To be "all things to all men,"
and I guess in light of some stuff
that he happens to be a person
that pushes some extremes,
it seems that something that's becoming big now
is the whole "pub theology,"
going to bars and having Bible studies.
And my personal stance
based on the Scriptures
is in opposition to stuff like that,
and I have a buddy that I work with
that he's the only other "Christian"
in my workplace
in a largely unbelieving workplace.
And he is constantly pushing,
promoting that kind of lifestyle
to reach people,
and then I'm the overly dogmatic person
because I don't understand it -
why you would go into the bars
to actually drink with everybody
and have a Bible study doing it
to reach people.
So I understand the "all things to all men"
and I guess wisdom, insight?
Am I pushing on the lines of legalism?
Or is stuff like that too far?
Going into bars, having Bible study there?
You know, to try and reach people.
The "being all things" where people
are going to use that.
Bob: Here's an illustration
that I saw in my own life that I never forgot.
Between my junior and senior year in college,
I had a summer intern job
in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
And there were three or four others with me
and we all lived in this apartment house.
And there was another fellow living there.
He was a policeman about 10 years older than me.
So, we would go downtown
about every evening.
And then, the next year, I was converted.
And this company that I was working for
had a regional meeting back up in Fort Dodge.
So I thought to myself,
I'm going to go look up Herb
and tell him that I've become a Christian.
So, I didn't find him at the house,
and I thought maybe he's downtown
at the old Cave In.
And so sure enough, there was Herb
sitting at the bar.
And he was quite surprised to see me
and he says, "Bob! Have a chair."
"Have a drink with me."
And I said, "No thanks, Herb,
I've become a Christian."
"What?"
And so we talked awhile
and he urged me again,
"Have a beer with me."
And I said no.
And he went on.
"You're telling me you can't just sit here
and have a beer with me?
Who do you think you are?"
And he put the pressure on,
and after about four or five times,
I said, "Okay."
And I had that glass of beer,
and just as I got it to my lips,
he said, "Look at that! I knew it wasn't real!"
And it was just like a knife.
So, you know, I think one big thing
is are we going to where they're at
with the atmosphere and the attitude
of bringing them out?
Or identifying with them
and confirming them in their sin
in whatever circumstance it is?
Tim: Just adding to that,
you know, in every situation,
we're representatives of Christ,
and we need to portray Him.
And you know, when I talked about
just breaking the taboos,
you think about how Jesus
related with people versus the religious leaders.
Think about the things He did.
He touched lepers.
You didn't even get downwind from a leper.
You didn't walk around them.
He would stop and speak
with a woman at a well.
He would speak with the Syro-Pheonician woman.
He did things, but it was always
to show kindness.
It was always as Bob said to bring them out.
And you know,
I personally, I like the guy
that does the unusual thing.
I like that.
I like when people are testing the boundaries,
but behind it you see that they're testing it
because they really do have a burden for souls.
And they really have a desire for purity.
They're not trying to be as much like the world
as they possibly can.
They have a burden for souls,
and they're willing to think outside the box.
I love people like that.