I was just commenting on two comments in one comment to save time. I’ve only encountered one person in the blog world who thinks such a practice is odd and since you are not him, I didn’t think you would mind. Sorry!

So, here it is:

Antonio, your use of 1 Thess 5:22 may not be the best way to understand that verse. You quoted from the KJV, which is a very poor translation of that verse (See TDNT, 2:375). The verse is not properly translated “avoid the appearance of evil” but rather “avoid every form or manner of evil.” In other words, “Don’t sin.”

You wrote, “If you do not go to where the sinners are sinning, where are you going to find them?”

That is right on target! Too many of us Christians, when we say, “avoid all appearance of evil” we mean “avoid all non-Christians except those who are willing to live according to our standards of morality.”

And as you so well pointed out, Jesus himself did not “avoid all appearance of evil” since He was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard. Jesus was willing to risk His reputation and his life in order to be with sinners where they are at.

So what does Paul mean in 1 Thess 5:22? Antonio has unfortunately quoted from the KJV, which is a very poor translation of that verse (See TDNT, 2:375). The verse is not properly translated “avoid the appearance of evil” but rather “avoid every form or manner of evil.” In other words, “Don’t sin.”

So the real issue here is, “Is serving alcoholic beverages sinful?”

I’m not certain if these are the best ways in which to minister, but God has surprised me in the past. I also would not have guessed that marching around a walled city, blowing horns, would be the best way to bring the walls down. If it is God who has called them to this ministry, then God will minister through them.

I read a story once about a man who was speaking to a member of the clergy and said, “I’m not sure if I’m comfortable telling my problems to a pastor.” And the cleric reached into his inside jacket pocket, pulled out a flask, poured some scotch into a glass and handed it to the man.

“Then tell them to your bartender,” he replied.

It’s a fictional story, and I hope it’s clear that the pastor was referring to himself in his reply. In a world where people see pastors as people they can’t talk to because the pastors are ‘holy’, separate, and thus would not understand, different sorts of approaches are sometimes needed.

Bro. Antonio,

So well-said brother. I knew this was true, but could not think of how to put it in a concise way as you have done. This is an issue we all should wrestle with, but you have done it in a way that is true to the whole Word of God without having to stretch it to make it appear that Jesus “hung out” with sinners as is somtimes implied. He loves sinners thank the Lord since I am one! But He is holy also, thank the Lord again since only a holy Savior can save sinners & make us holy as well.

I think there is a difference between going to where sinners do their sinning and ministering to sinners.

I don’t recollect, correct me if I am wrong, Jesus going to the places where sinners did their sinning.

1 Thes 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

I am sure that through prayer and thinking you could come up with ways on how to reach those you wish to target without appearance of impropriety of any kind.

Antonio

Peace.

The stripper ministry is a little weird. Ultimately, this woman would be going to someone’s place of employment and asking them to give up their job. Sure, her money is as good as anyone else’s, but the lap dance is merely the sales pitch for the VIP room. So even if she paid them for the song, she’s still disrupting their flow of income (unless of course, she’s planning to spend serious money). And how much ministering can you do in a loud, smoky bar in three minutes? I can imagine that after a few trips she would be persona non grata. In such an environment, that could get her hurt.

It is interesting, though.