-----Sunday School At Hooters-----

A group in Atlanta are having a periodic bible study and discussion at Hooter's restaurants. Their viewpoint is that in order to reach the lost you have to go to them. Jesus had the same philosophy when He was here on Earth. He went to were the sinners were. But that is a contradictory statement. The biggest sinners of Jesus day were the Pharisees and Sadducees who were supposed to be the religious leaders. So why did Jesus choose to dine & sup with so-called "sinners" and virtually ignore the religious leaders?

I believe it is because the religious leaders hearts were very hardened against the true things of God. Jesus went where He knew his message would be heard. The taverns of that day were some of the places Jesus frequented. Was Jesus tempted in those places? Heb. 4:15 states For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Yes, Jesus was a man who was tempted to sin yet never did. Why? Because He was controlled by the Holy Spirit and not the flesh. What about us? The Holy Spirit dwells in believers but all believers still have that sin nature. Jesus said in Matthew 26:41 that Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Ever since the original sin of Adam and Eve, all men are born sinners. Satan has the rightful ownership to our flesh. That is why our bodies decompose and rot when we die. All Christians have a lifelong struggle with their fleshly nature against their spiritual nature. Many times they give in to the desires of the flesh.

So what's the danger of having a bible study at Hooter's? I am a normal, red blooded male who is attracted to the opposite sex. When I see a good looking woman my reaction tends to be 'WOE-MAN!" Right then and there I have committed adultery. Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

I can see myself with bible in hand sitting down at a table in a Hooter's restaurant. I have turned to the book of Genesis reading the creation account. Just about that time, the scantily clad waitress bends over my table to hand me the menu exposing almost all of her 38DD mammary glands. And God said, let their be breasts. Right in the middle of my bible reading, I just committed adultery in my heart. There is no way on earth I could do a bible study in a Hooter's restaurant without committing adultery in my heart every time I looked at one of those waitresses.

Is there any good to be obtained from having a bible study at Hooter's? So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isa. 55:11 God's word is a powerful, double edged sword which pierces the heart. Many of those at Hooter's will react to the teaching of His word and may even become Christians.

Another danger of having a bible study at Hooter's is that other people are always watching you. If I attend church on Sunday. then I'm seen going into Hooter's every week I would be labeled a hypocrite. As a matter of fact, this is how most non-church goers view those who do attend church.

Conclusion: A bible study at a Hooter's restaurant may win over a few souls but it also opens the door to a world of temptation. The flesh is weak so this is not a good idea.

Copyright 2004 by Gary Goodworth