Cursing Church

One of the interesting things about meeting in a coffee house is that we occasionally have people walk in during our gathering looking to buy a cup of coffee. Star Co. is usually closed on Sundays and the sign out front says so, but when people are walking down the street and see a room full of people drinking coffee, they make assumptions and come on in.

This has to be an odd experience for them. Imagine walking into your favorite coffee house and immediately having four or five people turn and greet you and say “We’re glad you’re here.” The look on their face usually tells us whether they’ve come for Cafe Fulcrum or for a cup of coffee. Some, when they learn they’ve stepped into an “event,” turn around and leave. Others, brave the awkward friendliness and step to the counter and place their order. One guy was standing at the counter and people kept chatting him up and finally he said, “I’m just here to get a latte for my wife.” We offered him a free breakfast taco to go with it.

It bothers me that we’re putting people in an awkward situation. (As an introvert, one of my personal core values is to avoid public embarrassment whenever possible.) We’re trying to address it with some additional signage that explains what we’re doing while inviting them to come on in an join us anyway. On the other hand, this is also one of the reasons I love having our gathering in a public space–we just never know who is going to walk in.

At the Cafe last Sunday, we had a couple walk into the world’s friendliest coffee house and order something to eat and drink. As they were waiting, they asked the barista what was going on. They also talked to a couple of Fulcrum people. They ended up staying for the entire gathering. They sat at the back and ate their food and drank their coffee and listened to what I had to say. Afterward, I got to meet them and invite them to the next Cafe. I love the idea that they came in for coffee and ended up hanging out with our community for almost an hour.

But that’s not all that happened on Sunday.

Another couple came in and never made it past the mat in front of the door. I was at the mic teaching and they quickly figured out what was going on. They immediately turned around and walked out. As they did, the man said to his companion, “F—ing church!” The guys at the back of the room thought it was hilarious.

This is exactly where our community needs to be: in between the seekers and the cynics. Some walk in for coffee and end up staying awhile. Others walk out cursing us before we can even offer them a free cup of coffee and breakfast taco. I’d like to believe that Jesus and his little band of followers experienced something similar when he was preaching in the marketplace.

By the way, I’ve heard people curse as they walk out of church before, but it’s usually after they hear my sermon, not before.