Christians In Questionable Places

Common Sense Commentary: 

Someone asked me if I thought it was wrong for a Christian to go into a bar.

The answer is, as with many other questionable places, like drug houses, it depends on why you are there.  If you go there to honor and glorify God by handing out gospel tracts and witnessing for Christ, it is a good thing to do, but take another Christian witness with you.  On the other hand, if you go there to join in  the revelry, it is wrong.  If you are employed there, like a bar keep, even if you don't drink your product, you are enabling others and contributing to their ruin.  We have taken in many a ruined life at the Rescue Mission, whose first few visits to a bar, with a friend, was sitting at a table drinking a coke.  In my young ministry, one of our deacons and I went into a bar, next to the church, on Saturday nights to hand out tracts and invite the customers to church next morning.  The owner hated it and his clientele ceased to go there after a while. They weren't there to honor God or hear about Jesus.  We were.  I wonder why the "Blue Moon" closed down. It was a popular place.

But, what does the Word of God say about questionable things.

"Jesus said, unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and  follow me." Matt.16:24.  Are you comfortable taking your Bible there with you?

Ask yourself, "What would Jesus do?" Would Jesus do what you are doing in the place?
"I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." Matt.13:15.

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 1 Tim.4:12.  Would you invite your church to go with you?

"In ALL things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity." Titus 2:7.  Would you want your teen-age daughter to hang out there?

"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness." 2 Pet.3:17. Steadfastness dies with conscience.

"Let no man deceive thee with vain words .... Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness...." Eph.5:6 & 11.  Don't be surprised if your friends who do the same, "not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Rom.1:32.

I hope that answers your question.  I will pray for your son.

Pass it on. RB