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Church or Bar?
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! I was speaking with a new girlfriend the other day. We got on
the subject of churches and bars. We wondered about those who frequent
those places. And another woman wanted to see this in print. Again, I
thought I'd write it.
The people in bars tend to look upon the church-goers as "too churchy."
They believe that there's too much judgement - too much "condemning to
hell" for those who frequent the bar and not the church. Before I
continue - I've seen both side of this for myself. I find it all
thought-provoking.
And the people in the churches tend to wonder about those in the bars
or clubs. Why are they there? Why would they want to be there? They
wonder about the promiscuity in and around these establishments. And
the people in the bars wonder about the churghgoers' trouble and
woes....divorces, adultery, addictions, etc.
I've heard people say they went to this church or that church and heard
remarks about their long hair or style of dress. Since this has to do
with "the church" - I went to said Bible...King James Version.
Proverbs 23:29 reads: "Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath
contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath
redness of eye? 30) They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to
seek mixed wine. 31) Look not thou upon the wine when it is red
(fermented), when it giveth it's color in the cup, when it moveth
itself aright. 32) At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth
like an adder." Digest this a minute. A contention is a heated
disagreement. Babbling is uttering articulate sounds but not producing
any recognizable words. You could substitute heroin, "drugs", or any
prescription medicine and get the same "redness of eye/babbling, etc.
Someone said they were not going to go into the church again after they
heard the people there saying a spouse had cheated, a kid was hooked on
drugs, a girl had "maxed out" all of her credit cards, a guy had too
many bills and not enough money, etc. They heard this God could and
would heal all things. The people who frequented the bars and clubs had
heard all of these same woes and more at said bar/club. Where's the
difference?
Now the question is: "For how many of these problems do we accept
responsibility?? Do we stop using the credit cards or, do we expect
this God, who can do all and cure all - to handle this for us? Another
interesting thing I found in said Bible is: Galations 6:1 (I like the
wording of the NIV) reads: " Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught
in a sin (wrongdoing), you who live by the Spirit (or are able), should
restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you may be
tempted." Remember the word "gently" here.
And I found in 1Timothy 4:1; 2 Thessalonians, and a few other places
that there will be a "great falling away from the church in the last
days." I'll leave you readers to ponder all of this for yourselves. But
my question is: "Why - why do they leave the church?? Remember the
kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the furry and
feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next time. Ever
Toodles!! MONA
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