-
To be "all things to all men,"
-
and I guess in light of some stuff
-
that he happens to be a person
-
that pushes some extremes,
-
it seems that something
that's becoming big now
-
is the whole "pub theology,"
-
going to bars and having Bible studies.
-
And my personal stance
-
based on the Scriptures
-
is in opposition to stuff like that,
-
and I have a buddy that I work with
-
that he's the only other "Christian"
-
in my workplace
-
in a largely unbelieving workplace.
-
And he is constantly pushing,
-
promoting that kind of lifestyle
-
to reach people,
-
and then I'm the overly dogmatic person
-
because I don't understand it -
-
why you would go into the bars
-
to actually drink with everybody
-
and have a Bible study doing it
-
to reach people.
-
So I understand the
"all things to all men"
-
and I guess wisdom, insight?
-
Am I pushing on the lines of legalism?
-
Or is stuff like that too far?
-
Going into bars, having Bible study there?
-
You know, to try and reach people.
-
The "being all things" where people
-
are going to use that.
-
Bob: Here's an illustration
-
that I saw in my own
life that I never forgot.
-
Between my junior and
senior year in college,
-
I had a summer intern job
-
in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
-
And there were three
or four others with me
-
and we all lived in this apartment house.
-
And there was another
fellow living there.
-
He was a policeman about
10 years older than me.
-
So, we would go downtown
-
about every evening.
-
And then, the next year, I was converted.
-
And this company that I was working for
-
had a regional meeting
back up in Fort Dodge.
-
So I thought to myself,
-
I'm going to go look up Herb
-
and tell him that I've become a Christian.
-
So, I didn't find him at the house,
-
and I thought maybe he's downtown
-
at the old Cave In.
-
And so sure enough, there was Herb
-
sitting at the bar.
-
And he was quite surprised to see me
-
and he says, "Bob! Have a chair."
-
"Have a drink with me."
-
And I said, "No thanks, Herb,
-
I've become a Christian."
-
"What?"
-
And so we talked awhile
-
and he urged me again,
-
"Have a beer with me."
-
And I said no.
-
And he went on.
-
"You're telling me you can't just sit here
-
and have a beer with me?
-
Who do you think you are?"
-
And he put the pressure on,
-
and after about four or five times,
-
I said, "Okay."
-
And I had that glass of beer,
-
and just as I got it to my lips,
-
he said, "Look at that!
I knew it wasn't real!"
-
And it was just like a knife.
-
So, you know, I think one big thing
-
is are we going to where they're at
-
with the atmosphere and the attitude
-
of bringing them out?
-
Or identifying with them
-
and confirming them in their sin
-
in whatever circumstance it is?
-
Tim: Just adding to that,
-
you know, in every situation,
-
we're representatives of Christ,
-
and we need to portray Him.
-
And you know, when I talked about
-
just breaking the taboos,
-
you think about how Jesus
-
related with people versus
the religious leaders.
-
Think about the things He did.
-
He touched lepers.
-
You didn't even get downwind from a leper.
-
You didn't walk around them.
-
He would stop and speak
-
with a woman at a well.
-
He would speak with the
Syro-Pheonician woman.
-
He did things, but it was always
-
to show kindness.
-
It was always as Bob
said to bring them out.
-
And you know,
-
I personally, I like the guy
-
that does the unusual thing.
-
I like that.
-
I like when people are
testing the boundaries,
-
but behind it you see
that they're testing it
-
because they really do
have a burden for souls.
-
And they really have a desire for purity.
-
They're not trying to be
as much like the world
-
as they possibly can.
-
They have a burden for souls,
-
and they're willing to
think outside the box.
-
I love people like that.