‘Emerging Church’: Should You Really Worship Jesus in a Bar?
- Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:16am by
Scott Baker
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TWO HARBORS, Minn. (AP) — It was a Sunday during Advent, and inside a small pub a few blocks up from the north shore of Lake Superior, 17 people gathered around four bar-top tables shoved into a ring.
Betsy Nelson, the bar’s cook, lit two candles with a cigarette lighter as Addison Houle strapped on an acoustic guitar and sang a slightly off-key rendition of “We Three Kings.“ Curt ”Fish” Anderson sipped a beer as TVs overhead flickered with NFL pregame shows.
“Father, thank you for this time we can share on Sunday morning with new friends,” prayed Chris Fletcher, an emergency medical technician, part-time bartender and seminary student who has led this service every Sunday morning at Dunnigan’s Pub & Grub since last summer. “We’re getting to know you, and getting to know each other better.”
Spending Sunday mornings in a bar sounds like an activity for those running from God. For this small group in a watering hole in Twin Harbors, about 160 miles northeast of Minneapolis, it’s about chasing God. It’s one unconventional place of worship around the country fostered by an evangelical movement known as “the emerging church.”
“I feel closer to God here than I do at a conventional church,” said Nelson, 56, a lifelong churchgoer who until recently could be found every Sunday morning in the pews at First Baptist Church nearby. “Jesus said we’re supposed to be a light to the world. What better place to do that than at a bar?”
After the opening prayer, Fletcher read a brief passage from the Bible before opening the floor to a group discussion. Gene Shank, a 68-year-old retired police officer making his first visit after reading a notice Fletcher put in the local newspaper, confessed to a bit of discomfort.
“I’m a reality person, and I’m finding a little too much established religion here to be honest,” Shank said. “I believe, I pray — but I don’t like structured religion.”
Fletcher responded that, while he wants to be as informal as possible, the main goal is still “creating an open space for Jesus to come into our lives, then he does the transforming work.”
He quickly adds that anyone who questions the way he’s running the service has come to the right place.
“We’re all messed up,” he said. “We’re all screwed up some way.”
Fletcher, a stocky, balding 43-year-old with a bristly goatee, is his own first example. The native of Sudbury, Ontario, grew up in the Worldwide Church of God, a small evangelical sect he described as “almost cult-like.” He left religion behind as a young man, but was drawn back as he was hitting 40 and experiencing a series of personal crises: the death of a close friend in an auto accident and the dissolution of his marriage.
Last spring, Fletcher was accepted in Bethel Seminary in St. Paul; he now commutes 150 miles south one to two times a week for classes. Initially he intended to incorporate work as a chaplain into his job working with an ambulance crew, but as he began his seminary studies he found common ground with a recent wave of evangelical thinkers including Brian McLaren and Shane Claiborne.
McLaren and Claiborne have criticized some of Christianity’s more conservative traditions as they try to attract people disinterested in traditional Sunday attendance — in particular, younger people.
“I don’t feel welcome in a regular church,” said Kayla Edwards, 25, who has been to most of Fletcher’s Sunday gatherings. “A lot of churches, I feel judged. Here, I feel welcome — it’s laid back, you can say what you want and no one will be disgusted.”
One Saturday night a few months ago, Fletcher was having a drink at Dunnigan’s when a stranger approached and asked to talk. She shared some personal problems and as Fletcher lent a sympathetic ear, and an idea was born. Six months later, Sunday attendance at what Fletcher calls “Bar Church” (“For those who are thirsty” reads a poster on the wall in Dunnigan’s) has grown to as many as 25 people.
Lately, Fletcher said, strangers have regularly been approaching him around town in search of guidance, or just someone who will listen. “They’ll say, you’re that bar pastor,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher wasn’t the first student of the emerging church to hold a weekly service in a tavern, nightclub or other such establishment. Such gatherings have popped up around the country in recent years, as well as “home churches” that serve much the same purpose. While it might seem perverse, Fletcher said he likes the message it sends to worship Jesus in a place where alcohol is served.
“I often find the people in the bar are a lot more authentic than people in the church,” Fletcher said. “If Jesus was in Two Harbors, he’d want to be with the people in the bar. He’d probably get kicked out of the church.”
The Rev. Scott Nelson, pastor at First Baptist Church Two Harbors — which Fletcher himself attended before his new venture — is happy to see Fletcher reach people unlikely to set foot in a traditional church. But he’s concerned by the linking of Christian worship and alcohol.
“For me personally, I have seen so many marriages and families fractured by alcohol,” Nelson said. “In moderation, there’s nothing wrong with wine with dinner or a beer at a football game. But it’s such a problem for so many, and that‘s a line I don’t know if I want to see blurred.”
Fletcher himself is no teetotaler, but he doesn’t drink during the Sunday morning service. Most of the participants usually choose coffee, but alcohol isn’t forbidden: at this particular gathering, Anderson — a local resort employee and a musician — downed a couple brews as Fletcher preached.
“It’s kind of nice to go to church and have a couple,” said Anderson, attending for the first time. “I’m not exactly a churchgoer.” Anderson, who grew up Roman Catholic, said he realized the church wasn’t for him the day he wore a Ted Nugent T-shirt to Mass and was reprimanded by the priest.
“This ain’t bad compared to that,” Anderson said.
Fletcher isn‘t sure how long he’ll continue the Sunday gatherings.
“There’s no five-year plan, there’s not even a five-minute plan,” he said.
As the service on this Sunday wrapped up, he solicited prayers from the group — for sick relatives, suffering friends, and from Anderson, a prayer for the Minnesota Vikings. Then Fletcher wrapped it up.
“Let’s pray,” he said. “Then we can eat.”
























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Comments (244)
Idahozane
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:47amwe have a church in a bar here in Idaho, its a great outreach to the biker community.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:45amI don’t remember anywhere in the Bible that tellls you not to go to the people and spread the good word. I would imagine that you will find a lot more people needing the word in a bar than you would anywhere else. God told to spread the word, He didn’t say where to spread it.
Report Post »WestOfThePecos
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:45amThe first churchs were always conducted in homes. The building is not the church. Unfortunately, that concept has changed a bit over the years.
Report Post »ryang77
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:44amthere’s a bar in NY city that my brother in law has been to. they have been doing it for years. “Close to god far from religious” is a phrase my old church use to use to describe how to reach people whose perception of church and being religious would keep them away.
Report Post »Border Ruffian
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:43amThere is nothing wrong with worshiping God from a bar. I bar tended for years and I’ve seen it all. Many people who are in deep personal pain feel “at home” while sitting at a bar. I have talked a guy out of committing suicide. I have served large groups of people after they buried a loved one, or the guy who just lost his wife etc. I have heard it said that God watches over the drunkard. Bless these folks.
Report Post »Xcori8r
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:43amAre there any good hackers in the group?
There are a few addresses on the site that are screaming for attention.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:43amThere are two schools of thought on this.
School One: Jesus didn’t hang around with the socialites or people who were completely ready and open to His message. Instead he went into the pits of evil where resided whores, thieves and tax collectors. It stands to reason then that the places to go to do actual Good Works in his name, would be places of low reputation today.
School Two: Bars are not dens of evil, rather, they are places where people go to have a drink and unwind from the day and talk with friends. The last thing that most bar patrons want to hear is somebody sermonizing to them, especially somebody who may wrongly misinterpret the words of Christ to mean that Christ would disapprove of drinking.
Of those two schools, I’d fall on the side of the second most of the time. That said, there’s nothing wrong with somebody speaking their minds about their religion as they please. In a situation where I was in a bar having a beer with some friends and trying to relax, and somebody decided to hold a church group meeting and include me in it, I‘d politely decline but leave them otherwise alone and I wouldn’t give them any hassle. Public houses are all about lack of pretense, who am I to tell somebody to be quiet when I myself am probably broaching subjects that others may find less than desirable to listen to?
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:43amWe’re to go preach to sinners, wherever they are. If they aren’t receptive, kick the dust off, and try somewhere else. We plant the seeds — He makes them grow, if its His will.
Report Post »IowaWoman
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 10:56pmJesus went to those who knew they were Sinners. His message is for them. Even though we ALL fall short, SOME think they are less Sinful then most. Jesus’s message would fall on deaf ears for them. I think Jesus would approve.
Report Post »4real_ur_insane
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:42amI cant wait for all the legalistics who are stuck deep in their “Religion” to wake up and start posting. Then we will all see why Jesus was with drunks, prostitutes, and criminals. Not the holier than thou religious folks.
Report Post »Luckywon
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:07pmThe problem with your hypothesis is that you don’t get the reason why Jesus went to the place sinners were located. He went there to SAVE them, to bring them to the lord. You think that people who go to church are all holier than thou? I disagree, these are the people who have been saved. Do you think that the sinners that Jesus preached to just ignored him and continued to sin? No. They were saved, they did their best to follow god and his teachings after that. It’s the same today. The saved reach out to the sinners, and you call them ‘Holier than thou’ for it. Time to wake up.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:41amhere is another post you all should not read
Any bets as to when Glenn will begin to destroy the HAAP and Chemtrail theories ?
I am still waiting for an apology to the Ron Paul supporters whom he said
should be arrested ?
http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=24276
I am beginning to think The Blaze is a straw man setup
and eventually he will bury all anti govt theories like WTC 7
Chemtrails, Vaccines, Monsanto and so on.
WHY else is he allowed to stay on the air ?
They shut down Jesse Ventura
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978755605
But soon Glenn will claim all the conspiracy Videos out there are fakes
but all the Govt stuff is Real.
Wait and see
BeckIsNuts
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:40amThis obviously irritates members of the Mormon Church. It’s pretty much a nonstory.
Report Post »LibertyGoddess
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 10:13amYou are wrong. Religious bigotry from any source is wrong. Your repeated comments on here trying to discredit others is so Christian of you. Knock it off.
Report Post »DarKangelAZRAEL
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:39amI see no problem at all. When Christianity first spread in it’s many different forms it was in much the same way. Weary little towns inside their pubs singing and carrying on and being merry with fellow men and women and showing good will. I think it is a great place for it.
Report Post »BeckIsNuts
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:49amYou are an early riser kid.
DarKangelAZRAEL
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:01amHey, what’s up nutz!? Yeah I have already been at work for 2 hours and it seems slow today lol. I get off early too at least. Leaves me time to get stuff done. Hope the new year is treating you right.
Flux
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:39amWhat I want to know is how he/she managed to get all that stuff typed in and still be the first post. Was it a pre-written comment, then copy/pasted, after waiting for the right opportunity?
Report Post »BeckIsNuts
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:38amNo.
Report Post »shamballa108
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:37amJesus turned water into wine.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:37amWell I am among those considered unchurched. I did not grow up in a home where we went to church as a family often- indeed we were lucky? if we went on Easter- and at Christmas time -and usually without my dad. I attended a local bible College until it went belly up over financial support. I believe a Christian ought worship God everywhere. And ought so live and act as becomes a Christian.F they can’t be a Christian where they are -where can they be. I am angry that in America too many Christians are being punished for being Christian in public school -or in the public square. Too many Americans ignore or outright reject our Christian heritage. But if this bar church convenes and nothing changes. in the lives of those hearing the worship service. Then it is pointless. IF those performing the service put on Christ for the service then transform to be no different than the alcoholic too numbed by booze to comprehend the worship. ?ie if they belly up to the bar for drinks -what’s the point?
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:11amStony…How in the world can any one but Christ know the hearts of men? There is a huge number of believers who, like me, reject your analysis. We are good in our faith and detest what we see as hollow religion. The real blessing of fellowship is sharing who we are with our friends. If they are true friends they can help in any number of ways. The Lord himself has never been shy about chastising me when I get off course, and I am blessed because of it. If you don’t trust yourself, or you haven’t felt like you really have a handle on THE MESSAGE, you’d best stay out of bars and cinemas and concerts and basically eschew any kind of entertainment . ALL of it these days is designed to distract you from God’s purpose. Be strong, don’t judge, be kind, be faithful…pray.
Report Post »Everett Bennett Jr
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:35amI remember one Pastor telling me about how a drunkard who received Christ, exclaimed, “that blanktity blank Jesus, he is really something else.” ! The point is, the conversion process is the start and can happen anywhere and the change takes times and will be evident in the new Character invoked by the Holy Spirit!
Something to consider:
http://www.newswithviews.com/Daubenmire/dave220.htm
I Love this guy! Seargent Major of Pastors…… another interesting twist.
“What makes you think you are better than Donald? Do you really think a drunken preacher is less holy than a prideful preacher? Believe me; God has always used asses…”
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:25amThat puts life in perspective. Very good read, thanks for sharing!
Report Post »NeoFan
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 6:30pmNothing better than a bunch of drunks trying to convert people.
Report Post »Flux
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:35amA Christian bar. I don’t see a problem with it. No one’s being forced to go to this bar.
Report Post »microace
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:33amI don’t see a problem with worshipping in the bar, it’s not like they are doing tequila shots while they are doing it. Could be, that because of their services there they might save someone who wouldn’t normally hear the message.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:46amOr maybe they are doing Tequila shots. Nothing wrong with that either. Jesus wasn’t a Puritan when it came to thinks like food and drink. Not to gluttony of course (perish the thought), but He was “called out” by some of the aesthetes in his day for (paraphrasing) “Feasting all the time while holy men chose to fast instead”.
I suspect that if any of us had actually met Jesus back in the day, we’d come away with the impression that while He was very earnest, focused and serious about His message, He would also come across as a very pleasant and amiable guy who wouldn’t shy away from having a drink with you while talking to you about the salvation of your soul.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:33amI didn’t get past the first couple of words.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:32amWorks for me. Anyplace is a good place to do so.
Report Post »KEA
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:29amYou can worship Jesus ANYWHERE! Its not about the building your in its about your heart!
Report Post »Harvickfan29
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:54amYou are right and good for these people for spreading the word to people who in other ways probably would have never heard it. They are thinking outside the box to bring souls to Christ, and when you are doing it for the glory of the Lord no matter where it‘s at it’s good.
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:41amI really like this story but I am somewhat conflicted with it. I don’t have a full perspective of what is being preached in the ministry. If Jesus is being preached, truthfully and not watered-down (forgive the pun), then I truly think that it is a very good idea. I have many family and friends who drink and party. They know about Jesus, I just pray that they truly KNOW Jesus. I know that God seeks a relationship with His children thru His son Jesus….and if these people can find their way into that relationship, then God is glorified. Jesus said that He came into this world not to condemn it, but to save. I pray that many, many people are led to His salvation and grace thru this ministry.
Report Post »As for Mr. Fletcher’s comments about the Worldwide Church of God, I belong to the Church of God here in my little neck of the woods in Kentucky. I suppose that I am one of those wild-eyed Pentecostals but we are not “cult-like”. It is not to say that the church that he grew up in wasn’t….there are many people from many denominations that would rather cling to their “religion” than to their God. Every church has those people….they are just as lost as those to whom they look down their nose upon. It is my prayer that ALL will come to know the love of my savior Jesus…..and that their love for Jesus will change their lives for the better.
RCScrolls
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:28pmIt depends on what Jesus they are Preaching, is He the soul brother of Lucifer, No
Report Post »His training in the Church of GOD isnt cult like, it is a cult.
No one should be able to have a Church unless they are qualified years of study and some Biblical laungauges aswelll.
stephenb.net
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:56pmWhat is worship? Romans 12 1 and 2 tell us this: 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
So worship is to offer ones body as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God. It doesn’t say anything about a location where this takes place. For those of you wanting to know God’s will this is the key. When you offer yourself as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God you then come to understand God’s will.
(disclaimer: I am not speaking as if I have mastered this. I am a follower of Christ working on this very thing myself.)
So the bottom line on this post is this: If the people who are gathering in the name of Jesus Christ are doing so to grow closer to him it doesn’t matter what the building is used for the rest of the time. If they are presenting themselves as living sacrifices they can be meeting anywhere.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 7:41pmAll the posts to @kea hit it right on the head. The person is the church, the word is transformative, therefore where delivery is made matters not. Sorry Hardcore Catholics.
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:29amDid anyone get past the first sentence of all that towercrap???
Report Post »I.Swear.By.My.Life.and.My.Love.of.it
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:28amAbsolutely!
Report Post »Highland
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:48amThis is not a new concept. Read “Guerilla Lovers” by Vince Antonucci. The church of which he was pastor started holding “services” in a bar and won many souls to Christ.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:42amShould You Really Worship Jesus in a Bar?
Report Post »Why not? There is no sin in drinking. It’s only a sin if it causes you to harm someone else. Take the truth to the people and the truth is Jesus.
NoName22
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:54pm@MaryLou
First miracle of Jesus in the book of John is turning water into wine…….I recently read something that if we are the light of the world, then drinking sets a bad example….Why would Jesus put us in temptation then?
I think what’s just as important is where he turned water into wine. It was at a wedding. Drinking is not a sin, it’s the spirit in which the activity is performed.
A church in a bar is quite American if you ask me. Jack Daniels learned how to make whiskey from his pastor……Yuengling’s brewery in Pottsvile, PA, which is one of the oldest in the country, is built 6 inches from a church. Puritans, Pilgrims, Jamestown settlers brought beer with them to the shores of America.
The only thing I would be cautionary about is how drinking would be mixed in. Communion for sure, but you don’t want to have a service then get caught drinking too much, as a sinner I know I would!
Report Post »BlueStrat
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 3:08pmThis really isn’t a new or novel idea. Heck, I’ve done very close to the same thing for years.
http://blueheaven4god.com/ (Warning: watch your speaker volume-audio plays automatically when the webpage loads!)
Pay no attention to that tall man in the band pictures with the black hat and the red G&L Stratocaster guitar and the self-designed & built amplifier.
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 4:26pmBLUESTRAT….tried to order Blue Heaven CD,,,link was not working. I’ll keep trying. I like it!…max
Report Post »NeoFan
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 6:34pmSoon they can add a brothel and a needle exchange and find a drinking doctor that can give medical marijuana prescriptions right at the bar. Wow church is fun!!!
Report Post »BlueStrat
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:25pm@ Max
Try this one…I think the ChristianBlues.net URL where the CD is available got mangled on our web page.
http://www.christianblues.net/s/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=69
“Blues No More” is our first CD. “Along God’s Highway“ is our ”live” CD recorded at several separate shows, including our appearance at “July 4th Freedom Fest 2008” in Portage, MI where we played for a crowd estimated at around 18,000 people all celebrating and praising God for our nation’s Independence, sponsored by a number of local churches.
There’s a number of playable tracks and videos at the Blue Heaven website under the “Audio & Video” button.
Strat
Report Post »TruthLover
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 10:08pmThe emerging church movement is already “over.“ Leaders have already admitted that having too loose of a ”conversation” about sin and our need for salvation is not productive, and many have already apologized to their churches for letting them go for so long without any kind of real Biblical instruction. So – this article is a little late. Those that haven’t gotten the memo are fast reaching true cult status and have been decried by mainstream Evangelicals for the most part.
Church in a bar however, is NOT new – at all. It also has very little to do with the emerging church movement. Jesus is relevant everywhere.
Report Post »IowaWoman
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 10:47pmJesus would totally approve :o)
Report Post »GeauxAlready
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:22amGod is every where…………………
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 7:26amMaybe somebody will delete his words ?
Report Post »Major Infidel
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 9:36amNah, they’ll be around for a long long time.
Report Post »PubliusPencilman
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 11:30amHow about this for a headline:
Report Post »“Should Conservative ”News“ Website Be Concerned with How Others Worship”
Curioso
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 11:35amThe only thing you need to be a church is people gathered together to worship Jesus Christ and or God.
Report Post »The trappings of the place make no difference. The only thing that really counts is your developing relationship with the All Mighty. Which is a never ending process.
getalong
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 12:57pmWhere ever two people assemble in the name of God, God is there with them. Makes no difference if it is a bar or a church. Amen!
Report Post »click4cheapandeasyweb
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 1:36pmWorship anywhere you want. It’s this freedom that gave birth to this great nation.
Report Post »komponist-ZAH
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 5:08pmPubli, pay attention:
“TWO HARBORS, Minn. (**AP**)” This is an AP story.
Report Post »