Jesus was known for ticking people off.
He would go and meet people that nobody else would
acknowledge, especially if you were a spiritual person you would not associate
with the people Jesus did.
At that time you didn’t hang out with sinners and people who
made huge mistakes or had huge issues going on.
It would have been an insult to your faith to go and meet
with these people.
People complained to Jesus and were ticked at him for this.
Peter went through the same thing in Acts 10 just for going
and eating with gentiles (Those without faith).
Believers came up to him and asked how could this happen?
They were not thrilled with this idea of him hanging out
with these type of people.
He explained his vision and how God told him it was alright.
He goes in detail through this in verses 4-17 in Acts 11.
Acts 11:18…
“When they heard this, they had no further objections and
praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that
leads to life.”
God’s grace and forgiveness is for everyone.
Is it alright for Christians to go to strip clubs?
I think it would be okay for some Christians to go to strip
clubs.
I myself could not do it.
Lust would be too prevalent and over take anything I could
do to share the gospel and the love of Jesus.
But certain people and organizations make this their goal to
reach these people where they are at.
Organizations like XXX Church and some of their counterparts
will meet people who are in strip clubs, prostitution an d brothels.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CW7fFc3SzE
XXX Church will go to the adult porn conventions and help
people there as well.
They have been known for giving gift baskets to strippers
and sharing the love of Christ.
If going into this place will make you greatly sin then I
suggest not going into it.
Jesus, Peter (at this time) met people where they were at
and became their friends.
Christians were not meant to hide in a building.
Love your neighbors as yourself.
I think if Jesus would be here today, he wouldn’t have a
problem going into bars, strip clubs or any place.
Every person has places they could go and show the love of
Jesus too and places they shouldn’t.
I would never send a drunk to a bar but if you can go there
and not struggle with alcohol, go there.
I have a minister friend that once went to for a church
interview and they asked if he drank alcohol.
He told them, I drink one beer at a time.
They were flabbergasted.
He said, “You wonder why I drink one beer at a time?”
Still shocked they replied, “YES.”
He replied, “Have you ever tried to drink two beers at one
time (He motioned what it would look like)? It’s impossible.”
They were not happy with his joke and said, “What do you
think it looks like for a Christian to drink alcohol?”
He replied, “That I can drink responsibly which is not a sin
and I have no problem going to bars to meet people where they are at.”
They did not want him for the job, and he didn’t want to be
there if they didn’t get his joke and who he was.
We are called to meet people where they are at.
I have no problems going into bars and such places like that.
As Christians, we create more activities to keep us outside
of places to reach people for Christ then going out for people.
Rather than playing sports in a rec league where we create
relationships, we have to create church leagues for everything.
Church league softball, basketball, shoot I even had a
student ask me to start a Christian disc golf league (Which in a stern tone I
said NO!!!!!!!!!!!)
We create so called leagues to reach out to non-Christians but
instead just create activities for Christians to come together and act in non-Christian
ways to other Christians (Craig Groeschel wrote about this in his book “It”) .
People in many different places need the love of Jesus and
the gospel.
We just aren’t willing to go there.
If we are trying to be more like Jesus, this requires us to
go outside our comfort zones and show the love of Christ.
What do you think?
Have a great day.
