Re: Top ten things the local church can learn from a bar

I have been to my fair share of bars. In general, I like them. There have been a few that I didn’t have the best experiences at, and on the same token, there have been many that I have had very memorable experiences at.  I have also been to a lot of churches. I carry the same sentiment for both.

There are many contrasts of course between the two, but surprisingly, there are also many similarities. I began to think about why some people would rather go to a bar instead of attend a church service. A lot of the reasons I came up with made perfect sense to me.  Then it occurred to me, maybe there are some things that the local church can learn from an established neighborhood bar.

So here we are. I give to you the “top ten things a local church can learn from a neighborhood bar”. That was a mouthful!

1. Accept people as they are: I have been to many a bar where this philosophy is clearly evident in the people that frequent it… even the weird ones. There is a basic understanding that everyone is welcome. That mantra is practiced as much as it is preached and the results are clear: People come because they feel accepted for who they are.

2. Be a place that people want to come to: Bars are inviting, fun, eventful, and entertaining. People laugh and have a good time there. It’s an oasis of sorts. I’m not saying there has to be all play and no work. But find a way to incorporate both sides of being thought-provoking and entertaining and you’ll strike a balance with people that will resonate in them.

3. Provide authentic community: The cheers theme comes to mind here: “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came”.

People desire basic community. It is a human attribute that requires nurturing. Next time you are at a bar, look around; you will see many things going on all at once. There will be people talking, hugging, laughing, crying, etc. Sure, alcohol lowers inhibition… but so does genuine care for the person that is attending your church. When someone realizes that they are valuable and important, walls come down, and growth happens.

4. Be honest about your issues / hang-ups: You walk into a bar, as you are, with all your problems. Chances are, as community happens, you will find that you are in good company. That all of you have your cheese falling off your cracker. There is a level playing field that is realized and people gravitate towards that. A lot of churches, on the other hand, are synonymous with cover-ups, rationalizing or spiritualizing mistakes, and minimizing damage that it has created from the fallout of manipulation and control. It’s sad really. Be honest about where you have fallen short, create that level playing field, and people will trust you with their issues. The result? You both grow together.

5. Stick to the basics: Bars tend to have this unspoken set of basic guidelines that most already know and embrace. A few examples could include: respect each other, have a good time, no fighting, and buy a friend a beer. Typically the litmus test for knowing these unspoken guidelines is hinges on the golden rule. Jesus himself had a very simple approach to how we should live and operate. Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself*. Too many times we tend to over-complicate and spiritualize our set of rules and requirements. Like my grandpa used to always say “Keep it simple stupid”!

6. Continue to be relevant to your community: Successful bars will pick up on the needs, changes, and wants of the community they are serving and will adapt to those needs while staying true to the core of who they are. When they are able to do this, they see continued and increased patronage by all types of people.  Some churches will not get this… they will fade into an isolated, self-serving creature that loses touch with the outside world. Discovery and adaptability will equal growth… especially if you remain true to your core basics.

7. Invest in your local community: I was standing in the bathroom of a bar recently whose walls were plastered with fliers of all these local, charitable events that you could be a part of. Most of these were, in fact, sponsored by said bar. Bars will find a way to invest in everything from little league teams, to marathons, to chili cook-offs. As much as being relevant is important, investing is even more important. Find a place, an event, an organization that you can sponsor or serve alongside and do it! Heck, do some guerilla investing around town by doing mass acts of random kindness.

8. Expect nothing less: A bar that does well has a clear chain of command while keeping camaraderie alive and well with those that serve on its staff. It has a clear purpose, vision, and direction. Those on staff expect the others to bring their best everyday and are there to support and pick up the slack when one falls or becomes weary. It becomes a well-oiled machine. This breeds motivation and inspiration. It characterizes success. Churches that can establish this support structure will begin to see their impact and strategy clearly defined.

9. Be the absolute best you can be: A bar wants to be the best bar around… bar-noneJ It relies on creativity, improvising, and gumption to fuel that inner desire for greatness. I see nothing wrong with churches wanting that same thing. Our question should be “what are we doing with what God gave us?” Let that push you to greater things and greater impact on the community around you. Never let apathy and complacency sneak in the door. Apathy and complacency will kill everything else we discussed before this point.

Last but not least…

10. Serve cold beer and hot wings: This is a no brainer… people LOVE cold beer and hot wings. You serve this combination on a regular basis; not only will your church double in size, but, happy people tip well.

So, there you go. I hope you enjoyed reading this… thoughts????