Reprinted with no permission from Relevant Magazine. I think perhaps the metaphor is lost with the brandnames causing a skewed meaning but, anyway... Maybe Five Senses or International Roast would have done the job.
In my Sunday service adventures, I've come across two types of churches: in my mind, I classify them as Starbucks and Waffle House.
Starbucks churches are really chic. They've got all new sound equipment, a rockin'band, awesome praise and worship, and relevant teaching. No dress code is required, although most dress for success at this type of church. That may include the latest thrift store find and a new pair of Puma shoes, or it could be as dressy as suits and ties. It seems everyone has a fashion sense.
I love my Starbucks churches. Portrayed on the wall without fail are the words for the music on three huge screens and some nifty graphic background that pertains to the song. They always pass out a really cool, shiny bulletin, which is filled with upcoming mission trips, home groups and fun stuff to do. Some even have coffee bars. The church in itself appeals to all five senses.
Then you've got your Waffle House churches. These are naturally set in the country and often, it takes an hour to get there from any major freeway. Complete with a steeple (I almost forgot what those were!) and pews, you've always got your staple hymnal book to accompany the worship time. This worship time may consist of one piano player and a singer, or maybe just a singer and a tape deck.
The sermon is usually more to the point with the occasional country dialect and straightforward delivery. Someone may even talk about their weekend fishing trip to humor the congregation. There is always an altar call. The preacher will talk until he gets through. What's lunch? This is God's time. When God's ready to let you eat, He will let the preacher know.
I attended a Waffle House church today. You know what? It was humbling. Sometimes you just need the coffee and without all the foam.
I'm not stating that one church is better than the other. Personally, I like my Starbucks church. But, I think it's good to experience a different service every once and a while. I felt like I was in a different country. I was so blessed by the preacher's message. He was so on fire. I was blessed by the people who took turns getting on stage to sing their hearts out to God—and how communal it was; how simple and pure.
I know that God has no preference as long as we are concentrating on Him. We are all His children. I know that the delivery of Gospel has evolved for the upcoming generation, and I believe that's necessary.
It's still coffee. It's still fresh. It's just packaged differently.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Starbucks or Waffle House
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Firstly (a point i know we all agree on) starbucks ain't coffee, and it ain't fresh.
Secondly, if we're using some coffee analogies - a starbucks church can in fact be just like going to said coffee outlet - the concept seems mildly appealing and the smell may even draw you closer, but after a certain amount of time (short or long) drinking the beverage can either become decidedly dissatisfactory or mind numbing to the point where you continue drinking because you know longer know what real coffee can taste like, its comfortable, some friends are there, the toilets are clean, they have nice music, they smile a bit, it seems an ok place to put your money.
Waffle houses can be full of waffle people, sometimes the beans are a lot fresher but the coffee come with a strange taste, maybe they just need to clean the machine and update the music.
However this nice little analogy we have going here falls over very quickly, because the Church ain't a business, and shouldn't be treated as church.com, church inc. etc etc. Its the bride of Christ, and something that He's very passionate about, its a community existing to change the community around it, focussing on being preverbial hands and feet to those who need spiritual nourishment and some practicle outworking of what God is all about, at all costs. Last time I checked Starbucks weren't giving their coffee away (unless its out of date then they're nice enough to donate it to the community - which is a crap concept to begin with - if you're going to donate something then donate the best, other wise shut up about it and put in the rubbish - charity is not glorified garbage disposal).
May God forgive us if we, as the church-goer, treat it lik a shop you go into, and if you dont like your service you throw your money on the counter, slam down your cup and get out to the car park as fast as possible (as I have done in many a Starbucks, and a church or two).
May God also forgive us if we, as those responsible for the church, treat it like a franchise, a brand name, or a marketing campaign. We can't sell or market God, we'll screw it up every time.
ok, so now you're all thinking i don't like church. the exact opposite actually - to continue with our coffee analogy, i love coffee, but i don't want my coffee drinking to be boxed in or type cast, or flavourless, or decaffeinated, or burnt, or watered down, or smelling good but tasting bad, or with too much sugar. i wanna get pure esspresso. I want it to stain my teeth and be on my breath so that people can tell i drink coffee.
sometimes i want to drink coffee at home, sometimes with friends, sometimes with complete strangers, sometimes out with people who need coffee more than i do, sometimes i need it lots. sometimes i like to make coffee.
when i can (usually once a week on a sunday morning) i love to get together with lots of other people who share the same love of coffee as i do, and some who don't know it yet but are about to become serious addicts because the coffee we're commited to making has a good smell about it. we do this in a warehouse in a dusty part of a third world country. it wasn't my idea, but i'm happy to bring along some hot water some times, some people bring along a little bit of sugar, others seem to have some priveldged access to some really good beans which they really love to share with everyone else. the couches in this coffee house are very uncomfortable, the parking is terrible, some people are stuck in the back doing the dishes all day, they don't have any heating, the music is great but the PA system is very old, because this cafe gives away all its revenue along with its product so the comfort of the drinkers is not really that important. and nobody seems to care, because we drink good coffee, then everyone takes a cup outside and gives it to someone else.
I love coffee. I just hate it when its decaffienated - otherwise what the hang is the point? we may as well go and drink some mystic eastern beverage, like tea.
Yep - amen to double-shot Jesus-followers Garrick. May the Bride of Christ be full of 'em the world over. And may their passion - subtle and blatant as it might be - be a persuasive and compelling catalyst for decaffeinated folk in increasing measure.
Post a Comment