Are You A Bar Hopper?

Are You A Bar Hopper?

I know this is a rather unusual title for a sermon. I do see a similarity between bar hoppers and some Christians. I am not

referring to consumption of alcohol, though some might imbibe, but rather in their choices of establishments and other desires.

In fact, I am reminded of a story where the town barkeep willed his parrot to the Baptist preacher. The preacher was a bit astounded and kept the bird at home for awhile. When he realized that bird had no nasty habits or bad language, he decided to put his

perch in the church foyer so the kids could enjoy him. The first Sunday he was perched in the foyer the preacher noticed the bird

was shaking his head and was saying something as the congregation entered. He got closer and heard him say, "Bawk, same old crowd! Bawk, same old crowd!" Does your church have the same kind of crowd? Let’s see.

Acts 17:21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some

new thing.) (KJV)

Some folks pick their churches and bars for the babble or blab. They are going to hear some new thing or tell it. If they do not hear some juicy gossip, they will invent some. They long for some new theology or mystical feeling. Yes, even in bars there are theological premises being aired. Most of it is bad theology, but I have heard some really good theology come out of men half drunk or completely drunk because they are going back to what they learned as a child or turned from as an adult. If nothing new is shaking at the bar or the church, they search out a new watering hole.

Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (KJV)

Some go to the bar or church to boast. They love to tell how righteous they are and yes, now days something found to be good or acceptable is called righteous even if it is sinful so bar hoppers can boast of their righteousness or be called righteous by their peers. They strive to be sure that everyone knows their good deeds. Some are slick and just "confide" in the loud mouth of the bar or church and he/she will get the ball rolling to open up the subject for the boaster by telling folks one by one or hollerin’, "Hey, y’all listen to what ole Billy Bob done!"

The boaster will respond to someone’s praise with something like "Aw, shucks, t’weren’t nuttin" and then spend two hours giving you the blow by blow of the thing that "t’weren’t nuttin’" making you praise him even more and asking for other tales. When the

boaster has told all his tales or the attention level is not what they desire they move on to the next bar or church.

Is it not wonderful, that God has taken away human boasting in Christianity? While we may have to deal with it here on earth, we will not have it in Heaven. The only bragging or boasting going on there will be the saints boasting on all the things Jesus did for us. Why not get a head start and begin to boast on Him here instead of yourself? You will be right and folks will like hanging out with you

more as well!

Matt 21:12-13

12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (KJV)

Some attend church and bars for the bartering. You barely meet them and they stuff a business card in your hand. Bars and churches make good networking places. Hey, would you rather do business with a stranger or a drinking or prayer buddy? Some

lads have a regular bar circuit so they can keep up with the changing crowd. Some professing Christians are Presbyterian one year; Methodist the next and when they get the rich folks taken care of they will come and slum with the Baptists.

Now hear me correctly, it is a good thing if you have good Christian businessmen in your church. They most likely will give you a better deal or at least an honest one. However, check their spiritual life before you buy. If their attendance is spotty and whenever you talk to them you hear more about ABC, Inc. than about what God has been doing in their life you may just want to pass them by as someone just there for the bartering.