Alcohol + venues in which it is served + church = a firestorm.
People + venues other than church + church = where Jesus intentionally went.
Jesus carried church everywhere. He healed (outside of the church) on the Sabbath, he met Zacchaeus under a tree and invited himself to the home of this "crook," and untangled the life of the woman caught in adultery while convicting those who accused her.
Jesus carried church to unlikely places and softened hearts with his utter truth that was always accompanied by compassion stirred by the plight of the world. He only got annoyed with those who already had church but used it to break the backs of seekers with rules and admonitions, while preening themselves on how godly they were.
When we think of doors and open and shut, our evangelically-grounded minds race to Revelation 3. Doors Jesus opens, no one can shut. Doors he shuts, no one can open. It appears Jesus is in charge of doors.
When we take an automatic stance against alcohol in all its forms--drinking it, spending time in venues where it is the primary beverage, we attempt to shut our heart's door to a part of culture that is just as worthy to know Jesus as we are. How are we different? We have church in our heart? Then Jesus might ask: Why are you trying to shut a door that is only mine to shut?
Jesus didn't take an automatic stance against alcohol at the wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee (John 2) even though he told his mother it was wasn't yet his time. I wonder if he didn't take this opportunity to show his glory by turning the water into the best wine to show us that places we don't expect to find ourselves can be translated into opportunities to show God's glory through loving on people where they are.
Jesus carried Jesus into the wedding venue where alcohol was the primary beverage and expressed God's glory through a miracle with wine. Is it possible that he did that so we, thousands of years later, would pause before we attempt to automatically shut any door that has alcohol in it, at least pondering if we should carry Jesus through such uncomfortable doors?
Church is the organic expression of Jesus in (hopefully) already softened hearts. We carry him wherever we go, expressing him through our hearts open to the plight of the world. Setting ourselves above any opportunity is simply not part of how Jesus walked the earth.
Ask God where your church might go to organically express Jesus. Yours might be the very heart that is softened.
Tomorrow: Who really owns/runs your church?
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
