The Starbucks Church

There seems to be a new trend growing among today's modern churches. Usually showing up in large or "mega" churches, we are seeing a growth in coffee shops/bistros and gift shops. Yes, Starbucks and Lifeway have found their way in the walls of God's temples. But what does the Bible say about this and what can we gather about whether this is pleasing to God? To help answer that question, I would like to put on a little play. However, I will keep the text in paragraph format to save on space.

Our story takes place at Parkside Church on a beautiful Sunday morning. The lattes and mocha chocha cappuccinos are fresh and so are the muffins and scones. New Christian apparel is on display near the BistroBar. The cashiers are ready to work hard and sell...on the "Sabbath". Let's take a peek inside to see what's happening...

Richard, a middle aged stock broker, is at the BistroBar paying for a latte and a Michael W. Smith CD when his friend, Barry, walks up behind him.
Barry: Hey hey hey, Rick! Getting your usual I see? Richard: Ha Ha! Yessir, you know I have a weakness for these things. Hey, did you catch the last play on the game last night? I have never seen Johnson run like that. He will definitely make MVP with stats like that! Barry: No. I wished I did though. I was out at Slick's last night throwing a few back with Tom and Will. Will got a new promotion and we were celebrating. Richard: And Karen didn't mind? Barry: Weeellll....yes and no. But we worked things out this morning. Say, that reminds me, I need to get up with you after the service to ask about some new stock options I am looking into. If I invest right, I just might be able to buy that vacation home that I have been eyeing.
Karen and Judy, Barry and Richard's wives, walk over after looking at the new Bible covers that are for sale.
Judy: Now Rick, how many times has your doctor told you to lay off of that stuff? Richard: What? The lattes or Michael W. Smith?
Everyone laughs. Ha, Ha....Ha?
Karen: Barry, Judy was just telling me about a great package that they are offering at The TravelHut. Two nights and three days in Charleston, South Carolina. I hear the weather is perfect this time of year. If we go, do you think we could take the Benz? I would love to ride with the top down and that warm air just blowing through my hair. Barry: Sweetie, did you forget about the exotic golfing trip that I am taking with the guys? There just simply isn't anyway that we could go to Charleston, buy that new 90 inch LCD TV, and buy our twins matching BMWs for their sweet 16 after I take that trip. Richard: My, Barry! It sound like you have some important decisions to make. Ha Ha!
In walks a stranger. No one has ever seen Him at Parkside Church before. As He stands in the entrance to "The Connection" (That is the collective name for both the BistroBar and gift shop), He looks around. His heart is broken. He cannot believe what the temple has become.
Judy: My, Richard, I think that man over there is Jesus Christ. Richard: I believe dear that you are right. Barry: Hey Jesus! Let me buy you a Frappacino!
Jesus walks over to the "What Would Jesus Do" sweatshirt display and turns over the tables. He knocks over the display of Chris Tomlins' new CDs, shattering them as they hit the ground. Now don't get me wrong. I like Chris Tomlin a lot. His CD display was just at the wrong place at the wrong time this day. Sorry Chris! Anyway, Jesus turns over the scones and muffins, and then, looking at Barry, Richard, Judy, Karen, He unplugs the Frappacino thingy that does whatever it does to frappacinos. Can you tell I don't drink coffee? He looks to the cashiers, then to John, the senior pastor, and says :

"It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers." (Matthew 21:12-13).

Richard: Umm, Barry. Maybe you should have offered to buy him a latte.

That concludes our play at the Parkside Church on this beautiful Sunday. The day appointed as the "Sabbath" day of rest, where no church should have working cashiers. Tune in next week as we explore why parents stuff their kids into church basements during service in a play entitled "Worship: No Longer A Family Affair".

Ouch! Things didn't seem to go too well for the folks at Parkside Church this particular Sunday. Do you think that since the cashiers were already willing to work on the "Sabbath", that they will clean up the mess that Jesus made? Who knows!

These are not my words or actions. They are those of our Savior Jesus Christ and it happened around 2,000 years ago when He entered the temple in Jerusalem. The temple had become a Walmart, where you could buy food, clothes, sandals, and get new shoes put on your camel all at once. But what did Jesus do? He cleaned house. (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11: 15-17; Luke 19: 45-46).

I am not too certain what goes through the mind of a church goer or pastor who suggests putting a coffee shop or gift shop in their church. I can only imagine that they spilt (southern for "spilled") coffee on the Matthew 21: 12-13 (see also Mark and Luke above) paragraph in their Bible. How else would you think it would be a good idea to use your church to turn profit with such a blatant example to not do so? I think if you need to make profit in your church in order to pay the pastor or pay the church bills, then maybe you should be relying on God more and emphasize tithing in the congregation, and less on man's ideas as to what to do. Also, if you have one, get rid of the 200 inch TitanTron TVs that stand erect behind the pastor, above the pews, beside the band, and all over the BistroBar. You don't need to see him up close in order to understand the sermon.

I know you may be saying that I am being legalistic or that I am wrong in that such an action could be offensive to God. Well, keep this in mind: The only time such an incident is mentioned in the Bible is when Jesus cleansed the temple. Not once does it go back on this and not once has any amendments been made to the Bible that says "Sorry for that outburst. I have been thinking about it and I was too harsh on those people in the temple. Therefore I have decided to allow the selling of goods in the church to make profit. Thanks. Love, Jesus". So we can conclude that this is still as offensive to the Lord as it was then. Also remember that Jesus was a pacifist. He was calm, collected, humble, and meek. Even at His arrest and trial He was calm (Matthew 26: 47-68; 27: 11-14, 27-31). He even said to offer the other cheek to someone who socks you and don't seek vengeance (Matthew 5: 38-39). He didn't erupt into a fit of rage when He was beat before His trial. But He erupted in a fit when He saw people selling goods in the temple and turned over the tables and chased them out of the temple. It was the only thing that caused Him to "lose His cool". It burned His heart more to see that than to be beat and crucified.

We need to pray for those church leaders who are being misled. They are the final voice that can say "If you want coffee before church, stop at McCafe. If you want Michael W. Smith CD's before service, go to Walmart. But my church will not be a den of robbers". Thank you for your time and may grace and peace be with you. God bless!