Is it true? Could I, a Southern Baptist Pastor, really be playing poker at a bar a couple of times a week? Surely that is just a rumor! Nope, it’s absolutely true…and I’m not ashamed. Please note (so I don’t lead anyone to stumble here): When I play FREE poker in the bar, I do not gamble or drink alcohol. Got that?! No accusations, please. 
Let me explain why I participate in this activity. My choice to play poker at the bar is based on guiding principles for my life:
1. I want to be like Jesus. That simply means I want to do the things He did, say the things He said, prioritize the same things He prioritized, etc.
2. Love is the top priority. I love people because He loves people. The good and the bad, the righteous and the unrighteous, the ones who seem to have their act together and the fouled-up, the rich and the poor, the lonely and satisfied, those who believe in Jesus and those who don’t. While Jesus walked the earth He showed us how to be an equal opportunity lover of people. When He allowed Himself to be crucified on our behalf, it was out of love for the world. (Rom. 5:8; John 3:16) So, if I want to be like Jesus, I have got to love people. Loving others involves putting their needs above my own. It matters not whether those needs are physical, emotional, mental, social, or spiritual – I am called to consider the needs of others above my own.
3. I am on a mission to shine the light of Christ to a dark world. Jesus is the light. I am a reflection of that light. That light is meant to shine. (Matt. 5:16) I am failing if I only shine that light in places that already have light. Light is meant to penetrate the darkness. You see, most of the people in my church experience this dark world on a daily basis. I implore them to shine the light. Most of my time, however, as a pastor, is consumed with “church work” and “congregation care.” As a pastor, I take those responsibilities seriously, but I am also an individual believer who is called to go! Rather than engaging the dark world in the course of normal day life, I actually have to make an effort to go into the darker places.
You might ask some questions:
Why a bar? Uh, because it can be a pretty dark place. Many of the folks in there have all kinds of needs but no church or pastor or caregiver of their soul. Who is going to care about them? I will.
Doesn’t hanging at a bar endorse a very serious problem of alcoholism? No. Again, Jesus is my model. He hung out with sinners. In fact, that was one of the “inflammatory” things they said about Jesus. He was around sinners too much. (Luke 15:2) It no more endorses alcoholism than Jesus turning plain water into premium wine at the wedding. (John 2)
Why poker? Because I like to play it. I’m not sure where we got the idea that to do effective ministry it has to be by sacrificially doing something you hate. While that may be necessary at times, I believe it is often the opposite. God wants us to take the things we enjoy doing and use them for His glory. Find what you are good at, what you like to participate in, and go for it. Poker itself has no intrinsic moral value itself.
Doesn’t that endorse gambling? Uh, it’s FREE poker.
Well, that’s one thing I’m doing to try to shine the light (and that’s the brief version!). What about you?
