Keep those sinners away from our Church!
Have you heard about the church in Charlotte NC that fought to keep a Coyote Ugly Saloon from moving in across the street from them? I first read about it in an article from the Charlotte Observer last week (no I’m not subscribed to the Charlotte Observer…I just have a Google Alert set up to send me anything with the words church and bar in it).
To be honest, I didn’t know what to think when I first read about the situation. I can understand where the church might be coming from. Most of us wouldn’t want a place that is known for half-dressed women using sex to sell booze to horny men moving in next to where we meet to worship.
But the other side of me says this is a great opportunity. This is an opportunity to have the lost right at your front door. The people that go to this place, go to try to fill a void in their lives. Those that are in the church have the only thing that will ultimately fill that void. Jesus.
Honestly I don’t know what I would do in this situation. To promote the placement of this bar would seem to be promoting lewdness, drunkenness, adultery, and cheesy bar chains. But to not promote seems to show that you are a church that is all about keeping the lost and hurting away from the only source of hope.
Seems liked you’re damned if you do and your damned if you don’t.
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It probably depends upon the goals of that particular parish, but I’d say I’m glad I’m not the one making the decision.
I think there are very good reasons to fight the bar/club from being established in the city, regardless of where it is located. However, if the place is there, it sounds like an excellent opportunity for the church to offer ministry and the hope of Jesus Christ.
Maybe the church should consider opening its doors during the same hours that the bar is open. That way, they can minister to those who may be going to the bar for the wrong reasons–or coming out of the place feeling hopeless. Maybe the church could become so effective at ministering to the drunken and hopeless that the bar could end up being a healthy, enjoyable place for drinking, and not a place of lewdness and despair.
So sad. Like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day it seems these “christians” have lost sight of what the gospel is really about.
Brad Ruggles // http://www.bradruggles.com
Brad Ruggless last blog post..Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
It’s not really up to the church what businesses can go where. Nor can the government force out a legit business just because a certain group of citizens are morally opposed to a burlesque tavern.
Also, it looks pretty bad for the church when they’re trying to supersede the law and this Coyote Ugly place is following the law properly.
If the church doesn’t want the Coyote Ugly place across the street, they should try giving the Gospel to the owners and patrons of the bar.
Does no one remember that Jesus was called a “friend of sinners?” Does anyone remember the whole Matthew party thing? How about “The Son of Man came eating and drinking?”
(bangs head against desk…repeatedly)
Clayton Bells last blog post..A Minute of Ministry Math
Seems to me that if you deny the bar, you deny the people in the bar. But the truth of it is, how many churches are really doing anything for those stuck in cycles of alcoholism, adultery, and frankly sin. The church usually has two responses: a) Call them sinners and damn them to hell for their unrepentant ways b) Fully embrace their way of living and never confront their sin.
I guess there’s no easy answer. Maybe it’s letting the bar in, and developing a ‘real’ ministry to those in the bar. Like starting church during off hours @ the bar.
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