If you are having this question in mind, probably means you are in a situation trying to decide if you should or should not go to a bar as a Christian.
Or you probably just want to know if it is the right to do or not, as a Christian.
Even though there is really no set answer to this question in the Bible, I can answer this question as a fellow brother.
I believe that the wisdom written in this blog post is of God, as I have the Spirit of God in me.
What Do People Go to Bars for?
I know you know what is done in the bar, mostly. I just want to intentionally do this, making sure we are on the same page.
Some people randomly just decide to meet up and talk in bars, but one thing is most common about bars – people drink.
Even if two people are meeting for some cool reason, they are probably doing it drinking
And the Christian culture does not support the habit of getting drunk. Without wasting time, let us get into the main deal.
Is Going to a Bar a Sin?
There is no exact or specific place in the scripture that says that we should not visit bars or pubs, or that says going to a bar is a sin.
But with the wisdom from the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, we can come to a conclusion on whether it is a wise thing for a Christian to do.
This is because the risk it places you in, is a high one. Being in an environment where you can be tempted to get drunk.
As we earlier established that one significant thing about bars is the drinking.
And in Ephesians 5:18, Paul instructed the Ephesians not to be filled with alcohol, that they should be filled with the Holy Spirit.
If indeed this is mostly what bars and pub is about, should Christians frequent bars or pubs? I really don’t think we should.
And I’m well aware that some believers believe Christians should not take alcohol at all while others believe that we should only not get drunk on it.
Whatever it is, you don’t want to place yourself at a risk of getting drunk on alcohol.
Can a Christian Go to a Bar?
For many good reasons, it is just advisable to not frequent bars or pubs if you do not intend to drink as a Christian.
There are many family-friendly spots you can use for relaxation beside a pub or a bar.
What Does the Bible Say About Going to Bars?
I don’t know about the existence of bars in the Bible days but it is most likely the men had a place they all gather to drink.
So, Bible does not exactly speak on going to bars. But let’s see how we can, get wisdom from the scripture.
Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit
Proverbs 31:1-4
“And Solomon, one of the wisest men who’ve ever lived, said, “Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper”
Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Why You Should Not Go to Bars as a Christian
As I said up there, there are many good reasons why you should not frequent or go to a bar or pub as a Christian, and I am going to be discussing the ones I can:
1. People have a set standard for you
This seems a little weird to be a reason, but it is a valid reason.
If you are a Christian, and people know that you are a Christian, they already have a list of things in their heads that you should do and not do.
This is not to say that you should live by that dictate, but you should not discard the fact that people have standards for you too.
People know that what most people do at bars or pubs is to drink.
And you won’t have the leisure of explaining to everyone that you came just to have a nice time to relax.
2. You may be lured to try when you don’t want to
If you frequent a bar or pub with clear intentions, a time may come when you are lured to try it out.
You definitely don’t want to have to struggle with the temptation, when you could have just avoided it altogether.
3. For the sake of younger believers
One thing about younger believers (not talking about age but spiritual growth) is that they are not yet equipped with so much knowledge yet.
And if they see any other believer frequent a bar or pub, they may take it as the validation they need to also start frequenting the pub or bar, which may lead them to alcohol.
Even if the Christian they saw wasn’t going there to drink, they may conclude and take it as validation.
What If You Need to Go to a Bar as a Christian for Business Purposes
This is to give room for cases that are not negligible where you are needed to meet someone in a pub or bar. What should you do?
1. Negotiate the location with your prospect, client or business partner
You can try to negotiate the meeting point with whosoever you are meeting so it can favour you too.
2. If it was not possible, go with your mind made up
If it was not possible to negotiate the location of the meeting, I think it is fair enough to meet up with this individual (most of these kinds of meetings are mostly one-offs).
If you will be going, you need to make up your mind about not drinking there.
You can be nice while answering them if you are offered alcohol, by suggesting something else for yourself. (If you don’t drink alcohol at all)
You can simply say something like this. “Thanks so much, but I don’t take alcohol. Is there anything else I can have?”
Everyone has their values, and I think whosoever you are meeting with will definitely respect that.
3. Tell a Christian friend about it
The point of telling one of your friends is for the sake of accountability.
Even if you don’t want to turn down the offer of your client, business partner or prospect because you don’t want to sound rude, you will remember the fact that your friend will ask you about it, and you know they will know when they lie.
I think this is a general thing. Everyone can pick when their friends lie.
So, this will help you stay firm in your decision not to drink during your meeting.
Can a Christian Go to Bar? – Final Words
I hope you find an answer on whether or not you should go to a pub or bar as a Christian.
You can drop your comments here. God bless you.
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