Listen my child, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. ~Proverbs 23:19:21
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~Ephesians 5:18-20
Do not be misled: bad company corrupts good morals. ~1 Corinthians 15:33
There’s a story going around on the internet:
A man went to church. He forgot to switch off his phone and it rang during prayer. The pastor scolded him. The worshippers admonished him after prayers for interrupting the silence. His wife kept on lecturing him on his carelessness all the way home. One could see the shame, embarrassment and humiliation on his face. After all this, he never stepped foot in the church again.
AND
That evening, he went to a bar. He was still nervous and trembling. He spilled his drink on the table by accident. The waiter apologized and gave him a napkin to clean himself. The janitor mopped the floor. The female manager offered him a complimentary drink. She also gave him a huge hug and a peck while saying, “Don’t worry man. Who doesn’t make mistakes?” He has not stopped going to that bar since then.
First of all, I want to say up front, these passages today are not about prohibition, though they do encourage moderation, as in all things. The bigger question for today, from these passages is, who do you like to hang out with? Who you choose to hang out with is an indicator of where you get your joy? One source will drain you. The other source will fill you. The choice is yours.
I suppose that one might say that this is more a message for a teenager than seasoned citizens. That may be true. Yet, in truth, there are many seniors who do not find their joy in the company of others in worship, but prefer entertainment that will alleviate the sense of pain or loss, or bring a sense of companionship that they don’t experience hanging out with a crowd at church.
That, to me, is so sad. Church should be the place to hang out to feel great because you have been encouraged. I love the fact that we are doing more of that now, hanging out together, encouraging one another, praying for each other, and singing together, just as Paul advises. Our prayer is that the more we do this, always leaving an open door for more to join in, the more we will be found to be a blessing to all who come to check us out.
I’m pretty sure no one in our church would react that badly to a cell phone going off. And I hope we really are as friendly and supportive as the bar staff!
Human friendships can only take us so far. If based on the wrong reasons for coming together, they will eventually drain the pocket and the spirit of the individual. Praise God that, beyond friendship and encouragement we can offer a hope that the world cannot. We know the author of all hope for now and eternity. Do you know someone who could use that hope? Invite and then bring them along to try us again. May they find a company that is good, and may they feel blessed because they have come.
Prayer: Father, God, the fellowship of believers is my true family of brothers and sisters in the Lord. May we together be a community that welcomes and blesses, even the strangest of strangers, so they feel at home with us and with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Church (Take Me Back)
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