COFFEE...
I'm sure maybe you were thinking "Jesus" or some other answer like that. While I understand that I might be alone in this and that there are many out there who would argue that Coffee isn't that big of a deal one way or another; I hope you keep reading. Because I think that we get into some dangerous territory when we start to believe that addictions are some how OK.
So, let us talk about coffee as an addiction, which it is. Countless people, and many I know will say things like "Ugh, I haven't had my coffee yet this morning," or "My dad doesn't start until I've had my third cup" or anything similar, we have all heard it or said it ourselves. No doubt this is an addiction; people can't get by a day without it and are dependent on it throughout the day just to get by sometimes. I'm not even going to talk about (at least here) about the amount of money people spend on a regular basis to get their coffee fix.
"But, Jason, Coffee isn't that bad, it isn't hurting anyone." Sure. But aren't addictions bad? I mean, daily coffee drinkers even admit to being addicted. I'm not making this up. What type of addictions are good?...this should send up some warning signs.
The issue with coffee now, is that it is such a staple in our society and so widely accepted, that we don't even think twice about it. The US as a country consumes the most coffee in the world and coffee is the 2nd most sought after commodity in the world after oil! It's basically come to the point where so many people are addicted and the addiction is so widely accepted as normal, that no one really cares.
Now let me stop really quick and say this: I'm not trying to get a world wide ban on coffee or anything like that, this is nothing political. This is just me observing a situation in the Church today and we should at least take a hard look at what we are doing.
Ok, now that we have established that addictions are bad and millions of people are addicted to coffee, where does the Church fit in? This is a great question. Because right now, the church fits in with the rest of the world in supporting this addiction. Think about it...if I can get my fix about 100ft from the pulpit every Sunday so that I am awake enough to hear the sermon, isn't there a problem in there somewhere? Every church (basically) gives you the opportunity to get some free coffee, a little cup (maybe even a stirrer), your 4 different kinds of sugar, plus some cream and if you're lucky (or complain to the Elders) some of the good flavored stuff to pour in as well.
My question is this...if the Church, as a body of Christ, is supposed to separate itself from the outside world, then what are doing supporting an addiction of countless (very high percentage) members and non-members within the walls of the Church?
The best part is, I haven't even mentioned the part where Churches are charging for the fancy non-fat, no whip, frappe-freaking whatever it is you drink! Now, maybe that money goes to a mission field or something like that, that's great. But at what cost? Is that just the Church taking advantage of its members?
My favorite part is that we now feel like it's a Right to get Coffee on Sunday mornings from the Church. We complain about the Free Coffee being not hot enough or something and at the same time, complain about the long line at the specialty coffee bar (sorry I don't know what that's called exactly). Our Pastors probably get emails about how we need more coffee machines and/or more people manning the coffee bar so that I can get my fancy coffee faster in time to sit in service and stay awake for the sermon. Is this not somewhat ridiculous?
I have two final thoughts. First, how does it look to the outside world that a Starbuck's near a Church is constantly busy before and after Church on Sunday; While inside the Church, free coffee is given out only to further support the addiction after our Starbuck's cup runs dry. If we are called to be different than the rest of the world, something is not quite adding up there for me. Second, I think this is a unique situation for the Church. For every other addiction, the Church has a support group or class on how to get rid of it. But for coffee, we seem to be in support of the addiction. I me, you don't see a lot of dinner's at the Church where PBR is brought out in cases and I have to wait in line to see what is on Tap for this week. I think it's discouraging and disappointing that, in a place where we should feel the most alive and excited about our community of brothers and sisters, we mostly stand in line for our cup-a-joe and then sit there with our eyes half closed and wait for morning fix to kick in.
It just doesn't seem right to me, for all of this to happen at Church.
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