Coffee & Cigarette Breath
I was sitting in a coffee shop preparing to preach at a rodeo (which is a different story for a different time!), and I overheard a conversation between a barista and a young man who frequented that coffee shop. It went like this:
“Hi, Jeremy! You’re more dressed up today than I’ve even seen.”
“Yeah. I’m going to church with my dad today.”
“Well, I think you look fine in jeans.”
“Thanks. I’m just trying to fit in. I don’t want my dad to be upset… I’m gonna have a regular coffee and a pack of gum. I’m going to church so I’ve gotta cover up the smell of coffee and cigarettes on my breath.”
“Oh well, enjoy your coffee. I hope you have a good time with your dad.”
“Thanks. I’ll catch you tomorrow.”
As I sat upstairs in the quiet coffee shop on a Sunday morning I cringed as I heard this interaction go down. I immediately thought about Jesus’ brother James’ words in Acts 15, “we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” Unfortunately, sometimes we communicate to unbelievers the message that “You need to clean up and come to Jesus,” and thereby totally disregarding that Jesus, the fisher of men, ‘caught ‘em before He cleaned ‘em,’ as I’ve heard it said.
We need to remember that we were all lowly sinners when God deemed us valuable enough to save. And that Jesus, the Great Physician, didn’t come for the healthy, but for the sick. If we communicate that people need to change before they trust Christ we’re inhibiting them from trusting the Savior who empowers believers with His Spirit. And it’s His Spirit that transforms us by the renewing of our minds.
So are we actually stopping people from receiving the Spirit because we’ve deemed them not ‘good enough’ for God? Ugh. Maybe churches need to start having services in places where people won’t get distracted by coffee and cigarette breath like my friend Andy who leads a church plant in Erie, PA that meets on Sunday evenings in a bar.
Here’s a great video of what real people in God’s church consist of from the guys leading the People of the Second Chance movement.
Do you think that WE really have the power to prevent anyone from coming to Christ? If God has chosen, then he will draw them unto Himself – regardless of our own brokenness (judgementalness…is that a word…). I hear you Gabe! just sayin’…..
Thanks for all of the feedback!
Denise, I just wanted to say that by all means, I fully believe that God draws people into relationship with Himself and that is clearly stated in 2 Corinthians 4. However, I do believe that we have the capacity to make our Savior and faith attractive, or make people feel unwelcome. God knows the people He has chosen. He is ultimately the one that does the work. We cannot accomplish that or stop that. What I’m talking about is more of a relational stewardship. In other words asking “are we accurately reflecting the love of our Father towards other undeserving human beings?”
Gabe, I appreciate the attention you pay to everyday moments. That’s where God is, that’s where he teaches us most of the time if we’re listening. Jeff asked Max Lucado where he gets all the stories he tells – you’ve just discovered the source. Life! Keep your eyes open, your ears open wider, and your mouth mostly closed. You and Jay are about to blown away by God’s presence in Columbus.
I think you guys set the tempo/acceptance level for your church. If you embrace smelly people, so will your congregation. Love ya man!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDQF3oSfins
Same point is made in this play, just 14 seconds into the video but its part 3 of the Play in progress. Cora Simmons notes this for being the same reason that has been keeping her mother Madea from going to Church.
By the way, Zac, I think Tyler Perry is often brilliant!
I know exactly what you are saying…and wholeheartedly agree! I was just arguing. I do think that a lot of churches today are more ‘come as you are’ type churches – though there are still plenty of the ‘get cleaned up’ places too.