For the past three weeks we have been having an event “God in the Bar.” The purpose of the event is to allow the community of Mahwah to have a safe environment where questions of faith could be discussed. Our approach is to have a conversation about faith rather then having an apologetic seminar.
Why the bar? This is a great question especially when I have had a struggle with alcohol and second it is not the place you would find an “Evangelical Church.” The truth is it is the location we would find Jesus. So often we read of the bold steps Jesus would take to reach people. For some reason Jesus would push the envelope more and more with the hope he would rescue a hurting person. Jesus would go where the tax collectors are, go to the pool where those who were considered broken would be, he would even rescue people whose sins were what we would consider the worst of the worst. The sad thing is we read about Jesus but do we act like Jesus?
Over the past few years I have wrestled with, “Do I act like Jesus?” Yes, I love broken people. Yes I open my home to those in need. Yes I am quick to give money and my time. But do I step out and do that which is uncomfortable and maybe has the possiblility of being shunned by the church and rejected by the world? This is my tension where I have been living and now I realize if we do not go to the places where hurting people actually hang out then I am missing the mark of what Jesus has asked me to be, His hands and feet.
When you hear of such an event that involves Guiness and conversations about Christ it either seems like a scam or a very overconfident pastor. I have to be very honest, even as I type this I am shaking inside. Why? I am frightened by the fact that no one may want to hear. I am anxious by the fact that the church may look down at me. I am scared at the fact that this is not my norm. Most importantly I am humbled by the fact that Jesus would invite me to begin to live like Him.
So today pray for our team as we share a meal, a drink and the love of Jesus with anyone who shows up.
