Is it wrong to buy sandwiches from a bar?

[Friend of God]

I know this may seem like a silly, trivial, question, but here goes.
The town that I live in does not have any restaurants, or fast food places. The only place to get sandwiches is at the local bar.
I don't drink, and have had alcohol abuse by a sister in the past.
My wife and daughter think it is okay to call and order take-out sandwiches from the bar, and take them home to eat.
I am not comfortable ordering food from a bar. Even though we are not ordering, or drinking liquor, I feel that it affects our Christian witness.
I would like your opinions about this. Am I being too sensitive, and reading something into this that isn't there, or what? Thanks.

Rob

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

If you are not comfortable with it, then don't do it. You have every right not to and should feel no shame for it.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[PastorSBC1303]

Rob, you are going to hear a wide variety of opinions on here. My advice to you is spend some time praying about it with your wife, and do what you feel the Lord has laid on your heart.

 

[Martin]

I think you will have to prayerfully consider several things. First what about lost people who know you are a Christian and then see you leaving a bar. While you may have done nothing wrong (sinful) it could hurt your witness. I think your Christian witness is much more important than a sandwich. Secondly I doubt you will be comfortable in that kind of enviroment. I have never been a drinker or anything like that so I do not have alot of experience with bars. I have been in "fancy" resturants that had bars in a different room but that is not the situation you are talking about since those are not bars. In those situations I just stay in the resturant and don't even go near the bar section.

Personally I probably would not visit that place even if only for a sandwich.

Martin.

 

[TaterTot]

If you arent comfortable with it, then dont. Is there a town closeby that you can drive to and buy some dinner?

 

[Terry_Herrington]

I don't have a problem buying a sandwich at a place that serves alcohol especially if I can get a cold beer with my food. Of course, I don't see anything wrong with drinking alcohol.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Ya'll have a bar but no McDonald's? That's almost unAmerican!

Okay, okay, I'll answer the question this way:

When I was a kid living just outside Detroit the best pizza around came from a bar called the Green Lantern. Now my parents were strict Missionary Baptists AND teetotalers. But our pizza still came from the Green Lantern. And they didn't deliver.

Of course now I'm a liberal far away from strictly conservative roots, and wouldn't have a problem with someone having an actual beer with their pizza. Just not me. You don't want to ask me what I think beer looks and tastes like and my opinion has nothing to do with the alcohol conternt.

 

[gb93433]

I would rather encourage the bar to turn into a restaurant by people buying sandwiches than a drinking establishment. Ther is a lot of money in alcohol. If it can makje money as a restaurant I would think it would consider that. But if it can only make money from alcohol they it wil probably continue down the same path. I would rather see Christians buying sandwiches than non-believers buying alcohol. It might just turn into a chance to share their faith if they don't act stupid and respect the owner and the people working there.

Jesus was accused of eating and drinking with sinners. So might you too. Just remember who your accusers will be.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

The Bible says to refrain from all appearances of evil. How can one justify going into a bar to buy a sandwich? People passing on the street see one go in and that can ruin the testimony whether one is buying alochol or not.

 

[Ben W]

I dont think there is anything wrong with not shopping there for sandwiches because you feel that alcohol is not for you. I would support your descision in that.

As Christians we are called to stewardship of our finances, and at times the question of where we should spend our money should be raised. If a company is taking part in human rights abuses for example, a christian should endevour to shop from their competitor.

If you dislike the sale of alcohol, then it would be a good idea not to put your money through their Cash Register. Yet what all this comes down to, is what is the Holy Spirit convicting you to do?

 

[gb93433]

Mt. 9:10-13, "Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. "But go and learn what this means: `I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

 

[gb93433]

Originally posted by Ben W:
As Christians we are called to stewardship of our finances, and at times the question of where we should spend our money should be raised. If a company is taking part in human rights abuses for example, a christian should endevour to shop from their competitor.

If you buy gas for your car then most likely you are supporting Muslims financially.

 

[gb93433]

Originally posted by standingfirminChrist:
How can one justify going into a bar to buy a sandwich? People passing on the street see one go in and that can ruin the testimony whether one is buying alochol or not.

Many grocery stores sell alcohol. How would I know you didn't buy alcohol there when you bought groceries?

Prov. 6:16-19, "There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers."

When is the last time anyone heard or preached a sermon on gossip?

 

[Gina B]

I personally would do it. In fact, while you're there sit down and talk to some of the regulars about Christ. Used to do it myself.

Nobody ever asked me, they did assume I was going to the bar on more than one occasion. Had the pastor direct an entire sermon towards me. ROFL I still refused to say anything, because...nobody actually asked me.
So did it hurt my witness? Only among Christians. How funny is THAT?! It did wonders for the people who NEEDED to be reached, as it didn't leave me sitting in a church wondering why the unsaved were at bars and not in God's house, where we all supposably should sit and wait for them to come to us.
The Christians are the problem with this scenario, in far too many churches. You're wrong to go to where the sinners are. If you bring in an obvious alcoholic everyone shrinks away though.
But...if you bring in someone from the grocery store it's ok.
*sigh*
Order your sandwiches and keep your wife and daughter happy. While you're there, reach a few unsaved people and make God happy too.
No need to pray about the sandwiches or what you should do. When it comes to witnessing, we're already told what to do. GO. There's no STAY in GO.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

Gossip is not the question, gb.

The Bible plainly says to abstain from the appearance of evil. Not just the appearance, but all appearances. Being seen going in and out of a beer or liquor store is an appearance of evil.

The christian is told to refrain from it. Period

 

[Hope of Glory]

Don't forget the woman who approached the preacher because the night before she had seen him staggering out of a bar with his buddy. Of course, she had spoken her concerns to several other people first.

Of course, after everyone heard about it, no one really cared that he had indeed staggered out of the bar the night before, when a man had called him for help. He went down there and was helping the man home, when he tripped on the way out the door.

If you are buying gas, you are most likely not only supporting Muslims, but in most places that I have lived, they sell beer and cigarettes as well.

Most grocery stores sell beer and wine.

Of course, where I live now, there are 3 chain restaurants (McD's, Arby's, and Subway), and about 35 bars. Very few of the bars sell real food, as they make their money on alcohol. However, there are a few restaurants that sell alcohol along with food, but they will not tolerate drunkenness, as they are primarily restaurants.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Okay Standing Firm, who gets to decide just what appears evil and what doesn't? Hmmmm?

On what do you base your idea that entering a bar constitutes an appearance of evil?

If you were crossing a bridge and the poor guy ahead of you tripped over his shoes and started falling over side, would you try to catch hold of him and prevent him from falling or you let him fall cause someone might think you were giving him a push?

The phrase "appearance of evil" is very, very subjective. We should be very careful of how we apply it.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

MK,

how about letting the scripture decide. Proverbs 23:20 tells us be not among winebibbers

 

[JamieinNH]

Originally posted by Gina L:
I personally would do it. In fact, while you're there sit down and talk to some of the regulars about Christ. Used to do it myself.

Some of the churches in our area have done this, and have had great success in getting people to listen to the message.

Jamie

 

[JamieinNH]

Friend of God,

I think Joseph gave you some great advice. Pray about it.

As far as my personal opinion, I don't think there is any problem with you getting food there.

Like Gina said, use that time to witness to people there. Our churches in this area have done that in bars with great success. They plan trips to the bars to rome around witnessing to people.

I think, with prayer, and God's guidence you will be surprised who you might help lead to the Lord.


Pray, and trust in the Lord.

Jamie