The Parable of the Coffee Drinker

I am not a coffee drinker. However, over the years I have watched people that order coffee in restaurants go through a very careful blending of just the right amount of cream or milk, sugar or another sweetener, and sometimes other additional flavorings. When they finally get the coffee tasting exactly the way they want it, they begin drinking. Halfway through the cup a waitress comes and adds more coffee to the cup. At this point they have a cup with about half the added ingredients they desire. So, they carefully add the same things in a smaller quantity to attempt to get back to the right taste. As a non-coffee drinker, I have found this whole exercise bazar. My Mountain Dew always tastes the same.

Observing coffee purchased from today’s coffee shops, coffee drinkers now have multiple choices of flavors and add-ins straight from a menu board. A few days ago I was at Panera waiting for a friend and happened to be standing near the coffee station where people make their own concoction. There were five large coffee pots with various types in them and multiple choices for additional add-ins. It was fascinating watching some people take a little from two or three varieties, add a few other ingredients and then give it a taste test until tasty just right. While others simply take coffee from the pot that has the type they want and go to their table.

As often happens, a spiritual parallel came to me. First of all there are many different churches with different singing styles and preaching styles. Some preach straight through a Scripture passage while others use various Scriptures to make their point. What seems to happen with church attenders is they are looking for the “flavor” that they are the most comfortable with. A style that agrees with their “spiritual pallet”.

It seems to this non-coffee drinker that as long as God’s truth is not watered down, the “flavor” of the music, etc. really doesn’t matter. If the preaching and singing style make it easier for us to take the truth of God’s Word into our spirit and allow us to truly worship our Creator that is a good thing. Also, if the right style helps us learn the truth He is currently teaching us to understand at a deeper level while enjoying the “flavor” or method it is presented, that seems like a very good thing to me.

However, if all we receive from the “flavor” of our church experience is an emotional high and it does not guide us closer to our Lord and His ways, we need to ask ourselves why we are participating in this experience. Are we just enjoying the social atmosphere or are we there to grow in our walk with the Lord. May our Lord guide us to a fulfilling spiritual experience where we can grow to be more like Jesus.