A Church that Throws Parties for Prostitutes
Posted on February 11th, 2008 by catalyst into the Other Blogs categoryLongtime reader BK sends in this link:
In the opening of his book, The Kingdom of God is a Party, Tony Compolo tells of a trip to Hawaii. When you travel from the east coast to Honolulu, your biological clock runs wild for a day or so, and the first night there, Compolo was both hungry and awake at 3:00 a.m. He went off to find an open restaurant., but the only thing open was a greasy spoon diner run by a guy named Harry. So he sat down and ordered a donut.
As he was beginning to eat, a group of prostitutes entered the diner and sat at the counter, trapping Compolo among them. One of the prostitutes mentioned to her friend that the next day was her birthday. Her friend said cynically, “Why are you telling me? Do you want a party and cake; is that what you want?” The first prostitute, named Agnes, said, “Why do you have to be so nasty? I was just telling you. No, I don't expect a cake and a party; I've never have had a birthday cake in my life!” There was something about this woman that touched Compolo. After they left, he asked Harry if these girls came in every night. When he found out that they did, Compolo and Harry decided to give Agnes a party. Harry did the cake, Compolo did the decorations and Harry's wife got the word out.
The next morning at 3:15 there were crepe-paper decorations, a huge birthday cake and about thirty prostitutes and street people in the diner. When Agnes walked in, everybody yelled “Surprise” and they sang happy birthday. Agnes almost collapsed, and she began to cry uncontrollably. She was at her very first birthday party, and the party was for her! She didn't even want to cut the cake; she took it back to her apartment so she could look at it for a couple of days.
After Agnes left to take her cake home, something just prompted Compolo to say, “What do you say; let's have a prayer for Agnes.” It just seemed like the thing to do at the time. After the prayer, Harry said, “Hey, you didn't tell us you were a preacher. Why kind of church do you belong to anyway?” In one of those flashes of inspiration where you to say exactly the right thing at the right time, Compolo answered, “I belong to a church that throws parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning!” But it was Harry who told the punch line to this story; he said, “No you don't. There are no churches like that. If there was, I'd join. I’d want to be a part of a church like that!” You know, who wouldn't?
Who was it with whom Jesus spent his time? Why was Jesus criticized by the religious establishment in Luke 15:2? He ate with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus wasn’t refined or discriminating enough in his selection of companions. He threw parties for prostitutes (metaphorically if not literally). Has the church become too refined and sophisticated to walk where Jesus walked? Maybe we need to throw a few more parties for people who have never been to the party.
Let's ask that question again:
Has the church become too refined and sophisticated to walk where Jesus walked?
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February 11th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Answer: Yes
I’ve never heard of that book. Has anyone read it?
February 11th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
My idea of church:
A big dinning hall where there is a free (or donation if you can afford it) dinner put on every Sunday afternoon or evening.
Everyone and anyone is invited. A bus or car will pick you up if you need a ride.
While eating, anyone who wants to share can get up to the stage and talk about whatever they feel. They can preach if desired. They can share a good story, tell a joke, or maybe even teach from the bible.
The point is that this “church” would be a simple fellowship of both believers and non-believers, all mixed together for the single purpose of sharing a meal together and talking.
My opinion is that this type of church would attract a lot more unbelievers then what we have now.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I want to go to a prostitute party at church!
February 11th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Mark Estes shared that exact story in one of his sermons…I’m not sure if he mentioned Tony Compolo or not but the thing that struck me about this “party” is that it is actually a scene out of Coyote Ugly…
Maybe Tony was struck by what he saw in that movie and decided to see if he could make it happen on his own…
February 11th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
FTAC:
Is it still stealing when a Pastor(s) plagiarizes?
February 11th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I actually don’t really care who said or did this, if it’s true then I can guarantee that there was an extra person in that cafe that night that no one ever saw. That’s where Jesus shows up. I think God smiles when His kids get it right once in awhile and He was smiling down on that cafe. Jesus help us to be more like that!!!
February 11th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I was wondering if anyone has read “Pagan Christianity?” By Frank Viloa? I would love to hear what former cbc-ers have to say about it.
February 11th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Brian… Mark estes doesn’t think so. He once told me that shifty’s eternity was not plagarizing because the bible cannot be plagarized.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Touché, LL, touché.
:-)
For the record, none of the sound track was “stolen”.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Mandie,
Yes, I have read ‘Pagan Christianity’. I think is gives a good overview of where a lot of today’s churchianity came from.
Another source for comparing the current IC to the early church is “Will The Real Heretics Pleaase Stand Up” by David Bercot. You can order it from www.scrollpublishing.com
February 12th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Henri,
I have often thought the same thing about having a meal together. I think the early Christians’ gatherings were mainly about celebrating the Lord’s table. (Acts 2:46, 1 Cor. 11:20-34)
CBC has a large commercial kitchen at rocky butte, so there is no reason they couldn’t do it. The problem is they come together in meetings to gather $$$$ and to promote the pastor’s “vision”. Why bother doing what the New Testament says?
February 12th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Regardless of the original source of that story, I love it.
And I wholeheartedly agree that if Jesus was literally walking the earth today He would doubtless offend the religious establishment to no end —and eventually alienate them altogether — due to the vast amount of time He would be spending with the outcasts and marginalized of our society…sitting with the captives (Ezekiel 3:15).
It was such an eye-opening experience — just really amazing for me — when I first noticed just how much time and ink the Gospels devote to recording Jesus doing exactly that: ministering to the needs of suffering, hungry people, both naturally and spiritually.
I also believe He would manage to leave enough time out of each day to pop into one or two ICs, and overthrow just a couple of “tables” — which would hopefully be caught on camera — and then stay up late each night pouring Himself into His true leaders.
I think if more churches today followed henri’s advice, they would not only have to rent ever bigger and bigger dining halls — as the crowds would probably soon overwhelm the facilities (and not just because of the food) — it would also more faithfully follow the NT pattern (like whatHE said) of how God intended His Church to function, and He would then be free to truly bless it.
I envision the Last Days Church — at least the “true” Church — gradually learning to forsake the Gideon’s-ephod of media-savvy, super-sized cathedrals and return to its simple house-church roots as seen in Acts.
Which it will eventually have to do if it cherishes any hope of successfully bringing the true Gospel — Jesus’ love — to the lost.
-joebib
February 12th, 2008 at 6:33 am
I have read most of Campolo’s books, and I really love them. I recently read “Letter to a Young Evangelical” and it was great. I highly recommend a circulated sermon/speech of his called “It’s Friday, Sunday’s Coming.” He’s hilarious.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:01 am
checkmarks…
You just want to go because it’s a good thing anytime there’s something fun to do at 3:30am!
February 12th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
OH, YOU