Is it wrong? Questions for believers and pastors

[child630]

Thank you for your advice.

 

[Inkachu]

Is it wrong for me, a believer in Christ, to hang out in a bar with my non-Christian friends? I want to know if it will send me to hell?

The only thing that sends someone to hell is rejection of Jesus Christ.

That being said, what does it say to people around you, if you're hanging out in a bar with non-believers (who, I'm assuming, are drinking and otherwise acting like the non-believers they are). While we shouldn't obsess about what people think of us, we do need to be conscious of our witness and testimony; that is, does our conduct draw people to Christ? The Bible does say to avoid even the appearance of evil. I would say that going into a bar with non-believers, unless you're specifically going there to witness and evangelize, is pretty risky behavior.

Will it send you to hell? No. Is God pleased with what you're doing? Probably not.

 

[Albion]

The only thing that sends someone to hell is rejection of Jesus Christ.

That being said, what does it say to people around you, if you're hanging out in a bar with non-believers (who, I'm assuming, are drinking and otherwise acting like the non-believers they are). While we shouldn't obsess about what people think of us, we do need to be conscious of our witness and testimony; that is, does our conduct draw people to Christ? The Bible does say to avoid even the appearance of evil. I would say that going into a bar with non-believers, unless you're specifically going there to witness and evangelize, is pretty risky behavior.

Will it send you to hell? No. Is God pleased with what you're doing? Probably not.

OK. I hear you and respect that. BUT let me take the opposite argument for a moment. If you disdain even passing through the door to a bar, you may be showing a witness of sorts to already-convinced Baptists and fundamentalists. But what of those people who are not living like heathen but, being unchurched, have the idea that Christians are tea-totaling prudes? To see a known Christian enjoying himself with other people but obviously not behaving badly could possibly send even a stronger witness to such onlookers.

 

[Boidae]

To see a known Christian enjoying himself with other people but obviously not behaving badly could possibly send even a stronger witness to such onlookers.

The above is how I see it as well.

My wife, while we haven't been in a couple years, would go to a bar because it was the only place where we could shoot pool. Her and I love to shoot pool, and since it was the only place, where were we to go?

I don't drink (unless it's my one wine cooler a year), but my wife will have a drink, but not get drunk. We were never pressured to drink by anyone, nor did we get involved in anything that would be considered unbecoming of a Christian, yet we enjoyed ourselves.

 

[aiki]

Is it wrong for me, a believer in Christ, to hang out in a bar with my non-Christian friends? I want to know if it will send me to hell?

No, hanging out in a bar with your friends won't send you to hell. Will it help you be more like Christ? Will the development of the fruit of God's Spirit be fostered by your attendence at the bar? Will God be glorified in your time spent there? I don't think so.

There is a drifting that happens to many believers. A little concession to the values of the world here, a small yielding to sin there. Individually, these choices seem insignificant but, accumulating over time, they corrode one's commitment to a radical pursuit of Christ and cause a drifting from the life of holiness all God's children are commanded to observe.

"Little foxes spoil the vine." Satan doesn't lure us into gross sin right off the bat. No, he works much more subtly, inducing us to take small steps toward the darkness, steps that seem harmless and thus easier to justify to ourselves.

Proverbs 14:12
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Many Christians have settled into a spiritual mediocrity. When they read the words of the apostle Paul who says, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain," it never occurs to them that this ought to be something they can say of themselves as well. That's just crazy talk. Surely God doesn't expect them to forsake everything just to be a follower of Christ!

Matthew 10:38-39
38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Selah.

 

[Inkachu]

OK. I hear you and respect that. BUT let me take the opposite argument for a moment. If you disdain even passing through the door to a bar, you may be showing a witness of sorts to already-convinced Baptists and fundamentalists. But what of those people who are not living like heathen but, being unchurched, have the idea that Christians are tea-totaling prudes? To see a known Christian enjoying himself with other people but obviously not behaving badly could possibly send even a stronger witness to such onlookers.

That's why I said, unless you're going there to WITNESS and EVANGELIZE. Even Jesus didn't sit with sinners and act as if everything were hunky-dory. He went among them to preach to them and save them. The Bible is pretty clear that we aren't to be like the world, we're to be set apart and different. If your only "witness" is that you're not guzzling beer or hitting on women, but you're smack dab in the middle of it, and you're not saying anything... that's a pretty poor witness. I think it's awesome if you're going in there and trying to reach these lost people with the gospel. But if you're just going in there because it's fun and you don't have the guts to possibly "offend" someone there with Jesus Christ... I'd re-examine myself. Not trying to attack you dude, just some food for thought.

 

[Boidae]

That's why I said, unless you're going there to WITNESS and EVANGELIZE. Even Jesus didn't sit with sinners and act as if everything were hunky-dory. He went among them to preach to them and save them. The Bible is pretty clear that we aren't to be like the world, we're to be set apart and different. If your only "witness" is that you're not guzzling beer or hitting on women, but you're smack dab in the middle of it, and you're not saying anything... that's a pretty poor witness. I think it's awesome if you're going in there and trying to reach these lost people with the gospel. But if you're just going in there because it's fun and you don't have the guts to possibly "offend" someone there with Jesus Christ... I'd re-examine myself. Not trying to attack you dude, just some food for thought.

You do realize that sometimes best words are none at all and to lead by your actions?

Neither my wife or I are the type to just walk up to people and start witnessing to them. However, if someone comes up to us, because we seem different and they strike up a conversation, we have no problems talking to them after we get to know them.

Also, as I said, we like to shoot pool and since for a long time the only place to shoot pool at was the bar, we had no other choice.

 

[Albion]

That's why I said, unless you're going there to WITNESS and EVANGELIZE.

But that isn't what I was describing. I was referring to showing that you are a normal person who doesn't run from a bar as though it's the temple of Satan. One of the most powerful witnesses can be to show that it's possible to be a real Christian and not some Puritan at the same time.

Even Jesus didn't sit with sinners and act as if everything were hunky-dory.

I thought we'd all already understood that if something that's really a sin is in evidence, the situation changes. Our friend didn't posit that his friends were getting hammered and swearing like drunken sailors while he cheered them on.

 

[Pal Handy]

Is it wrong for me, a believer in Christ, to hang out in a bar with my non-Christian friends? I want to know if it will send me to hell?

As long as you witness to them about Christ and your committment
and dedication to allow Him to be the Lord of your life then go and be a light
in a dark place.

If you want to hang out with your old friends and find that
you are ashamed to share your faith with them and you find yourself being
pulled back into the old lifestyle then what good are you doing.

If these people are really your friends, they will listen to you and
be trully happy for you that you found the meaning of life but the
truth is they will eventually reject you when they see that they cannot
turn you away from Christ and bring you back into their sinful lifestyle.

When you turned to Christ you have left the kingdom of darkness and
have enter the kingdom of light and so the relationship you once had
has changed as you no longer serve the devil but Christ.

You now belong to Christ so wherever you go you take Christ with you
so you need to ask yourself, why are you taking Christ to the bar, is it to witness
to others or to deny Christ and simply have a good time with your old friends.

I know you love your friends and want to win them for Christ but you
will never do this if they do not see a change in your life.

Invite them one by one to church.
Pray for them everyday.

Keep the door open but on your terms and do not allow them to drag you
back into your old lifestyle.

As you change and they see that change in your life, you will be a witness of
the power of Christ to change a man's heart but if they see little change
and you keep hanging out as if nothing happened, then you will be showing
them that religion is all baloney and a sham.

Hope this helps...

 

[Whodoyouthinkiam]

Is it wrong for me, a believer in Christ, to hang out in a bar with my non-Christian friends? I want to know if it will send me to hell?

(bolding mine)
No individual sin (except apostasy, and that is never a "spur-of-the-moment"-thing, anyway) will do that.

 

[JCFantasy23]

No, it's not wrong. I go to the bar with my friends sometimes and listen to the music, talk, have a great time. I'm not seeing how this could give any "appearance of evil" anyway.

 

[sharing101]

Php 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;

A Christian in a bar? ...No. If you desire to take the Christian path, it would be impossible to please the world. If you believe Christ, you'll endure. I have co-workers too, and future classmates in the fall if God permits, and we get along well in the workplace. They don't necessarily like me, but hey, I'm not doing anything bad so I got no problem. I will only go beyond what's necessary if I desire popularity among them, which I don't. I'm content with what's in store for me.

Sorry to break it to you, but as Bro. Eli Soriano says:
{Question: What should I do if I know that because of the decision I am about to make, many will turn against me?
Bro. Eli Soriano: If you will be persecuted because of Christ and because of following God, so be it. 2 Tim 3:12; Jn 15:19-20;}

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

And if you'll hate me for this principle, it's my pleasure.

Goodluck.

 

[child630]

Php 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;

A Christian in a bar? ...No. If you desire to take the Christian path, it would be impossible to please the world. If you believe Christ, you'll endure. I have co-workers too, and future classmates in the fall if God permits, and we get along well in the workplace. They don't necessarily like me, but hey, I'm not doing anything bad so I got no problem. I will only go beyond what's necessary if I desire popularity among them, which I don't. I'm content with what's in store for me.

Sorry to break it to you, but as Bro. Eli Soriano says:
{Question: What should I do if I know that because of the decision I am about to make, many will turn against me?
Bro. Eli Soriano: If you will be persecuted because of Christ and because of following God, so be it. 2 Tim 3:12; Jn 15:19-20;}

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

And if you'll hate me for this principle, it's my pleasure.

Goodluck.

thank you

 

[child630]

Php 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;

A Christian in a bar? ...No. If you desire to take the Christian path, it would be impossible to please the world. If you believe Christ, you'll endure. I have co-workers too, and future classmates in the fall if God permits, and we get along well in the workplace. They don't necessarily like me, but hey, I'm not doing anything bad so I got no problem. I will only go beyond what's necessary if I desire popularity among them, which I don't. I'm content with what's in store for me.

Sorry to break it to you, but as Bro. Eli Soriano says:
{Question: What should I do if I know that because of the decision I am about to make, many will turn against me?
Bro. Eli Soriano: If you will be persecuted because of Christ and because of following God, so be it. 2 Tim 3:12; Jn 15:19-20;}

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

And if you'll hate me for this principle, it's my pleasure.

Goodluck.

 

[ministerfortson]

It will not send you to hell to hang out in a bar.
But
Abraham had a nephew named Lot.
Lot took the best of the land for pasture and set his tent towards Sodom.
Eventually Lot moved from the tent into the city of Sodom.
Then when the Angels came to rescue Lot, and the Sodomites slammed on the door demanding the strangers so they could sodomize these angels. Lot offers up his virgin daughters.
and so the story goes

Lot has a bad end, I do think Lot still went to heaven, but his earthly life was rough, his family was destroyed, his offspring become cursed enemies of Israel and it was of his own DOING, making bad choices. Living and aligning his values with the world.

So what is your motivation in this?

I think you forgot one VASTLY important point... that entire situation led to Moab (Lot's son with his daughter), which led to the birth of Ruth, which led to her marrying Boaz, which led to the birth of David, which led to Christ...

Even in Lot's bad decision, it ended with both him and Abraham being forefathers of Christ.

http://ministerfortson.com/?p=29652

 

[child630]

Php 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;

A Christian in a bar? ...No. If you desire to take the Christian path, it would be impossible to please the world. If you believe Christ, you'll endure. I have co-workers too, and future classmates in the fall if God permits, and we get along well in the workplace. They don't necessarily like me, but hey, I'm not doing anything bad so I got no problem. I will only go beyond what's necessary if I desire popularity among them, which I don't. I'm content with what's in store for me.

Sorry to break it to you, but as Bro. Eli Soriano says:
{Question: What should I do if I know that because of the decision I am about to make, many will turn against me?
Bro. Eli Soriano: If you will be persecuted because of Christ and because of following God, so be it. 2 Tim 3:12; Jn 15:19-20;}

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

And if you'll hate me for this principle, it's my pleasure.

Goodluck.

YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT THAT I AM NOT LIVING MY LIFE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL. I AM NOT WORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE. THAT IS WHY I CONSTANTLY PRAY THAT GOD HAS MERCY ON MY SOUL. FOR I DESERVE HIS WRATH. AND I AM SURE YOU CHRISTIANS DON'T DESERVE HIS WRATH. YOU ARE SO HOLY AND NEVER DO ANYTHING WRONG.

 

[asiyreh]

Lol, listen my friend, try not to make things so legalistically complicated. Be led by the spirit. If you're in a bar and there's a whole load of people crashing about. Making louts out of themselves, taking drugs, doing stuff that should really take place between a man and his wife in the bedroom. Then it's probably not a good place to be. And neither should you have thought going there was a good idea in the first place.

When you speak about a bar, that's what my good sister up here is probably envisioning.

Christ did however give the gospel both to tax collectors and publicans.

I have a friend who I'm giving the gospel to at the moment. Every few months we usually go to the cinema and maybe have a pint or two, while we discuss the possibility of God, the evidences for the resurrection and the truth of the gospel.

But...but, watch the big "But" coming riding over the hill.

If you need to go to the pub then stop...in Christ.

 

[child630]

Lol, listen my friend, try not to make things so legalistically complicated. Be led by the spirit. If you're in a bar and there's a whole load of people crashing about. Making louts out of themselves, taking drugs, doing stuff that should really take place between a man and his wife in the bedroom. Then it's probably not a good place to be. And neither should you have thought going there was a good idea in the first place.

When you speak about a bar, that's what my good sister up here is probably envisioning.

Christ did however give the gospel both to tax collectors and publicans.

I have a friend who I'm giving the gospel to at the moment. Every few months we usually go to the cinema and maybe have a pint or two, while we discuss the possibility of God, the evidences for the resurrection and the truth of the gospel.

But...but, watch the big "But" coming riding over the hill.

If you need to go to the pub then stop...in Christ.

I know she meant well. I am having a hard time in this Christian walk. I am constantly questioning my salvation. I know I deserve his wrath. I know I deserve hell. I love God, but that is not enough. Jesus said if you love me, you will obey my comands. I try to obey his comands by loving other people and obeying his other comands. But I still stumble, and some things are not so obvious. The world holds no joy for me, for I know it won't last and even though I confess Jesus as Lord and savior and I know God raised him from the dead, I still fear he is going to reject and let me burn eternally. Sometimes I wish I wasn't born.