in a pub, have a beer, and talk about our deep love for Jesus all in the same night.  To some, this is close to blasphemous, and yet I felt total piece and ease as I sat around the bar and observed those around us watching with curiosity as we perused our bibles.

Here is a question for you.  How far is too far to connect with our community and our culture?  Where is the line of being in the world but not one with the world?  I don’t have an answer, and every answer I hear seems to be different.  But I do know one thing…

Jesus was more concerned with the hearts of the disciples than with the rules of the road.  Jesus expected more from his disciples than to sit around in temples all day engaging each other in trainings to become better than those outside the church.  Jesus confronted those men who lifted themselves and cared more about the law than people.

We could build a Christian coffee house and stay in to meet, but how would we eat and drink with those who don’t know Jesus?  We could stand in the streets and proclaim our goodness but how would we impact the world when we are caught in our sin?  We could keep our community locked in a closit where no one would find us, but how would we fullfill the Great Commission?

Sitting there tonight with a Bible in one hand and a beer in the other, that was living.  Sharing my life with four other guys and watching as others listened in, that was being a witness.  Yes I agree that drinking a beer with everyone is not the answer, but that’s why Paul said “to the Jews I became like the Jews, and to the gentiles I became like the gentiles.”  We do not cross the line into sin, but we do step out into the world, and pray that we are answering the call of the Great Commission.