A few months back I went to see a band play at a local bar. I didn’t drink nor did I participate in the typical bar-type activities. There were three bands that played. The first band was…eh…the second was amazing, and the third was a bit better than the first. After the first band had finished up the lead singer introduced the members of the band. The drummer happened to be Toby Mac’s drummer (member of dc Talk). I called up my friend Bob who is “in the business” and asked him if he knew this drummer. After Bob confirmed that he did know him, I decided I’d go up to this drummer and say hi. Heck, I’m a fellow Christian, and the whole group of friends that I’m here with are all Christians too! I’m sure he’ll be excited to meet some of his brothers and sisters in Christ. I talked with this guy for a little while. I told him that I was a big Toby Mac and dc Talk fan, I told him about Bob to which he replied, “Bobby?? Yeah! How’s that cat doin?” I also told him that we were all Christians too. As happy as he was to hear that, I noticed that he kept asking me, “So, everything’s ok, man?” “Yeah!” I told him! “Never been better!” The conversation continued for a short while longer and ended with another, “So you’re sure everything is ok, right?” I stood there perplexed at the number of times this guy was asking me this question. “Yeah, bro! I’m awesome!” We shook hands and parted ways. It was cooler than meeting Burt Reynolds.

It wasn’t until the next day that I came to realize what had happened in the bar the previous night. I had NEVER to that point in my life been more on fire for Christ. I felt like I was at the pinnacle of my Christian walk and I had no shame in hiding it, yet this drummer seemed to think something was wrong with me. Then it hit me - I was claiming to be a Christian, yet I was at the bar. To him, me being at that bar as a Christian probably made about as much as sense as Mr. T adding Brokeback Mountain to his DVD collection. Did I drink? No. Did I try to pick up girls? No. Were my intentions pure? Yes. From the outside looking in, though, I was confessing Christ with my lips yet potentially denying Him by my lifestyle. Was I wrong for being at the bar? Would I have been wrong if I was talking to a girl there? Would I be wrong if I was drinking?

As a previous blog discussed, God has given us ten commandments to follow. Commandment 11 isn’t, “Thou shall not drink beer.” Commandment 12 isn’t, “Thou shall not smoke cigarettes.” See, there are TONS of gray areas that the bible doesn’t make reference to. Can I be a committed Christian and:

Drink alcohol with my meal?
Live with my girlfriend/boyfriend?
Smoke cigarettes?
Smoke weed?
Cover my body in tattoos?
Cover my body in piercings?
Watch R-rated movies?
Wear a bikini to the beach?
Have a homosexual relationship?

See, I wasn’t biblically wrong for being in the bar that night. Nowhere in the bible does it say that I can’t go to a bar to listen to music! Even if I was drinking I still wouldn’t have been wrong! There are questions that we, as Christians, need to ask ourselves before making these gray-area decisions. I was given a list of twelve questions to ask myself when one of these situations presents itself:

1. Is it beneficial to me personally and to the gospel generally?
2. Will I lose self-control and be mastered by what I participate in?
3. Will I be doing this in the presence of someone who I know will fall into sin as a result?
4. Is it a violation of the laws of my city, state, or nation?
5. If I fail to do this, will I lose opportunities to share the gospel?
6. Can I do this with a clear conscience?
7. Will this cause me to sin by feeding my sinful desires?
8. Am I convinced that this is what God desires me to do?
9. Does my participation proceed from faith in Jesus Christ?
10. Am I doing this to help other people, or am I just being selfish?
11. Can I do this in a way that glorifies God?
12. Am I following the example of Jesus Christ to help save sinners?

So, after I reflect, did I make the right decision that night? Was it really ok for me to be at the bar, as innocent as my intentions were? Here’s the way I look at this. Let’s say I met a person at church on Tuesday. Let’s pretend that this guy looks at Christians the same way that many do, as a bunch of hypocrites. So I meet this dude and tell him about church on Sunday. We have an awesome conversation, exchange phone numbers and go our separate ways. He goes home and tells his roommate about “Bill,” the guy that he met at church. “Yeah, he seemed to be on fire for God! He was real excited and it seemed genuine,” he tells his roommate. “He seems to be living the life that I’d like to try living. Friday night rolls around. I decide, again, innocently, to go to the bar to listen to this band. Let’s say I decided to drink one Corona too. So there I sit at the bar drinking my one Corona listening to some good acoustic music. In walks the guy I met at church. He sees me, we chat for a bit, and away he walks. What just happened? That guy saw me at church on Tuesday with my hands raised and head bowed, heard my excitement and joy, and then saw me drinking at a bar on Friday. From the outside looking in, I look like a hypocrite. Moreover, by my actions I just told that guy that it’s cool to go to church on Tuesday, go out drinking on Friday/Saturday, and then come back to church again on Sunday. Now, am I saying that what I did was wrong? No. Am I saying that it is dangerous situation potentially putting somebody’s salvation in jeopardy? Yes. If I look back at the list, I’d have a hard time innocently answering questions 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 12. I know that I can obey God’s calling on my life to spread His word and STILL go to the bar to listen to a band. It’s kinda like eating yogurt with a fork, though…it works, but it’s not the most efficient way to do it!

There are going to be multiple situations on a daily basis that we can go either way on. See,
being a Christian isn’t about rules, it’s about a relationship with Christ. The bible provides the rules that we need to abide by, the gray areas are up to us and our convictions from God. In my opinion, I feel that as a marketing tool for God, I need to be on my best behavior at all times. I choose to pick the more conservative path and sacrifice the bars/drinking for this reason: it’s not about me. My goal is to see you and all your family and friends praising God and I refuse to be your stumbling block. There is ALWAYS somebody watching. I’d encourage us all to challenge ourselves to do what’s right in the grey-area situations. Refer to the list, it’s from an amazing source.

“…for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.”
1 Chronicles 28:9

“God, you continue to amaze me. I thank you for the words that you’ve provided me with today. I ask that you bless maybe one person with maybe one word from this blog and let them see how it applies to their relationship with you. Father, show us your will for these not so clear
areas in our lives. Let us feel your tug when you’re asking us to make the right decision. In the end, Lord, I know that it’s not about me, it’s about being an example for others to see YOU in me. I give to you any selfish desire that’s holding me back from being 100% submitted to your perfect will.” I love you guys.

Enjoy

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