There was a poster for a Bible study at a coffee shop. It sounded cool--a group of millennial Christians were getting together to talk about "Jesus things" at O'Charley's (or somewhere like that). The only problem was (and it really wasn't that big of a deal, but it immediately discouraged me from going) that I didn't want to spend the little cash I had on a cup of coffee.
Really, how ridiculous is that? A cup of coffee is only $1, right? Maybe not much more than that, but, money's money. And maybe it seems very trivial and very, very cheap, but spending any money when I wasn't making any seemed quite frivolous. (It still does even though I, hypocritically, still spend too much on books, clothing, and makeup.)
But apparently it's totally normal. One of those things in the so-called "coffee shop Christian" era. It's where Christians supposedly go to coffee shops and do Christian-y things. Like post a picture of the get-together with a #blessed caption.
And there's nothing wrong in and of itself of getting coffee. Nor is there something wrong, in my understanding, of Christians going to one to talk about Jesus.
I'm simple and still have so much to learn about the Scriptures. I'm not going to sit here and squeak about what's wrong and what's right according to His holy Word. But, perhaps with bias and with the limited understanding I have, it troubles me that 21st-century America's Christians have become too exclusive to their fellow believers.
This goes far beyond the fact that a Bible study decided to meet at a coffee shop. It is reflective when the only time people spend defending their faith is when they share a Bible verse on Facebook. When worship services become praise music and small groups if you go to them at all. When church becomes something only "spiritual" so that it's okay to read a book that agrees with you while lying on your comfy bed at home Sunday morning.
Modern Christianity has become so comfortable. It's so comfortable that it doesn't want to be bothered. It's so cozy that it has forgotten what it's all about, it seems, and would rather spend 20 minutes talking about why Christians should be accepting of everyone than actually accepting Christians.
The other day I got on my Facebook. Not being one to check the news first thing in the morning, I found out a little bit later about the new refugees law focusing on getting Christians out. What shocked me was the people who claimed to be Christians. They were angry saying it wasn't fair, wasn't inclusive to all refugees, and hated the fact that the bills targeted their brethren.
Politics aside, why?
Have our hearts becomes so hardened that we don't even feel the connection with those hurting brothers and sisters across the world?
Are we so comfortable in our religious freedom that we have no empathy at all for our sisters and brothers who have been raped and murdered for professing the Christ we already claim to believe and love? How loud those children and mothers and fathers prayed and wept admist hatred and bloodshed. How, because they hold on to the name of Jesus even when everything else is ripped from their grasp, they have suffered.
I don't mean to preach at all...It's not my place. I'm just as guilty as those I accuse.
But have we become so comfortable in our religious freedom that we are afraid of those real, poor, genuine saints coming to America and reminding us what being a servant to King Jesus our Lord is really all about?
