This is the first in a series of blogs I’ll share on the process of starting a Theology Pub here in Tempe, AZ.
So, I’m starting a theology pub. What is that you might ask? Good question. I don’t really know. It’s a relatively new idea – at least for modern American evangelicals. For folks such as Luther, whose wife brewed beer, and who enjoyed throwing a few back while discussing justification by faith with the locals, it was a simple way of life that didn’t need a cool title:
“Whenever the devil pesters you, at once seek out the company of friends, drink more, joke and jest, or engage in some form of merriment.” Martin Luther
“Whenever the devil pesters you, at once seek out the company of friends, drink more, joke and jest, or engage in some form of merriment.” Martin Luther
For Luther, beer was a gift from God, not to be shunned, but rather to be enjoyed – and it was best enjoyed in the company of others. I’ll just get the caveat out of the way here, Luther was against drunkenness (as we all should be).
Sermon on Soberness and Moderation against Gluttony and Drunkenness, 1 Peter 4:7-11, May 18, 1539
“God does not forbid you to drink, as do the Turks; he permits you to drink wine and beer: he does not make a law of it. But do not make a pig of yourself; remain a human being. If you are a human being, then keep your human self-control. Even though we do not have a command of God, we should nevertheless be ashamed that we are thus spit upon by other peoples. If you want to be a Christian, do not argue in this way: Nobody reproaches me, therefore God does not reproach me. So it has been from the time of Noah. And so it was with the Sodomites, who wanted to rape the angels; they were all so drunk they could not find the door. Sodom and Gomorrah perished because of a flood of drunkenness; this vice was punished. God does not tolerate such confusion and inordinate use of his creatures [i.e., food and drink].” (As quoted on Ted Tschopp’s Blog)
So with all this in mind (and the fact that I love pubs and beer – as do most of my un-christian friends), I thought what better way to be missional than to bring the gospel into the context of a local pub. So that is what we are going to do.
I’m, of course, not nearly the first to do this. Earlier this week I had a great conversation with Joe Thorn, pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in the Chicago area. He just hosted his first Theology Pub in March. Around twenty or so people showed up to talk about God, society, and culture – around 40% were unchurched and unchristian. Everyone loved it. The buzz is already building and a number of people who might not otherwise step foot in a church are very excited about the prospect of discussing Theology at a local pub.The eventual goal for Joe is to have a 50-50 split of church members/christians and unchristian folk.
I’m encouraged to hear the groundswell that is building around Redeemer’s program. Our own Lord is of course a model for us in this sense because he was quite often mocked for hanging out with “sinners” by “holy” pharisees.
Matthew 11:19
“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Mark 2:15-17
“15And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16And the scribes of1 the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ 17And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’”
In is in this spirit that I wish to start a Theology Pub – not as a cool anti-evangelical emergent thing, but rather as an intentional missional (by missional, I mean this) endeavor intent on spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to “those that are sick.” One pint at a time.
Please keep me in your prayers as I work towards launching this exciting adventure. Grace and peace.