The Decider

That's right folks, not the insider but the decider!

I got a bit distressed and confused when i read an article in The Salvation Army's publication Pipeline.

The title of the article was "In the World, not of the World" which was a great name for it but i just felt that the article didn't do the title justice. A reader's opinion i guess, but still a good article though.

By the end of it, i wasn't sure if they were or weren't condoning Christians going into nightclubs which was the gist of the article. It just seemed like a collection of opinions and views about some people who were against it and some who were for it.

I had a few thoughts and views that i wanted to share here and i can coz this is my blog.

Whilst i was slightly confused by the article (or perhaps that's just me being not really all there), there were a lot of good points that were raised and, in true sermon fashion, i wanna touch on some of those. Hope you don't mind, although if you do, why are you still reading this??? Go away....ha! not really.

Liam Glover was quoted in there as saying that Christianity should be "us going to the people, rather than expecting the people to come to us." Well done, my first lot of brownie points go out to him, even though i don't know the guy, i feel the same way.

The second point i picked up on in this article was what a South Sydney person had to say (i'm sure i'll know this person so i'll choose my words carefully). They said they didn't hang out in nightclubs etc because they were worried about what they're youth will think of them and the example they'd be setting. Very good point BUT....

I too am on a youth group committee but my opinion is that we should be teaching our youth in their early ages about the "big, bad world". We should be going into these places being good Christian examples. Before long, these teenagers we are "leading" will grow into adults. One would hope that by the time they reach that age they will be strong, committed Christians because of the nurturing and encouragement we are showing to them. Anyone that turns the age of 18 is curious about pubs and clubs and at some point will want to venture into them, i am generally speaking of course. Would it be better for them to have seen you setting a Christian example and witnessing to non-Christians in this environment or would it be better for them to venture into something where no (Christian) man has gone before?

You know, when i go into a pub (clubs aint my thing) i want people to think of me as building a relationship with someone, getting to know them and possibly trying to do life with them. I want young people to see that what i'm doing is being a witness for Christ and fighting for their hearts for Jesus sake which satan obviously seems to have a hold over. Why should it be seen as a bad or taboo thing? And why, tell me this, should satan be even allowed to hold position in these places in the first place?????

When our young people are finding themselves wandering into a club or pub as they turn the legal age of 18 without the Christian knowledge and faith and nurturing and without knowing how to guard and protect themselves from satan's grasp and without God's strength and without having seen their "leaders" go before them that's when they'll find themselves in trouble. Are we being equipped and helping to equip other people with the spiritual, God-promising weapons and armour that we need to go into these places that it talks about in Ephesians 6:10 or do we just find ourselves stumbling through the doors out of curiousity unprepared?? Are we going into these places with words of wisdom that we've prayed for from God or are we just talking meaningless conversations?

If an 18 year old, who goes into a club/pub is not a strong enough Christian and doesn't know their inheritance and how important it is to rescue the souls that are drifting into hell, i wanna know why?

So what if people think you're going there to drink, are you? And who are you trying to save? Yourself or the other people around you who don't know Christ? God knows your intention when you walk into these places so why worry about human beings assumptions, unless you have a guilty consciencious?

Ok, done with that point.....

Third point, more of an illustration really and definately an update on karaoke:

Last week at karaoke was a great night because i didn't even intend on going until i remembered i'd told two people i'd be there - couldn't let 'em down, glad i went coz they definately did!

One of our dearest karaoke, non-Christian friends was shattered, absolutely plastered, off her face gonnnnnne, which wasn't unusual, she does this most karaoke nights, some nights not being quite as bad as others. This particular night she was had it. But as she always did, she told us she was driving herself home afterwards.

Are you shocked? Because you should be!!! We were the first couple of times she told us but, like us to karaoke, this just became the regular thing for her to do.

Like i said, last week was one of the drunkest i've ever seen her and i put my foot down. Either she was gonna kill herself, someone else or both if she drove herself home in that state of mind. So i arranged with one of her friends for them both to walk home which, as far as i know, they did.

Even at Balmain, where i used to do karaoke, i remember driving some people home because they were too far gone to get there any other way.

Isn't it a case of "where are the Christians when you need 'em?". Sure we get paid out for drinking water and eating ice (although sometimes we go as far as coke), even to the extent of having it thrown at us (thanks phil!) but we're there if they need a chat or a lift home or just a friend and somehow, dare i say it, i get the feeling that Jesus approves of that.

So in conclusion (it has been quite an essy, hasn't it?!)....

I have decided (finally, the title and reason for blogging) on two things.

1. Whilst i'm not a Soldier and not against a social drink, i have decided to abstain from alcohol whenever i am in a pub/club for the sole reason that i want people to know that fun times can be had whilst sober. Whilst one drink doesn't really send me over the edge or even tipsy for that matter, a complete stranger does not know that my weird craziness is just how i am without alcohol and so, when asked, i'd rather be able to say that, "no, i haven't had anything to drink and that's just the crazy person God created me to be". SOooo, no more alcohol for me at karaoke (not that i ever drank often anyway, probly only 1 drink every 3 or so months for those that interested).

2. i will be at karaoke this week, no boy can stop the work that God has for me to do - satan thought he had me but he doesn't!!!!! SUCKER - GAME ON MOLE!

Anyway, i'm sure that this has caused some negative or controversial issues with some readers, but that's ok, it's my blog and i'm allowed to express my opinion!!!

Tink xoxo

PS: I did have the article to post as a graphic, but for some reason it's not coming up and you'll just have to look forward to it. If i can manage to get it to work some other time, i'll post it.