Which is easier? Filling a Friday-Nite Bar or a Sunday morning Pew?

Someone texted me an interesting question this week.   Why is it easier to fill a tavern on a Friday or Saturday night than a church pew on Sunday morning?

THE APPEAL OF A TAVERN

Chuck Swindoll, a successful pastor on the West Coast and now in Texas, wondered that same thing.  His answer was that the atmosphere in a bar was much more accepting, that there was little-to-no "judging" going on between people, that people in a tavern had the freedom to be themselves without someone trying to make them feel poorly about themselves.

Add to the accepting environment the comfort many people find in the buzz or sedation of alcohol.  The effects of alcohol consumption can eclipse, at least for a time, the larger pains of a failing relationship or business or personal life.

Finally, media advertizers have done a pretty good job "selling" the "good times" that come with sexy looking young people partying and dancing and engaging in sensual, life-giving (it is alleged) experiences.  Sub-consciously we've bought the message - alcohol makes the best times happen.

THE GUILT OF THE PEW

Conversely, many people are staying away from church.  The reasons span across a spectrum - growing up and going to church was not helpful, it's boring and dull, who gets the songs and why do we have to sing (?), the long religious speeches are hard to understand, and if clear, usually just make you feel guilty for not being more religious, and on top of all that, the church wants (and needs) your hard-earned money.

Beyond all that, why would you go and sit in a pew on a day off when you can lay in bed and sleep and wait for the NFL to come on?

HOWEVER, THE TRUTH IS...

From my experience of traveling around our country and the world -- and seeing many people in both taverns and churches -- quite frankly, I haven't seen all that many happy people in taverns, and surely not as many as you can find in a healthy church.  The truth is that if leaders of churches are in tune with Jesus and aware of the needs and desires that people have, they can design a church environment of worship and encouragement that can beat a tavern hands down.

My challenge - ask people who have spent a good piece of their life in a tavern and are now in a healthy church.  I believe they will tell you where they would rather be...