Strippers Turn Tables on Church

Posted on August 10, 2010
Viewed 4474 times
(100) comments

North of Columbus, OH, there is a battle brewing. It pits a church against a strip club. For the last four years, Pastor Bill Dunfee and several from New Beginnings Ministries have been rallying outside of the local strip club. OK, well... they weren't there to take advantage of the Fox Hole's services, but rather to utilize their bullhorns to talk down the businesses' potential patrons. They've taken pictures of license plates in the parking lot and posted them on their website.

And they've been doing this for the past four years.

After a lawsuit against the church was struck down because of free speech rights, Tom George, the club's owner, had an idea. If the church was going to protest his club, why not have his club protest the church?

And that's what they did.

As people arrived for services at New Beginnings Ministries, they were also greeted with strippers from The Fox Hole.

That's right. The tables were turned.

Score one for the Fox Hole.

Here are my thoughts...

1. Do I think stripping is an admirable profession? No. Owning a strip club? Double no.

2. Do I think the church was right in what they did? No. Not at all. Bullhorns yelling down people? Not cool. Taking pictures of license plates and posting them on your website? Way not cool.

3. Which is more important... that people stop going to strip clubs or that they find Jesus? Which is more important... that these women stop stripping or that they find Jesus? The one thing this church has done with their actions is pretty much guarantee that none of them will have anything to do with any of these people coming to Christ. We can only pray that others will be able to show them the love of Jesus in a more constructive way.

4. I get really upset when people, under the authority of the church, make the death and resurrection of Jesus into a license to be a jerk. Matter of fact, I think it's interesting to compare how Jesus treated 'stripper types' compared to how this pastor and church does. Jesus didn't whip out his bullhorn (hey, it coulda happened) and bully people. He doesn't try to shame them into loving him either. And he doesn't get angry. In fact, he keeps his anger for the Pharisees; the religous people who were always pointing their fingers.

5. We've got to get past the thinking that non-christians are going to act like Christians. They won't. Ever. Truth be told: if we were really all that serious, we'd have plenty of work just making sure that Christians acted like Christians.

6. It's so easy for some people to get so wrapped up in fighting evil that they lose any chance they ever had at stopping the evil they're fighting against. (Read that one twice)

Should Christians stand against evil and sin? Of course. I'm just not sure this is the way to do it.

So... if you're asking me which side I'm taking on this one... I'm more prone to side with the strippers. They simply turned the tables on the church that has been bullying them for the past four years.

What's your take?

I'd love to hear it.

Todd

PS -- I'm resisting all the temptation to say the obvious jokes (that church attendance is up 25% since the strippers showed up, or that the church's offering is now mysteriously missing all the $1 bills). That just wouldn't be cool.

Comments

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Leonard on Wed, August 18, 2010

JonL, no argument there on the reality some people do not share a whole picture. Here is the dilemma I have; What is the whole picture.

I gave my heart to Christ when I was 3. I did not grieve my sin, I did not believe in the virgin birth, I did not grasp the atonement, I did not understand the sovereignty of God. My daughter made the same decision when she was 3 and so did my son. All without the benefit of the information, how their sins grieve a holy God… you get my point.

here is what I knew and what my kids knew… Jesus loved us. He died to tell God sorry on our behalf. If we asked him to, he would forgive us forever and God would live in our hearts.

My life was changed 44 years ago when I made asked Christ to my my lord and Savior. My kids are now 15 and 17, both have a dynamic witness for Christ on their campus and love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.

I do not think it is a one size fits all approach. I am simply asking which approach has the best chance of yielding the fruit of making disciples? Not converts but disciples.
Peter Hamm on Wed, August 18, 2010

I am speaking from my experience as a pastor. I’ve known many people who’ve come to Christ (fully) by way of friendship evangelism. I know others who have not made the leap yet. Not one of those I’ve interacted with, not one, has ever been “offended” by true friendship evangelism.

I am not aware of more than one or two people in my congregation who think that street preaching is effective, and I am not currently aware of any friends who are non-believers who I’ve had this conversation with who do NOT find “street preaching” offensive.

As far as “friendship” goes, please look up the definitions of “friend” and “acquaintance” in a dictionary before positing that someone can make a “friend” in 20 seconds.
CS on Wed, August 18, 2010

Leonard:

“I do not think it is a one size fits all approach. I am simply asking which approach has the best chance of yielding the fruit of making disciples? Not converts but disciples.”

But is that pragmatism? Don’t get me wrong, I’m constantly reviewing my own ways in light of the Bible to see if there are ways of improving things for anytime I go out and about. But is it an outcome-derived measurement that gives friendship evangelism legitimacy? I also reflect on Peter’s, “old lady,” analogy referenced earlier, too, in writing this.

—
CS
Leonard on Wed, August 18, 2010

CS, to some degree it is pragmatism. But not all pragmatism is wrong. I am not advocating sinning because it helps other people know Jesus. I am simply saying, that if the goal is to make disciples (lasting fruit) then we need to examine all responsible means by which this is done.

Jesus left us with a commission and said we would be his witnesses. This commission expressed itself in a variety of ways. from teaching in synagogue, healing people, home to home conversations, speaking to crowds that gathered when a miracle was done, going to the river to find a few God fearing Jews, having visions come down from heaven on sheets…

to intentionally build relationships with others for the express purpose of introducing them to Christ is effective and not in anyway un-biblical.

Pragmatic? to some degree… Wrong? nope.
Christopher Fontenot on Wed, August 18, 2010

Let’s see if I can answer the dripping sarcasm this way:

Main Entry: be�friend
Pronunciation: \bi-ˈfrend\
Function: transitive verb
Date: 1559
: to become or act as a friend to

As I said, I can befriend someone in 20 seconds.
Q. on Wed, August 18, 2010

CF, just in case that comment was directed toward me in a serious way please know that I wrote: “That sounds sarcastic but I guess it is possible that someone can give (and someone can receive) true friendship in 20 seconds� I�ve never seen it and that has never been my personal experience but CF-I would sincerely be interested in hearing more about how you have done that if we aren�t just disagreeing on terminology. In my personal experience I have only started to begin to make someone�s acquaintance in 20 seconds but I don�t think anyone that I have spoken with would (after 20 seconds) introduce me to someone as their �friend�. Again, I could be misunderstanding terminology and I probably am�but just in case I�m not-please feel free to share how you have done this in your experience� Thank you so much for your time�”

So at the risk of sounding sarcastic again-let me say that I apologize if I came across that way but I genuinely wanted to know how you have done this in the past? I have yet to see it or personally do it in 20 seconds-again, I didn’t say it was impossible-just that I had never witnessed or heard of it (until you said it here) happening. Again, I remarked that I was probably misunderstanding you in that we were differing on terminology so once more please see that I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Again, thank you for your time and I hope that you were able to read the comment a second time without seeing any sarcasm that wasn’t intended…and if you were being a little humorous yourself with that post then I tip my hat to you. Either way, have a great evening…
Christopher Fontenot on Wed, August 18, 2010

First of all, I am at an advantage because I live in the South. Most people here in Louisiana already have a background that is either Christian or a religion with Christian aspects. So the subject is usually open for discussion. Secondly, if you approach people with a smile and a friendly nature, I have found they will at least answer a question which will usually get you in the conversation.

Ray Comfort has a unique ability to get people to talk to him. I have seen this first hand as well as on video and I take a lot of ques from him. The one question I use quite often is “Do you have a Christian background?” My experience has been that this question is very unoffensive and opens the door immediately to a conversation in the spiritual realm.

By the grace of God, I have an ability to make total strangers feel comfortable with me. I really love people and God uses the love of Christ in me to make connections with people. I am not bragging because it is very humbling to watch God work and I am so appreciative that He uses me.

It was not my intent to convey that I can establish true friendship with someone in just 20 seconds. I can, however, establish a relationship with them that allows them to trust me enough to discuss eternal matters and for them to share with me their beliefs. It is all a work of God and for His glory.
Health tips on Thu, August 19, 2010

Interesting article. I read one remarkable thing from some news articles that the church said that they would be willing to provide all of the needs for any of these women if they stepped out of the adult entertainment industry.
Peter Hamm on Thu, August 19, 2010

Christopher writes [It was not my intent to convey that I can establish true friendship with someone in just 20 seconds.] Actually I think it was, because I think often that you are trying to say things like that to get a rise out of people like me. Guess what. It works…

friend [frend] �noun
1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.

ac�quaint�ance [uh-kweyn-tns] �noun
1. a person known to one, but usually not a close friend.

There’s nothing wrong with the kind of evangelism you describe in your post, and I applaud you for it, but it is truly “acquaintance evangelism”, and I’d argue it’s very biblical and very good. But so is “friendship evangelism.”

This discussion is going nowhere however. What a surprise.
CS on Thu, August 19, 2010

All:

To defend CF a little, the main point of his discussion concerning, “relationship evangelism,” or, “friendship evangelism,” is that having a relationship with people is not a requirement for then being able to share the Gospel with them. This is contrary to the assertion many people have made here about witnessing to people, like those in the sex industry in this article, who would say that you have to first earn the right by being nice and establishing a relationship or friendship before being able to share it.

Hope that helps straighten out the mincing over words and such.

—
CS
Jeff Jensen on Thu, August 19, 2010

ahem…..

AMEN!!!!!
Leomard on Thu, August 19, 2010

CS. It might be a part of his thinking but it was not the point he made.
Carole Turner on Thu, August 19, 2010

Just now reading the responses to my comment. Hello Christopher, your a busy commenter that’s for sure I figured you’d say something

No, we don’t ever say anything to the strippers in the club about their sin. You can read the details of the outreach on the link I posted. For us, our goal is to go where they are with love only. Yea, I said that and I’m not ashamed of it. WHEN the girls contact us because of the card we attached to the roses, we tell them about the love of Jesus, pray with them, etc. We show them Jesus.

It’s very obvious from the 100 comments on here debating theology and method, that the world is not lacking talkers of the gospel but people willing to go into the dark places with love.

Disagree if you want, which I know you will. Grace to all.
Christopher Fontenot on Thu, August 19, 2010

Carole,

Like I said earlier, I applaud what you do. More Christians SHOULD be willing to go into the dark places in this community to save people from the darkness. But if you never tell them the ENTIRE Gospel then your efforts will be futile. Be kind. Do nice things. I can imagine the heartfelt appreciation these women must experience by what you did on Christmas. But to leave them in their sins is anything but kind. Temporal needs are important but the eternal need should be priority.

CS…“having a relationship with people is not a requirement for then being able to share the Gospel with them. This is contrary to the assertion many people have made here about witnessing to people, like those in the sex industry in this article, who would say that you have to first earn the right by being nice and establishing a relationship or friendship before being able to share it.”
Exactly! The seriousness of it all is people are being taught the contrary. It simply is not true.

Before this post got off track, I was trying to make the point that it is surprising that Christians in this forum would actually side with sin instead of righteousness. It seems most who commented automatically assumed the church was being intentionally offensive in their efforts and trusted the reporter to give an accurate and unbiased angle in his story.
unknown on Thu, August 19, 2010

Carol, I do have to say that the idea of telling someone of their sin is interesting to me. I deal a lot with those who are in the ‘darker’ places and I have never once HAD to tell someone that heroin (or stripping or sleeping with 29 guys a month) was sin, somehow-they know… I’m not saying that I avoid it but they beat me to the punch in every instance that I can recall.

I’m not saying that there will never be a time to point it out but I would dare say that 100% of the people I have personally connected with know that heroin (or stripping or whatever) is considered sin (even among non-Christians). Again, I’m sure there will be exceptions (law of averages) but I think there is (at times) an inordinate amount of emphasis put on making sure they are told that it’s sin (when in my experience they already know). To me, it hits me like saying, “Hey, make sure these people know that they need to eat something if they are hungry…right from the get go we have to tell them directly to eat something if they are hungry”. I think they already know to eat if they are hungry…

Again, this could just be how I’ve processed some of the comments I’ve seen-it just seems a little like there is a good bit of emphasis placed on this idea of telling them as if they do not know-as opposed to listening to them before risking insulting their intelligence… In my experience in makes them feel less like they are being talked ‘at’ and more like they are being communicated ‘with’ (because that’s what we are genuinely doing-I don’t want them to ‘feel’ communicated with-I want them to ‘BE’ communicated with). I know this is getting off of topic but I just wanted to toss that idea out there…