“Beer-vangelism”?

January 29th, 2007 | Posted in » Baptist Issues, In the News..., Quote of the Day

I’m not terribly fond of the title of this article, but it’s an interesting read about The Journey in St. Louis (a non-traditional church that is doing a phenomenal job of reaching young people) and the controversy surrounding a discussion forum they hold called “Theology at the Bottleworks”.

I have to say, I really enjoyed how the following response to this article (found on the Missouri Baptist mailing list) put this into perspective:

Nothing reveals the Glory of God to the nations, nothing communicates the power of the Risen Lord to a lost world, nothing draws all men to Jesus Christ… like a bunch of Baptists fighting over beer.

To be honest, I’m still not sure how some Missouri Baptists can let themselves get so upset about this matter. Didn’t Jesus go where the lost and hurting were? Why shouldn’t we?

7 Responses to ““Beer-vangelism”?”

  1. By micah on Jan 29, 2007

    amen John. I can assure you that at least one Missouri Baptist church in good standing is applauding the efforts of Journey and Bottleworks. But, of course, you already knew that! :-)

  2. By Kevin Bussey on Jan 29, 2007

    Didn’t Jesus hang out with drunks?

  3. By Debbie Kaufman on Jan 30, 2007

    I applaud them as well.

  4. By Mike Woodward on Jan 30, 2007

    I also get the sense they are caught in the crossfire of a bigger battle.

    BTW, Pastor Darrin Patrick commented on Steve McCoy’s blog that he wasn’t necesarily happy with the headline used, though that was the work of a separate headline editor, NOT the work of the reporter. He also thought the article may convey that this specific outreach is the main cause of growth, which is not quite true.

    It’s rough days to be a Missouri Baptist…

  5. By Kaylor on Jan 30, 2007

    The oddest part of the article is that the church went from being praised as an example of how churches should be to being attacked. But the church did not change. Apparently legalism is more important than lives being forever changed.

  6. By bryan riley on Jan 31, 2007

    Kaylor, good point. Is the church today more about having the appearance of following a certain set of rules or about letting God change lives? Is the church today a place for sinners to come and be healed or a place for sinners to hide the fact that they are broken?

  7. By S. Doster on Mar 17, 2007

    1. Christ said He would build His Church.(Math 16:18)
    2. Why does a sociaologist of “religion” have to define this organization as a “church” rather than Biblical principles?
    3. The writer of the article is considered a witness to the testimony of the “church”. He outlined the sermon as, men like risk, Men need to be challenged, and the church is a “less than masculine” congregation. True, men like risk, ask Adam, he chose sin rather than righteousness. True, men need to be challenged, God gave us the biggest challenge, Be ye holy because I am Holy. But that may be considered Old Testament. How about when Jesus challenged us to “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” True, the “church” may be “less than masculine”, teach people JESUS and He will make them men.
    4. Hot sex should be inside the marriage not the bedroom. I do understand the writer addressed married men in the pews, but I wonder about the single man or single woman, what message did they hear.
    5. Serving the poor is a great and godly work, but who is it for. The writter never mentions the name Jesus, sin, the blood that was shed for the remmision of sin, God the Holy Spirt or God the Father.

    Colossians 3:17- And whatsoever you do in word or deed, DO ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

    The message the article sent is beer drinking beleivers gather in St. Louis not Jesus Christ and Him crucified. How does this form of evangelism glorify Jesus? The Bible clearly states in Romans 12:1-2, To present your bodies a living sacrifice, HOLY, acceptable unto God, which is your resonable service. Do not be conformed to this world, but be ye therefore transformed by the renewing of your mind to prove what is that good and acceptable will of God

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