Today I finally got to sit in a Starbucks and study and blog. We got a Starbucks locally about 2 years ago and I have been wanting to do this since. When I lived in Seattle, I would go to coffee shops a lot to read and study and get away. I wish I was meeting someone here with a Bible study but it’s just me.
Just by sitting in the Starbucks here you can see how much things have changed. When I used to go to the Starbucks in Seattle, I had a favorite few, but they also had real locally owned coffee shops that I loved to sit in. But looking back to that, and being in a giant city with some of the most liberal people ever, this little Starbucks looks so different than I ever thought I’d see any mainstream company.
As I sit here I can see the coffee decor, the people patiently waiting for their coffee that takes way too long to make (lol) and nice industrial looking furnishings. But then you can’t help but notice the pop of color of all the everything but straight pride flags. I don’t even know what they stand for anymore. The whole flag is different, with all these new additions to it.
Last year, during this same time, a man was in the drive through and they had flags at the drive through menu, and at the pickup window. This man ordered his drink and paid for it at the window, then he stopped his car blocking the entire Starbucks and brought in his coffee and said he would never buy coffee here again because of all the flags. I thought, “good for him” but why did he pay for it and give it back haha.
If I felt as strong about my relationship with God as these homosexuals do about advertising what their bedroom habits are, (in which I definitely feel stronger about my God than my flesh) and I celebrated (Who)se I am, I would be lambasted on every front. I don’t even have anything in my shop that signifies I am a Christian except for one Bible verse and you can’t even see that until you leave. I don’t have anything saying what kind of Christians we are, or if we ever are. But wait until our giant LED sign is done.
I had two people in my shop just the week before last that I kicked them out of my shop. I had one who has for 8 years told my wife and I how much bondage we are in and that we are Pharisee’s because we believe that God cares how His children are presented to the devours around us. She used to be Apostolic and allegedly suffered spiritual abuse. I believe her. But I wasn’t the one who did it to her. I know people who have left her church for the same excuse but since they don’t have any standards, then it’s acceptable to bash someone for 8 years.
I found a post that her and another “friend” decided to bash and poke fun of how Apostolic’s would treat a “sinner.” It was ugly. And it was on my wall, an Apostolic. It was the final straw. I have had this woman for 8 years, degrading us, and that was the end of it for me. I wasn’t ugly. I sent her the post and I told her that it is really disheartening that she felt the need to join in on that and it was hurtful. I told her she can come pick up her belongings from my shop (she had put bows for dogs hair in my shop for people to buy) and that I would not be grooming her dogs anymore.
My sister goes to this same church. It is a giant church that an Apostolic man started that didn’t want standards anymore. Then when he passed away they elected a new pastor from this group that is completely made up of backslid Pentecostal preachers. I groom his dogs too, and he and his wife both have made it clear how they feel about Apostolic’s. It wasn’t until last year, when one of their parishioners informed us that we were legalistic, at least that is what her pastor preaches. Without hesitation I blurted out “Well I love this legalism.” I was just as surprised as everyone else.
I told my wife that it is so weird that people just come out with it and we won’t even be on the subject of any type of church or religion, and they just come out and say it or, they will ask my wife if she is Pentecostal, and she says yes then the bashing comes. But because I am a Christian I am supposed to just accept it and keep grooming their dogs. I am not one that can take being put down on a regular basis. I am not going to groom anyone’s dog or do business with anyone that constantly tells me how bad I am, religiously or not.
I have witches that come into my shop that treat me better than these Christian’s and they never say anything about religion.
Matthew 24:9 says – Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
A lot of people would think that “of all nations” is talking geographically. The word in Greek is ἔθνος, ethnos. You could see how we would get ethnicity from that word. But the word means a nation, a tribe, people group, Gentiles, human groups, a multitude. So it doesn’t necessarily mean that all of Iraq has to be against Christians. No, it’s any people group. Look at how many people groups hate God or anything to do with God.
What it really comes down to is that these people can’t deal with conviction and the rotten spirit in them resists when it enters a room of someone who is filled with the Holy Ghost. That is why they bring it up for no reason. I am there to groom a dog, not be made to feel like a dog because of Who I am dedicated to.
Matthew 24:12 says – And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
People don’t care about anyone but themselves.
Romans 1:23 – Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
2 Timothy 3:2-4 – For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God;
This is all part of the plan. I don’t fear. But it doesn’t get overwhelming. But God said if you endure to the end, meaning it will be hard, you will be saved.
Coffee Shop Theology 