Church and Beer

That's where my local church bible class holds its meetings. But as you can see, it's only across the road.
Pubs and inns are commonly sited next to churches in this country.Note the manor house strategically placed too

 

I am sorry – for I see a lot of sympathy & encouragement here – but I find the concept slightly unsettling. There is a extremely large gap between having a symbolic sip of wine & sitting in a bar, drinking pints and eating pizza. Nor is it the same as having one beer after church. I have nothing against people who subscribe to this & I assume they drink responsible etc. but no thanks.

 

My understanding of SBC polity is that all churches are autonomous entities that choose to affiliate with local, state, and national associations for the common good of helping the underprivileged, missions, and evangelism. There is no structure in place where there is a supervisory body such as a bishop who can influence or dictate what a singular church can or cannot do. I agree that is ridiculous kicking a church out of the SBC for the pastor having a beer.

Our church is somewhat of a local pariah. Most SBC churches are more Arminian in their view of salvation; ours is more reformed (Calvinist). Most reformed thinkers harken back to the days of the Reformation when Luther and his contemporaries had no issue with alcohol. My understanding is that tee-totalism is a relic from The Second Great Awakening. Our senior pastor does not drink at all, but agrees that there is no Biblical justification for tee-totalism. Most of our elders do drink in moderation.

 

Contemplating the reality of existence is only enhanced by a few beers or glasses of wine. I would bet that many an epiphany was sprung from some divine fermentables.

 

One is done as part of active worship while the other is part of fellowship. I fail to see the problem.

 

Great news! Now maybe I can convince the wife that I really am religious because I worship beer.

 

Pfft, it'll take a lot more than beer to go back to church.

 

I would like to know where?

 

Hang a quick left as soon as you walk through the Pearly Gates.

 

About turn at the pearly gates, down two levels, ask the guy with the pointy tail for a few pints on me

 

Similar to Unitarian. It's called New Thought Center for Spiritual Living.

 

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/mission/features/20993-god-and-guinness

More on Arthur Guinness. I thought this was really cool...

 

Cool! The Church is a people--not a place, event, movement, etc. So if you call yourself a Christian, and you drink--you drink in Church! Why not just say so like these guys?!

I think Christians being open and guilt free about drinking is great. But I'm not so in to doing it for the sake of "reaching the lost." It should be just like Christians in coffee shops or anything else. Just enjoy the beer, don't be weird about it, and see what happens.

 

Sounds like a great way to ruin having a few pints

 

This is a poem attributed to St. Brigid of Ireland (c. 10th century CE) giving voice to this hope:

I should like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I should like the angels of Heaven to be drinking it through time eternal.
I should like excellent meats of belief and pure piety.
I should like the men of Heaven at my house.
I should like barrels of peace at their disposal.
I should like for them cellars of mercy.
I should like cheerfulness to be their drinking.
I should like Jesus to be there among them.
I should like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.
I should like the people of Heaven, the poor, to be gathered around from all parts.

Not a bad vision...