When it comes to churches, booze, Planned Parenthood and the gay agenda likely seems mutually exclusive. However, according to Christian News, at least one nondenominational church, Greater Purpose Community Church, is embracing the liberal agenda full throttle.
The Greater Purpose Community Church in California has an existing reputation of being pro-homosexual. However, the unconventional church strayed even more from tradition, when it decided to open a public brewery in which it will hold their Sunday services. Church leader Chris VanHall said this decision came about after the church decided to sell their current meeting facilities and move to the now vacant Logos Bookstore in Santa Cruz. The new space will serve dual purposes, that of a brewery and worship space.
“We decided to sell the building, because for us a church is a community and a movement. It’s not brick and mortar,” VanHall said.
Although the new setup being a brewery will of course send tradition right out the door, it isn’t as if the Greater Purpose Community Church adhered to the values of most churches before anyway. For example, the church’s former space displayed a large homosexual pride flag, and many members also marched in the most recent “Pride Parade”. VanHall himself even featured a “Happy Pride Month” rainbow frame on his Facebook profile throughout the month of June.
During the transition between the two locations, the Greater Purpose Community Church is meeting in The Found Lounge, which is a local bar and restaurant. VanHall told the owner of the bar that he could keep the lounge and bar open during service hours so members could enjoy a beer while listening to his Sunday sermon.
“We have a glass of beer, glass of wine, and it’s a comfortable atmosphere where people can not only listen to a progressive take on theology, but they can also engage in conversation,” VanHall explained. “They can have one or two. As a matter of fact, if they have two, my sermon’s always better.”
The new meeting place will come complete with a new name, the Greater Purpose Brewing Company. VanHall envisions a space where hard cider, mead and beer will be manufactured. The brewery will be open to the public and will host a Sunday service on site before the it opens on Sunday morning. The profits from the brewery will benefit local non-profit organizations.
While taking care of non-profit organizations on a local level doesn’t seem bad, The Greater Purpose Brewing Company will include Planned Parenthood within their list of organizations to which they will contribute. Incidentally, the local chapter of the nation’s largest abortion provider has a office situated right above the future brewery location.
VanHall continued, “I thought to myself, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if a church could figure out a way to make a product where they split profits with local community service organizations?’ And we were like, ‘Hey, we love beer. We love making beer. Why not do a brewery?”
VanHall further clarified what drove the church to choose Planned Parenthood as a recipient of the church’s income, and a brewery as a means of making said income by stating the following:
“A woman’s right to choose is something most churches are silent on or opposed to, but that’s not where we stand in the faith community. We hope to be an absolute conundrum for people walking by. A church that serves beer and gives the profits away to places like Planned Parenthood is really exciting to me.”
How Believers Should Look at This Unconventional Church
The existence of such a “place of worship” if it can really be described as such is troubling at best. A quote from the late J.C. Ryle, a renowned Anglican preacher, perhaps explains it best.
“Controversy is an odious thing, but there are days when it’s a positive duty,” he said. “Peace is an excellent thing, but like gold, it may be bought too dear. Unity is a mighty blessing, but it is worthless if it is purchased at the cost of truth. Once more I say, open your eyes and be on your guard.”
~ 1776 Christian