Space for questions

Big coincidence that I (Matt Blazer) am posting on Thursday and On Tap is tonight.  On Tap is this funny thing Riverside does at Llywelyn's Pub next door to our office in Webster.  We get together, like people used to do in Pubs before texting and the internet and bedroom communities, and discuss an important topic - what New Year's Resolutions did you make and why, Can Black Friday save the Economy (seems like the answer to that one was, "no"), and tonight we will be discussing how Barack Obama is doing in his first month as president.

I was talking with some other church leaders who do a similar event over in Maplewood at Bottleworks, and we were wondering if the over-arching purpose to something like On Tap might just be that after a few years we will have convinced a few people that Christians are not all arrogant, narrow-minded, and angry at "liberals".  I wonder if it is worth it if that is "all" we accomplish.

I think the reason it is important is to create space.  I have questions about everything from politics to the question of suffering (never mind the question of a good definition of suffering).  It seems like my friends care more about what I think than what Tim Keller and N.T. Wright (minor Christian celebrity writers - they are even featured at Barnes and Noble sometimes).  So, I try and bring them to On Tap.  Rarely are their questions answered there - no one teaches, we just try and get people to talk to one another.  But, there is space made in our relationship.  We end up sitting and talking - sometimes about the discussion at hand (September was over religion and pretty light, October was over the election and someone might have called someone else a fascist), and sometimes about more difficult questions of faith and life.  I have some new friends through On Tap and I enjoy getting to know them better when we hang out afterwards.  

I have noticed (because I'm really observant) that we're not big on comments.  Let's change that.  Do you have space and time for your questions?  If so, where and when is that space?  Is it only with trusted friends or do you like talking with random people?  If you are a Christian how does it feel that your friends want to know (or don't) what you think, and turning them to this or that author isn't nearly as effective as you sitting and having a conversation?  Are you as afraid of telling your friend "I don't know, but that is a good question..." as I am?  Does it feel dignifying or terrifying that what we have to offer are ourselves, and not fancy impervious arguments?  What is it like to be a Christian at your place of business, or as a stay-at-home mom?  Are you insulated from people that don't know the Lord, or are they everywhere in your life?  Are you frustrated or relieved that what you have to offer if yourself?  

Just some questions, let's get the comments going...  And, you should totally come to On Tap tonight (7:0 at Llywelyn's)

-Mat Blazer