Faith, like coffee, should be real to be enjoyed

Once in a while I get teased about my Facebook profile picture because I am told that I am drinking the longest cup of coffee in history. The shot was taken by my wife while we were in Prague for a long weekend three years ago. And what great coffee it was too. (Mind you, the European Medieval environment probably helped.)

I remember jokingly telling a close friend of mine, now my Area Pastor, that the only way I would ever leave West London and go into the country would be if there was a certain coffee shop there. So when I visited Sudbury, South Suffolk after having had more than a strong prompt by the Lord to go there, I discovered to my shock and delight a Caffe Nero had just opened. Awesome.

My wife and I just sat at a corner table in this newly furnished place profoundly silent. Though she had tears in her eyes. I should hasten to add it was not so much the coffee itself, though not one to detract from the experience, but because we felt, along with some other significant confirmations, somehow rewarded for obeying The One leading us.

Now, hear me clear, I am not so vain to think that cafe was opened just for us. As if. However, faith lived out in real experience makes for a much more enjoyable life. And through it we find some wonderful unexpected joys along the way - if we will just step out and take God at his word.

James, the brother of Jesus, writes in his pastoral letter to the early church that "faith and works" together is the only way to go, otherwise faith it is a complete dead-end and an utter waste of life's time (I paraphrase here). Faith has consequences - whether it brings suffering or pleasure.

Sometimes it will lead, probably more often than not to hardship. But even in hardship there is joy. I experienced that last weekend when with our friends Jason and Michelle Scott at Dungannon Vineyard.

As I looked down from the old military observation post on a town about the the size of Sudbury, I saw the main square, much similar to our own. I was told that over the years it has been the site of several car bomb explosions.

The town's mood is depressed. People have little money with few prospects. The long-hoped-for regeneration programme has all but come to a grinding halt. The social housing programme has been scraped due to lack of cash. On top of all that its history of religion-infused politics and vioence continues to have its impact on families' lives and emotional well-being.

In short, there is no place for a 'huddle and cuddle' pietistic Christian experience here.

And yet, in the midst of it all, I find a vibrant and beautiful expression of church which greets you with a warm smile and hot coffee.

It's work in the community is simply and profoundly moving. It does not take sides with anyone, but the poor and hard-pressed. I came away feeling that more than ever Northern Ireland, and the rest of us, need to confront the religiosity and judgmentalism that often tries to pass itself off as 'faith'.

Following Jesus cannot just be monastic, devotional or a matter of words. As James says so well (again, paraphrasing), it thrives best when lived out in a practical, community-based, real-life experience.

Accept no imitations.

ASD

 

Comments

[NRIGirl]

Hi! That was quite an inspirational post. Thank you for sharing.

Glad you like coffee, please stop by for some Coffee with Jesus when you have a moment.

Regards,
NRIGirl

[the advocate]

The religion of coffee has several denominations, which generally do not play with each other or respect each others’ point of view. The largest denomination contains very few true believers: the Starbucks attenders. They do not adhere to the true gospel of pure coffee, but have a watered down (or I should say, milked-down) version.

There are several smaller denominations characterized by their complete ridicule of Starbucks and in-fighting between one another. Each has a somewhat different view of what constitutes the true gospel of pure coffee. Some of denominations are the church of single origin espresso, the church of blended coffees, the church of the dark roast, the church of latte art, etc. Most of the denominations look down on the others as being quite wrong in their approach to coffee and possibly not a believer at all.
One does encounter the occasional welcoming denomination where people are honored over coffee, yet coffee is held in high esteem. But, sadly, this is all too rare.

IN short, Gareth Hunt has a lot to answer for...

frappacino anyone?! :)

[AndrewSD]

Great comment! I do love a metaphor. Thanks.

[steven hamilton]

beautiful...i love prague, so i hope you keep drinking the longest coffee ever! we have to come out of our 'huddle and cuddle'...