Drunken theology

Many years ago I broke up with a girl (or maybe she broke up with me) and found myself with a juice glass and a bottle of Jack Daniel's.  I learned two things that night.  1) A juice glass is a poor choice for a shot glass.  2) A little alcohol and some good friends can lead to some interesting and worthwhile conversation.

So tonight I was hanging out with some old friends, trying out new beers, and talking.  The conversation covered Nietzsche, Rob Bell, theology, hell, and Christianity in general.  It was interesting to hear this crowd of evangelical, reformed, "theologically conservative" types recognizing that what we have known about theology could possibly be wrong or, at the very least, be as rooted in culture as it is in what Jesus actually said.

We never talked about my church search in particular, but it's weighing on me.  On the one hand I think beliefs are very important.  On the other, perhaps what's equally important is how loosely a church holds those beliefs and is willing to constantly compare them to the scriptures.  And it's very interesting to see others recognize that a life consistently lived according to scriptures, even when espousing a theologically different perspective, should be respected and that someone who can logically support his opinion but cannot put it into practical living should not.


I don't know what happens when other people drink, but now you have a view into my world.  Yes, I know it's not normal.

By the way, I married the girl.  I'd be a poor, drunk bastard if I hadn't.