Christian youths take message to Hooters
Ran across this article and thought it would generate a good discussion:
Christian youths take message to Hooters
What’s your opinion of what this group is doing? Agree or disagree?
I, for one, think it’s okay…to a certain extent. Look at the result that it’s had -”We’ve seen a few of the waitresses become Christians. One of the former managers here became a Christian.” That’s awesome! Some people are called to go to “non-desirable” places to reach the lost, while others aren’t. I think the idea itself is okay, bringing The Word to a place and people that may not normally hear it. It also is a non-threatening place, where people who are afraid of the church and similar environments will go. However, because of the nature of the environment, the concern comes into play with who are members of this group. Some members may be vulnerable and shouldn’t be part of this particular Bible study, being easily distracted or there for the wrong reasons. Others may be strong enough, and not tempted by the environment, and are called to minister in this way.
Comments, anyone?
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Aug 18th, 2004 at 16:15:36
I agree with you that it depends on whether they are there for the right reasons, but look who Jesus hung out with. He may have been criticized by those who thought he shouldn’t associate with criminals and prostitutes, but if the way he lived his life was an example for the way we should live our lives, then we should embrace everyone and always be looking for an opportunity to share his love.
Aug 18th, 2004 at 16:39:46
In my bible study group we are reading about the parables-last night about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the ever-famous prodical son. Jesus ministered to the worst kinds of people back then-tax collectors, prostitutes, etc. If he were physically here today it would be like him ministering to child molesters, hookers, homosexuals, etc. I agree and think some people are strong enough to minister to those who are in desperate need of it, on the other hand you ride a fine line not getting mixed up in the bad. Just from personal experience I used to be a server at O’Charley’s and I worked with a lot of wordly people. At first I held my ground, but after 2 years I had to leave b/c I felt as if I was always compromising my ethics everytime I was there, so my piece of advice is don’t stay in the heat too long b/c you might get burned.
Aug 18th, 2004 at 20:35:24
Couple thoughts on this…
1) The waitresses that became Christians, do they still work there? Because that study is there, do they think their is nothing wrong with their job?
2) I am not sure I’d support, financially, a resturant of that nature.
3) As mentioned in the article, can it be a distraction. I’ll be honest, I’d have a hard time keeping my eyes on my Bible and not wandering, if only for a second.
Aug 18th, 2004 at 21:03:07
jeff:
1) what’s wrong with their job?
2) because it objectifies women?
3) it’s not sinful to look or have thoughts, is it? so i’m assuming the distraction here is from focusing on God. it can be a distraction too, if you are at church or another more conventional place for bible study and you are distracted by your daily thoughts, worries about job and family issues, etc.
in short, i don’t think there’s anything wrong with this group. if the purpose is to go to hooters with the sole intent of converting others to christianity, then i have a problem with that — assuming that people who work at hooters are not christians. however, from the article it seems like that is not the case, just a nice byproduct.
Aug 18th, 2004 at 23:48:42
To be honest, it doesn’t matter what we (man in general) thinks about this. The question is how does it line up with God and His word.
Matt 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
Mark 2:15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many and they followed him.
Here are 2 unrefutable bible based examples where Jesus was reported with publicans and sinners. They came to Jesus, Jesus didn’t go to the local Hooters. The Bible also says to go into the highways and bi-ways and compel them to ‘come in’, which he also did. However, no where does it say that Jesus went to a place that would be comparable to a modern day Hooters. They came to Jesus, and Jesus invited them in. Jesus didn’t go to the local Hooters. There’s a standard people, it hasn’t changed. Just because the modern day ‘Christian’ compromises with the world, it doesn’t change God’s standard. God doesn’t accept compromise with the world.
Aug 19th, 2004 at 08:20:24
You make a good point, Steve. However, we aren’t Christ. We don’t have the influence and power that he had and can’t simply go out and invite people in like He did. If we go out and preach on the streets, then invite people over for dinner, how effective do you think we’d be, in these days and times? How much good would it do to stand outside of Hooters and invite people to dinner elsewhere?
Yes, Christ did invite people in, but where did he invite them? He didn’t have a house that I know of. He relied on others to offer a place to eat. I think he had dinner at a tax collector’s place at least once. That was a “no-no” back then as much as some may consider Hooters a “no-no” now.
This is why I think, for some people, it’s okay to go to the places of “ill-repute” in order to reach people. Not everyone is going to come running to us if we don’t try to reach them. I realize the temptation present, and that’s why I don’t think it’s something just anyone should do. If called by God, then yes, I agree with it. I don’t think it’s compromise in that case, simply following God’s will and offering hope to the lost.
Aug 19th, 2004 at 13:59:52
A tax collector and hooters, comparing apples and oranges aren’t. Of course unless tax collectors wore daisy dukes back in bible times. I think Steve has a good point about standards. Are we as Christians supposed to put our standards in question? I don’t standards are something that should change.
I personally can’t picture Jesus frequently visiting Hooters or even once for that matter. The Bible states that we are to be Christlike. If you have to question whether you should do something or not, then the questioning alone should speak something to you.
So is it fine to go to strip clubs, jump on the riverboat casinos, show up for happy hour to preach about Jesus? There are just places that God doesn’t want Christians to go to. As the Bible states we are in the world but not of the world.
Don’t let your good be evil spoken of….How will your good be viewed if you surround yourself with “ill-repute”. Why should Christian be close to the fire? Not saying you shouldn’t witness and tell people about Christ but who is the one who saves? Jesus, not us. So don’t you think that Jesus will lead someone to speak to you? I don’t remember ever reading in the Bible that God sent the disciples into the local Roman bath house to preach the gospel. In fact I never recall it being written that Jesus frequently or ever visited such establishments.
In short on the comment about is it sinful to look or have thoughts….Jesus said that if a man looks upon a woman and has lustful thoughts than he has already committed adultery in his heart.
Aug 19th, 2004 at 23:43:06
When we as Christians start doing what ‘we’ think is right, that’s where we’re taking God out of the driver’s seat and telling him, “I’ll do what I think is best.” The Bible gives us solid examples to live by. We are not Jesus, but we are called to be like Jesus. As for the influence and power that Christ had/has, yes we do have the same influence and power, if you are willing to live up to the standard. Read your Bible, it’s in there…
Aug 20th, 2004 at 00:23:51
Yes, I know that we’re in the world and not of it. I agree that we get in trouble when we do what ‘we’ think is right without prayfully talking with God about it first. I realize that with everything we do, we need to think if we’d be comfortable having Christ there with us. We need to think if what we’re seeing or doing is pleasing and glorifiying to Him. For me, I don’t think that I could lead or attend a Bible study at such a place. It would be too distracting to me, it would hurt my witness, and could weaken me. God would not want me in such a situation. That’s just me, however.
Don’t you think that God has given some people the power to be a witness in those dark places without being affected, though? Are there not people out there that have been given such strength and will power to successfully witness to people in situations where others of us can’t go, without being tempted? All things are possible with God, so I believe that some people are called to witness in such a way. I think it’s too generalized, limiting to God, to say that “there are just places that God doesn’t want Christians to go to”. I’m not saying that just any Christian can go witness in any place, but for some people in some places, I think God can call people to do His work where others of us shouldn’t go. Some are called overseas, some are called in their local neighborhood, so why can’t some lead a Bible study in such a place as this?
We have no room to judge the leader of this group, saying that the Bible study at Hooters is wrong because “there are just places that God doesn’t want Christians to go to,” or that this person is “compromising with the world.” We don’t know his heart and his relationship with God, so we can’t know if God called him there or not. Same with the members of the group, there’s no way to tell their motivation for attending the study. All we can know is what God has told us in our own hearts, and pray for others to listen to His will for their lives. I, for one, will be praying for the success of this group, no matter where they meet.
Aug 20th, 2004 at 09:08:18
I have more to say about this later but for now…why does the Bible study group still have to meet at Hooters. I am not at all saying that I think it was a Godly decision in the first place. But I do recall a scripture talking about persons standing before Jesus at the judgment and stating that they cast out devils in his name and apparently because they didn’t live the life which was lining up to Gods word, Jesus said to them depart ye workers of iniquity I never knew you.
One more thing, if I was a sinner and a group of persons who proclaim they are Christians came to Hooters where I supported with my money, I would think it is great to be saved because I can still go to Hooters and still make it to Heaven. I mean why not, my witnesses to Christ attend Hooters everyweek so there must not be anything wrong with going there.
Aug 20th, 2004 at 09:39:01
Sean, I think you bring up a good question: “…why does the Bible study group still have to meet at Hooters?” Simple answer is they don’t have to meet there. This group has been meeting there for 4 years now. I would bet that they have caught tons of flack over than time, pressure from the church and others to stop meeting there, etc. Here it is four years later, though, and they are still meeting there. Sure, it would have been the easy road to move elsewhere, to give into all the pressure I’m sure they felt and moved somewhere else, but why haven’t they? Something is keeping them there, on a weekly basis, and I would venture it’s the hand of God that it on the group, giving them the strength and power to witness there. If God wasn’t with this group, blessing it, I doubt it could have lasted 4 years, And look at the results mentioned in the article, and I’m sure there are many others we don’t know about.
Also, note that at least half the group is women. I consider Hooters to be a primarily male focused environment, and I would think this Bible study group would consist of mainly males for the obvious reasons. However, that’s not the case, according to the article. Additionally, the group doesn’t only have Bible studies here at Hooters; they also have “traditional Bible study at a house each week, as well as mission trips and ski retreats.” The Hooters outreach is only one facet of this group, which consists of 90 members.
Aug 20th, 2004 at 10:21:16
Like I said I have more to comment on later. I at first thought I was shocked by the article and by the comments but then again it seems society is more and more accepting and it seems to be creeping into the church. It is also surprising to me that I have scriptures to back up what I am saying but most comments are based strictly on opinion with no scriptures to stand on.
Aug 20th, 2004 at 11:22:23
Ok, so where is the line drawn, then? If Christians shouldn’t go to Hooters, strip clubs, casinos, or bars to witness, where can they go? What about beaches? I’d be more distracted at a beach than I would at Hooters, but that’s just me. Gosh, even malls are getting too racy nowadays, with girls in middle school, and sadly elementary school, wearing a lot less clothes than they should. Wouldn’t a beach or mall be too distracting and tempting for some people? Would Christ go there to preach? If He wouldn’t go there, then where do you think He would go? Would He stay safely in a church? I don’t think so. Remember, times have changed. I know that the standards haven’t, but it’s hard for us, as humans, to equate biblical standards to present day standards, Biblical wine vs modern day alcohol being an example (that’s another discussion, though). We have to listen to what God is telling us in our hearts and souls about these issues and be a good example to others based on that. The rest is up to God; He has to open their hearts.
Again, I’m not condoning or condemning the Bible study at Hooters. Some are called, while some aren’t. Let’s just pray for the group, whether it be that they move somewhere else, or that they will have success where they are.
Aug 23rd, 2004 at 10:09:02
Here are some scriptures that I looked up, on which I base my view. Remember, my view is that some people are called by God to go into the darkness, where others shouldn’t dare tread, and be a witness.
Jonah 1:2
2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
Here, God has explicitly told Jonah to go into the wickedness and preach.
Matthew 10:5-14
5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. … 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. … 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
This is a new testament reference to Christ Himself telling his diciples to go to the lost, not to stay in their comfort zone. Notice that He says the punishment for these towns (in the time of Christ) will be worse than Sodom and Gomorrah, and we all know the depravity that existed there. I could make the jump that towns in the time of Christ were worse than in the days of the Old Testament, yet He was telling His diciples to venture there. He was also telling them to leave if it got too bad, but He was still sending them out.
I know many people feel that Christians shouldn’t minister at places like Hooters, because of the temptation level. To this I say that God has prepared some people for this task. “But the temptation is still too great” some of you say. Here is my scriptural response to that:
Philippians 4:13
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Luke 1:37
“For nothing is impossible with God.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
“…he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear…”
Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. “
Again, I’m not totally discounting the view that Christians shouldn’t go to such places as Hooters. However, I am supporting the view that God can call certain people to minister in “dark places” and give them the power to be a witness and not be tempted. This is by no means saying that just anyone, or any church, should start a Bible study at Hooters. Only by the will of God and using his strength can someone enter such places and witness effectively.