What Would Jesus Drink: Ohio Church Takes Service To Bar

God may have gotten a few things right. But this week, the god-fearing people of (my home-state) Ohio may have bested the best. According to the Associated Press newswire, the Country Rock Church traded in their pews for bar-stools, and increased the Communion glasses to a pint, in an attempt to draw-in “unconventional” crowds.

From the article:

Beer was on tap and a mechanical bull inspired the sermon as a new church held its inaugural service in a western Ohio bar.

The Country Rock Church drew about 100 people to Sunday night’s meeting at the Pub Lounge in Sidney [Ohio].

The barroom church is an offshoot of Sidney United First Methodist Church, whose head pastor says he has been looking for creative ways to reach people in unconventional places.

I’m sure people are outraged at the wicked act of moving the service out of “God’s House,” or believe this to show disrespect for tradition and the institution of the Church–or, those who even believe that the type of crowd that would attend church at a bar is “unworthy” of God’s love. However, while I’m not the most faithful, church-going person you’ll ever come across, my father was a Lutheran minister–in Ohio–for 28-years. And I know he’s kicking himself right now that he didn’t think of this first.

Ten bucks says this starts popping up all over the country. In fact, I bet they’ll open bar-church combos like they do with Taco Bell and KFC. Maybe beer companies will start sponsoring congregations, and people can wear team jerseys, and have Sadducees vs. Pharisees beer-pong crusades. Winners each take home a collection plate.

Ok, that last part won’t happen. But this idea has potential. My only concern: Isn’t it usually considered unhealthy to be drinking at 10am on a Sunday? I guess God doesn’t think so.