“People go to church for the same reasons they go to a tavern: to stupefy themselves, to forget their misery, to imagine themselves, for a few minutes anyway, free and happy.”
Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876)
Wow; how’s THAT for a shot across the bow of anyone with a faith life? I stumbled upon this provocative quote on the internet the other day and it definitely caused my mental wheels to spin.
While I’m sure some of you agree with this Russian philosopher and revolutionary (he was a contemporary of communism co-founder Karl Marx), how about taking a moment to be open-minded and read something from the “other side”?
Going to church is like going to a tavern? Well, there are similarities. Both are social activities, since they include interacting with others in a confined space.
Forgetting our miseries? Yes, there’s some commonality there, too. Just as there is between attending church and going to a rock concert or a play or a movie. For those hours, we leave our lives at the door and enter into a new experience.
“Imagining” myself free and happy? Bakunin, who never saw a revolution that he didn’t like or try to encourage (no matter how pointless or violent), might dismiss church like this, but he certainly didn’t have all the answers to life. No one does.
But I will say this: I AM free and happier as a church-going man.
I am free from the guilt associated with all the bad things I’ve done and all the good things I’ve failed to do, because of the death of Jesus of Nazaareth (who many people believe is the Son of God).
His sacrificial death, for anyone who believes in Him and follows Him, means my “sins” have been wiped from the books. Want evidence? Then consider these words from an ancient Jesus follower’: “Jesus is the way our sins are taken away. And he is the way all people can have their sins taken away, too.”
Knowing what Jesus has done for me (and for you too, if you want it) makes me happier. It also makes me want to invite Him into my life so I can become more of the person He knows I can be.
The way Bakunin saw it, going to a tavern and going to church are equally useless. But attending church has transformed many lives for the better — and for eternity. Can you credibly make the same case for any tavern, pub or bar? Post your response and let’s have a conversation.
Frank's Cottage 
Frank, I suspect one reason is that most taverns succeed at their mission of providing people with a place “…to stupefy themselves, to forget their misery, to imagine themselves, for a few minutes anyway, free and happy”.
Meanwhile, far too many churches are failing in their mission of gathering and transforming people to bring forth the Reign of God “…on earth as it is in heaven”.
Ross
Excellent point, Ross. Thanks for reading and contributing. 🙂
The relief offered by a couple of drinks is only temporary; the relief provided by Christ Jesus is eternal! And, He has certainly transformed me into a happier, more loving person.
Great, provocative post, Frank!
We’re on the same track, Martha! 🙂
And sometimes we find ourselves in situations that are not so happy or loving. One of the really big differences I have seen is when in life, the proverbial “stuff” hits the fan, the idols have no power. Only “in Christ” (including being part of a Spirit-filled, Spirit-led body) can we “set our faces, like flint, toward Jerusalem”.
Ross
Going to the pub can be fun but alcohol is ultimately a depressant, not so good at lifting your spirits. A relationship with Jesus can fill you with joy that you can’t explain and give you peace & comfort when life is difficult. I wouldn’t want to think about my life without Him.
Good point, Lori. Thanks for reading and commenting. 🙂
What a great post and excellent comments, too! I particularly like Ross’ comment that the church is at fault – unless we are full of [what Christians call] the Holy Spirit and demonstrate the power as described in the Bible’s Book of Acts, how will the world know that we have something better than a pint or two! “These that have turned the world upside down…” is hardly a description that one would use to characterize most traditional churches 🙂
You got it, Brook. Thanks for contributing to the conversation. 🙂
Hmm, stupefy themselves… I just got back from church – never felt better! As a fellow Russian myself I have to say: there is no limit to Russian genius, so is to Russian foolishness. He never attended a good church; that was the problem. And he missed the main point of going to church – to meet with Holy God. I feel pretty sorry for him & his writing.
You make a good point about churches, Angela. Appreciate you reading and commenting. 🙂
Martha made the comment that the relief of a few drinks is temporary, whereas the relief provided by Jesus is eternal. Yes – this is true. However, and this is just a personal thing… maybe others don’t feel it… but for me, hearing God’s word is only temporary also. I need to “refresh my cup” daily through prayer and scripture, and weekly through church service and communion, to keep the feeling of relief.
Makes sense to me, Brandi. Thanks for visiting and commenting. 🙂
The main difference, of course, is that there is empirical evidence for the existence of beer.
Well, the universe is empirical evidence for the existence of a creator (God). 🙂
Érdekes a felvetés és az orosz író gondolatai. között.. A kocsma és egy vallási gyülekezetbe való járás véleményem szerint nem összeegyeztethető. Aki gyülekezetbe jár, nem tartom valószínűnek, hogy kocsmába megy. Egyébként nem zárja ki azt, hogy valakinek van hite és hisz Jézusban az ne lépjen be egy kocsmába, de megbocsátást nem ott fog kapni. Jó magam nem tudom mi az, hogy kocsmában szerezni barátokat, mert ilyen helyekre nem járok, nem is fogok “Hála Istennek”.
Teljesen más kérdés kedves Frank, mit szólnál ahhoz, hogy munkából haza jövet még a lábad be sem teszed az ajtódon és csöngetnek, kinézel és már “Jehova tanúi” ott állnak az ajtódban és már agitálni próbálnak. Hidd el borzasztóan bosszantó és idegesítő a rendszeres zaklatásuk. Hagyják meg azt nekem, hogy én miben akarok hinni, van hitem. Udvariasan megkérem távozzanak.
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The thoughts and thoughts of the Russian writer are interesting. In my opinion, the pub and walking to a religious church are not compatible. Those who go to church are not likely to go to a pub. Otherwise, it does not rule out that someone has faith and that Jesus does not enter a pub, but he will not be forgiven.
I don’t know what it is to get friends in a pub because I don’t go to such places, I’m not going to “Thank God.”
A completely different question, dear Frank, what would you do to get home from work even on your door and silence, look and already “Jehovah’s Witnesses” are standing in your door and trying to agitate. Believe terribly annoying and annoying their regular harassment. Let me tell you what I want to believe, I have faith. I kindly ask you to leave.