Monday Morning Insights

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    Theology “On Tap”

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    Or at least, he's bringing it to where they hang out.

    On Tuesday, Mason is starting a new program called Theology on Tap, scheduled for the first, third, fourth and fifth Tuesdays of each month, where people can gather to talk about scripture and faith issues.

    And this new program will be -- where else? -- in a bar.

    "I wanted a way to reach out to the unchurched, or as I like to call them, dechurched," Mason said. "It's for those with questions who don't feel comfortable enough asking in a church atmosphere."

    Mason said he got the idea from something he learned while teaching evangel classes in South Carolina.

    "Someone once told me that there's nothing in the Bible that says build a building, put my name on it and wait for the people to come," he said. "We need to be going out and meeting people in a place that they'd feel comfortable."

    On Tuesday, that place will be the Pratt Pub in Prattville next to Bama Lanes. Mason said the Pratt Pub is the kind of place "Jesus would have hung out in to find people."

    Mason and his congregation were familiar with the Pratt Pub from spending time there after youth bowling league matches at Bama Lanes. A member of the congregation also worked there part time.

    "It's perfect because it has a side room away from the main commotion and it's easy to find," Mason said.

    So Mason asked the owner/operator of the Pratt Pub, Pete Audie, if he could hold Theology on Tap there.

    "After the initial shock, he said it was OK," Mason said.

    Audie admitted he was surprised by the request.

    "Out of my 30 years in the business, it was definitely out of the ordinary," he said. "But as he (Mason) said, what better place to reach those that don't go to church."

    Audie said he's looking forward to the event, as it's a good opportunity for Mason and won't hurt Pratt Pub either.

    "It's good he's looking to reach people that don't normally go to church," he said. "It's not like he's recruiting from other churches."

    Mason knows a lot about those people -- he was one of them.

    Mason spent 20 years out of the church -- a time that he says was God's way of preparing him for this mission.

    "I still have some issues with organized religion and I know how hard it is to go back," he said. "I think this is easier -- neutral ground."

    Some of Mason's issues will be discussed in the first Theology on Tap on Tuesday, when the subject will be "The Seven Great Lies of Organized Religion." Mason says the discussion will deal with some of the things the church says and does that puts people off.

    Mason said this week would mainly to see who comes and what they want to talk about.

    "I don't want to hit anyone over the head with a Bible. I want it to be comfortable," he said. "I'm not going in with any preconceived notions of who is going to be there or what questions they're going to ask."

    One story stands out for Mason when he thinks about reaching these "dechurched" people.

    While in South Carolina, he met a woman whose family had not attended church in over 30 years. The reason: They went to church one Sunday and the preacher publicly shamed her father for selling alcohol in his convenience store.

    "He told them he had to decide if he was going to be an alcohol salesman or a churchgoer," Mason said. "They never went back."

    Later, Mason would have a disagreement with that woman over the merits of video poker. She didn't attend church for a couple of weeks.

    "She thought that since she didn't agree with me, she wasn't welcome at church," he said. "Some churches don't allow for a lot of disagreement and that's what I want to change so people will be more comfortable."

    Mason said that if Theology on Tap is a success at the Pratt Pub, he hopes to possibly have it in places closer to Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base and Auburn University Montgomery.

    OK... you're turn...

    This from the Montgomery Advisor:  Rev. Rick Mason has a mission to reach those who have given up on church to show them what they’re missing. But he knows that those are the hardest people to lure. That’s why Mason, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Prattville, has decided not to try to bring the unchurched to church—he’s bringing the church to them…

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    1. Don Solin on Fri, July 29, 2005

      Very cool—I know of several place and ideas like that going on in pubs in Ireland and England.  Very good!


      Very interesting how “culture” does play a role in “reaching out” to humanity.  Interesting to put this article along side the article about not wearing sandles in the office anymore.  Very interesting the difference in the ideals of those ministering to the christian and those ministrering to the “outside.”

      I have always wondered about the “church” being the house of God.  That is not true.  The house of God is us.  Hasn’t it always been about the “externals”.  I am grateful that people like Mason.  Keep going man.  The house of God is not a place.

       

      “Christ in you the hope of Glory.”


      Sandles or neck ties or pubs.  Hmmmmmmm

       

    2. Lorna on Fri, July 29, 2005

      I love this.


      If God’s people had been in the bars when I was younger, I would have found Him again a whole lot sooner.

      Bless this mission. Theology on tap. Love it http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif

       

    3. bernie dehler on Sat, July 30, 2005

      I’m dealing with a new re-believer in my ministry.  He’s been through church for many years, gave up on it, and is now coming back.  He loves the message translation for the Bible, and showed me a few of them.  It really breathes some new life into Scripture when you hear it phrased in a new, edgy way. This may be a good translation to use for the bar (& similar) outreachs. 

      Ex. Eph. 2:8-9 (we all know by heart, but like this?:)


      Ephesians 2:8-9 (The Message)


      Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing!


      ...Bernie


      http://www.freegoodnews.com

    4. Don Solin on Sun, July 31, 2005

      When the church corporately sings “people need the Lord”  and makes a choice to not find ways to “do” or meet the need?  What is that called?


      This guy is “doing” or is the “praxis” behind “people need the Lord”

      Blessings


      Don

       

    5. bernie dehler on Tue, August 02, 2005

      One blog article was about making the message relevant… this one is about making th eplace “relevant.” 


      Seems to me this guy is following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus,,, reaching people where they were, to the point of being accused of being a friend of drunkards.

      Matthew 11:19


      The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ‘ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”


      ...Bernie


      http://www.freegoodnews.com

       

    6. Kevin on Tue, August 09, 2005

      Congrats to Rick for the work he is doing. However, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta has been doing a program for young adults called “Theology on tap’ for some 10 years, plus they meet in bars and grills all over Atlanta. A lot of young people have found their way back to God through that program. So,I say, go for it. I have never believed God to be locked behind a church.

    7. Ken Sexton on Fri, September 23, 2005

      Rick   How is this effort in evangelizing coming along?  I’d be interested in feed back on your experiences thus far.


      Ken

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