Church and Coffee: Do They Mix?

As previously stated in this blog, I’m a regular coffee drinker. This past Monday, I posted this question on my Facebook page: “Do you approve of drinking coffee during Christian meetings? Why or why not?” It generated many responses on both ends of the spectrum. Some want to have their cup of Joe at church. A couple of my friends argued that Jesus drank wine during gatherings. Therefore, He would be tolerant of coffee.

Others expressed opposition. Some called it a distraction from worship. I think it would be disrespectful raising your hands to the Lord with a coffee cup in one of them. One friend admitted to being “a coffee addict.” Just like other things, it can be an idol. 


Another friend who attends my former home church pointed out coffee drinkers sometimes leave messes behind. During the mid-1990s, I briefly served as an usher at Living Word before they moved into their present building. Back then, they didn’t allow food or drink in the carpeted sanctuary. In recent years, they have been more tolerant of that since there’s a coffee shop in the lobby. Parts of the sanctuary no longer has carpet.


I like the option of having a cup of coffee during church, but will respect house rules. For awhile, I attended another fellowship in Minnesota where the pastor sold tumblers with the church’s name on it. He's okay with coffee in the sanctuary if the container has a cover to prevent spills on the carpet and padded pews. On the other hand, The River at Tampa Bay only allows water in their sanctuary. Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne often jokes about skinny preachers drinking lattes. Nevertheless, they sell coffee on the property and permit drinks during meetings under their pavilion.


Many Christians drink coffee while studying the Bible to help them stay alert. Nevertheless, you should respect your pastor’s wishes if he doesn’t want that going on in his church. Coffee didn’t even exist until hundreds of years after the Lord walked the earth. If necessary, one should be able to get by without drinking it during meetings.


“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 

- 1 Corinthians 10:31

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Gospel Soul Winning Script

Image
During my early days with evangelism, I developed an approach called the Survey Technique . By asking short direct questions, you can maintain control of the conversation and find out quickly what a person’s spiritual beliefs are. Although the Survey Technique has helped me lead thousands to the Lord, I’m still open to utilizing new methods in reaching people with the gospel. Rodney Howard-Browne 's ministry uses a tool called the Gospel Soul-Winning Script , which originated during their Good News New York campaign in 1999. I became familiar with it a few years later during evangelism outreaches with Rodney’s church in Tampa, Florida. At first, I resisted using the script. I found it restrictive and thought sinners wouldn’t be receptive to me reading the whole thing to them. Then while taking part in a 2009 outreach with Rodney’s ministry in Washington, D.C., my team leader asked me to “stick with the script.” Wanting to maintain unity, I complied with his request. Initially it fe
Read more

Toking the Ghost Revisited

Image
Back in February 2007, a fellow missionary I was traveling with started talking about “smoking the weed from heaven.”   He would pretend to have a joint of marijuana between his fingers and have “smoke breaks with Jesus.”   He also encouraged other believers to take “hits.”   I was a bit uncomfortable with this idea but didn't contest it. Then in October of that year, I heard John Crowder preach on “toking the Ghost” at a church in my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota.   I was inspired to make a video with John to share with my missionary friend.   During the filming, I experienced much laughter. I decided to make the video public figuring other people might enjoy it also. Two weeks later at a church in Minnesota, I heard Benjamin Dunn share testimonies of people getting healed from “toking the Ghost.”   This was just before he and John Crowder started ministering together.   I believed this was God confirming His word in the mouth of two or three witnesses.  
Read more

Is That Gold Dust Real?

Image
Twenty years ago I made my first visit to Calvary Campground in Ashland, Virginia. One of the speakers for their Winter Campmeeting was a Brazilian named Silvania Machado. After standing on the platform for about twenty minutes during praise and worship, Sister Silvania brushed gold dust out of her short blonde hair plus had oil flow from her hands. I didn’t dismiss these signs but questioned the purpose of them. A few people in the congregation later testified of being healed. I’ve seen gold manifestations at other places. The year before during a church service in Oklahoma, the fillings in my mouth changed from black to a whitish-gold color. Other people supernaturally received gold teeth (I later met a man in Germany who received four of them). I’ve also seen gold dust appear on ministers such as Joshua Mills while they are preaching. Although I don’t seek after signs like this, gold dust has shown up on my face and in my Bible. One time with the latter, I found some w
Read more