Should I Stay or Should I Go?

I am struggling this week about whether I should attend a Women’s Ministry Event at my Church. The Bible study is written by popular women’s ministry speaker, Priscilla Shirer. I am sure many of you have either attended a Bible study or one of the live streaming events that she has created over the years. She has written many Christian books and even acted in the movie, “War Room.” 

Two churches which I have attended over the years have hosted Priscilla Shirer events. Each time, these events kicked up a lot of controversy among female congregants. There were those who loved her and those who thought that she crossed the line. The first time that I heard of her was at a Calvary Chapel event for Women. 

I was waiting on a line to sign up for that upcoming event when I saw a sister in Christ heading towards me. Priscilla’s event are not free. By the time I contributed for the live stream and bought the book, I was into her for the double digits. Not to mention that DVD’s of the event were also available if you wanted to spend more money. I didn’t care though, I thought it would be great to share time with the ladies of my church and study the Word of God.

That was until Theresa* interrupted me and asked if she could have a word with me. “Sure Theresa, what’s up?” She obviously wanted some privacy because she asked me if we could just step outside of church for a moment. When I assented, she very quickly poured out her mixed feelings about this upcoming Priscilla Shirer event to me.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world -1 John 4:1. Far from making any character assaults or anything of that nature, Theresa seemed to have some genuine questions about Priscilla’s orthodoxy to the faith. She thought that Priscilla veered off at times into being lead by her emotions. Also, she depended on too many personal stories to make her points instead of relying more on the Bible. Finally, she seemed to be a proponent of contemplative prayer and have a controversial friendship with Beth Moore. 

I told Theresa that these all seemed to be valid questions and that she should either discuss it with the Pastor’s wife who was the head of the Women’s Ministry or go to the Pastor or an elder. They have the responsibility of overseeing all church activities. Theresa seemed  hesitate when I said this. When I ask her why, she said because the Pastor would be hesitant to micro-manage the women’s ministry event lest his wife get discouraged. 

I again reiterated that it is the Pastor’s job but, also a husband’s job to direct his wife to that which was righteous. Theresa agreed with me but, said the deciding factor for her not to bring the matter up, was the lack of any elders who would be willing to stand up to the Pastor in matters of orthodoxy. Boy, this sounds like politics. 

I was skeptical going to that Ministry event especially after my conversation with Theresa but, shouldn’t we always be skeptical? After all, there are many false teachers. In fact, more and more every day. I was not impressed by the event that day. Priscilla is a motivational speaker no doubt. But, what is she motivating people to do?

Her style seemed to me to rely on woman’s empowerment themes. My problem with that is God is in the people empowerment theme. There is no difference to God whether you are a man or a woman so why do we make such a fuss about the differences? Men and women have different roles to play in the life of the church, and in the family. We have different issues and approaches at times. I think that should be handled with a gentle touch always bringing God into the discussion. I don’t think Priscilla Shirer did that. 

The world is now breaking up into subcultures or maybe into spiritual and political armed camps. Our model as Christians is to be a “body of Christ.” The emphasis is Christ as the head of the church and we, ie. all the parts of the body working together in unity under him. So, we need to make sure our bible studies represent that. Although, if you hear Priscilla tell it at one of her events, she is hearing from God so you don’t have to worry. 

As I left my first Priscilla Shirer event, I was left with some questions and thoughts that she had strayed from some godly principles of teaching. After all the Bible does say not many should teach because it has to be done correctly. The Church congregation depends upon solid bible teaching for spiritual nurturing and growth. If people are not taught correctly, they will stray from the faith and from the truth. With all at stake, I think Theresa was right to question a bible studies foundations if she was not certain.

When i got home and began to read my Priscilla Shirer book, I did not feel that it gave me what I thought was the meat of the gospel. I felt there was a lot of fat and uneatable parts of that bible study sandwich.We are told, to test the spirit. Having done that I felt that I would not chose to attend one of her events again. However, the issue is again popping up because the Pastor’s wife, at my new Church, is hosting a Shirer event this March.

I began rethinking the issue lately. Can I put my name on that Women’s Ministry Sign-up sheet when I feel that Priscilla Shirer misses the mark? The Pastor’s wife seems so excited about this event, am I wrong in thinking she might be mad at me if I do not attend? Here I go, I am about to air the Christian dirty laundry. Wait for it, wait for it.

Sometimes we take salvation into our own hands and push people into participating in church events and guilt trip them if they do not attend. Example, oh, we all missed you on Sunday! I am expecting the hard sell at some point. What will I do? After all, I am not a theologian, I don’t have all the answers. But, I have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that guides and directs me in my life. I don’t need these fanciful and emotional churning events to challenge me to go to the next level with the Lord. 

Hasn’t the Lord done the work on the cross?  Haven’t I repented and accepted that offer of salvation? Furthermore, the Lord is the center of my life everyday and everyway. Do I really have to do pseudo-psychological exercises to unblock my power to pray or has the Lord already done that work in me which from grace to grace I receive? Do I confess my sins privately and corporately on a regular basis, the answer is yes, yes, and yes to all the above questions.

Priscilla Shirer is a gifted and spirited communicator. But just what is she communicating? Is it the gospel of Jesus, or is it something else? If we were all free to ask these kind of questions at our churches without fear of reprisals wouldn’t we be a more mature church? I could be wrong in my estimation of this women’s speaker, but each of us needs to daily make a lot of judgement calls on what is worthy of our time, and trust. 

The clock is ticking away for signing up for this event. I know that if I do not sign my name and put money in the pocket of someone whom I do not fully trust to guide me spiritually I will be asked by the Pastor’s wife to give an account of why I chose not to attend. Perhaps she will tell me it is a fantastic event which she thinks will spiritually uplift me. I am sure she believes that. 

However she inquires, or try’s to persuade me to attend the upcoming event, I know that I should tell her the truth. I am not certain how that will fly. Wouldn’t it be great if people, especially people at church, would respect your right to work through these issues? It would even be nice if she felt comfortable telling me why she thought that I was wrong. Or, if having heard my arguments she had a change of heart.

Unfortunately, it often does not go that way. I wonder if the Pastor’s loving heart towards his wife resulted in him not exactly scrutinizing this event. That was the allegation that Theresa made to me all those years ago about Pastor Larry.* Even my own husband wants me to go to this event and fake it if I have to. He does not want me to offend the Pastor’s wife. I played him some YouTube videos of Priscilla being controversial. I can say that he had some questions of his own about her. I still got no support from him about this. He just does not want me to create a possible social faux pas. Wow, is that all church is today. I thought it was about real life and death issues. 

Should I Stay or Should I go? I already know the answer to that, but will I have the courage to stand up for what I believe in? 2 Timothy 4:3- “And in the last days men will no longer endure sound doctrine but embrace doctrines of demons.”

* the story is true but the names have been changed for privacy.

Crossing Swords at the Coffee Shop?

Coffee shops are great places to hang out, don’t you think? A lot of these places have popped up over time so a business often has to stand out in some way in order to get their market share. So, how does such a business attract customers?  Well, there is decor and music. Those two factors alone can do much to create a buzz, and I don’t mean from the caffeine! 

Of course your coffee bean is very important. What type of bean do you use? Does the store roast the coffee bean and grind it right there in the shop? Does the venue offer food, if so, is it a full meal or just desserts? Do you have any store perks like a rewards card? Event hosting can be a big deal. You can have musical events. You can also host knitting groups, parent/babies groups or senior citizen coffee klatches. 

The financial bottom line can be tight and competition fierce, so you had better bring your A game if you wish to compete in this arena. Let’s not forget the cost of  utilities, rent, the price of coffee and other necessary supplies. How much money you bring in can sometimes just not cut it especially with the price of everything going up. 

I love to find the best places to enjoy a fresh, well-brewed cup of coffee. You can say I am a little nerdy as concerns the coffee experience. It can be a cappuccino, a cup of joe, java, espresso, lattes, cafe con leche, or pour over. Whatever type of coffee it is, I say thank heaven for this exhilarating and tasty beverage. 

So, it was not long after I moved in to my new house that I began to go on a coffee crawl of the area. I was on the hunt. The first place that I went to was “Ivory.” * It had an old-time storefront that I definitely would have walked right past had it not been recommended by several people. 

The name, “Ivory” connoting images of  scrimshaw or ornate middle eastern boxes did not match the rather drab and outdated appearance that the exterior of the store projected. The inside was renovated nicely and had a rustic appeal with locally made live-edge wooden tables. That doesn't match the name either. The coffee varied depending on the barista but, it ran weak for my tastes. My husbands coffee was cold. Note to self: always ask for an extra shot of espresso at this place. 

The pros of this place were their monthly specials. They were always creative and made with high caliber ingredients. The cons were that the Christian owner supported charities that had a reputation for their anti-Christian agendas. Note to self: if my church ever closes down, don’t attend this church because it is one of those social justice not godly justice places!

Then there was the industrial soho chic coffee shop. They created an image and took inspiration from the industrial history of the town. I think it is great to preserve history. They have even bought a huge industrial coffee roaster that looks quite at home in the former factory building that the coffee shop is now housed in. It has been a long time since the arrival of that big Italian roaster and I have yet to see it in operation. Not so easy huh? What else is not so easy, is the gay flag that greets you upon entry into the place. Now that I think of it, perhaps coffee shops have always been where rebellion begins. Haven’t many of the worldwide revolutions began in such places?  Did Satan and his angels start planning their rebellion in a coffee shop, I am now wondering.

Stiff competition and an excellent bean is housed in the old Victorian “Frau Haus”*. What an amazing setting. The brew is smooth, and rich. The bean roasted perfectly. The food made right there on the premises never hits a wrong note. This one is going to be a contender! Finally, there was another place that I was drawn to for a variety of reasons. Not the least of which was convenience. It just so happened to be right on my route to church. It offered a drive-thru which is very convenient especially on those mornings when I did not get up as early as I would have liked. But, this place would suddenly present itself on the front lines of the culture war before long and require my response. 

Whenever I go to a coffee shop for the first time, I always order a black coffee or an espresso. This is because it offers the best test of what the coffee is all about. Accessing coffee begins with smell, and taste tells you if it is worth a second visit. So, my first foray into “Happy Puppy”* was quite ordinary. Disarmed of my “full armor of God”  by such a cute shop name and by the well-done black cold brew coffee that I ordered, I did not expect what happened next.

There was a long line of customers one day. The weather was sunny, and I just couldn’t decide what to order. I told the owner, who was at the window, that I am trying to decide what to order and I wondered what he would recommend. His face belied his proclivity when he replied “our best seller is the “Bad B****!” * I was floored how a grown man could look me right in the eyes with obvious delight in this profanely titled coffee and not have one bit of embarrassment. In fact, it was quite the opposite, he was obviously titillated like a wayward school boy.

My immediate reply was, “I could not possibly order a coffee so-named and I will have a cold-brew.” I left knowing something had changed. I could not and should not un-remember what had happened. Try as I might to avoid it, I knew this was going to “come to a head.” The flesh part of me wanted to just go on enjoying that cup of coffee that some are touting as the best in the valley. But, that Holy Spirit powered, blood-bought Christian soul had discernment and I knew that I should not be there.

However, time would pass before there would be a crossing of the swords. In the meantime, accolades were accruing concerning the Happy Puppy Shop. First, the cute name. The name shows how much they love dogs. Next, a headline in a local newspaper showcased a charitable act when they donated their daily  proceeds towards a scholarship fund for a local boy who died in an accident. The community came out in droves to get Bad B****’s all day long to support this cause. 

After that, they again made local news when it was announced that a second coffee venue would be opening soon. This one was large and decorated perfectly in the ever present mid-century modern decor as my husband found out when he was in the area. After he went in and enjoyed a great cup of coffee he was eager to have me see the store. He even brought me home a coffee cake which made me think that I should go in and give them another try.

The new place was very charming and the decorations were heads and tails above some of the other places that I have described (except Frau Haus).  The dessert was not as good this time but I was able to buy a Happy Puppy sweatshirt and a candle in the gift shop in situ. They also had houseplants on sale which had bible quotes on their labels. Hmm.

I remained leery of the place and the final straw occurred just in time for Valentine’s Day. I was looking for a cute place to visit on Valentine’s Day. So, I looked up Happy Puppy on Facebook to see what they had on their menu for the month. They have quite a sense of humor at the best of times, and cross the line at the worst of time. Just to be perfectly clear, the line I am talking about is God’s line of sin. That has to be a believer’s bottom line of behavior. 

Their menu was geared to garner Valentine attention. The type of attention that might arouse a college students interest or a bored housewives’ rebellion. Selling sex is the age old marketing tool that will always manage to sell your product. It seems that beside some fun and innocent coffee combinations they were hawking “Talk to me dirty” coffee and “slutty brownie” coffee. 

This was the final straw for me and I was saddened that I would not be going into this shop ever again. I immediately wondered if I should send an email or phone to voice my objection. It is never easy to do something like that because people no longer wish to hear anyone’s opinion that does not line up with their own. There is no longer the “customer is always right” ethic either. It is not a big stretch to go from Bad B**** coffee to “Slutty Brownie” coffee. I think I just uncovered the truth about the hearts of the husband and wife who run this shop. I had to be prepared for the fact that they may not care what I think.

But, should I as a Christian object to the sexualization of my coffee? What does speaking like this say about God’s teachings concerning the purpose and sanctity of sexuality and marriage? It is sad to think that this is not just innocent humor but a corruption of that which is good. Have we as Christian’s failed in our role to maintain public morality and standards? The answer to that is of course we have. 

Did anyone see or hear about the Grammy’s the other night? I haven’t watched the Grammy’s in years but, apparently it has reached an all new and unholy level. The world is now solidly in two camps, God’s camp or the devil’s camp. There are only two choices and the things we say and do every day make us closer to God or to Satan. As I thought about sending an email to the owners of this shop to voice my disapproval, I realized that I couldn’t wear my warm and very stylish Happy Puppy sweatshirt anymore. I couldn’t even donate it to charity because that would be like donating a bad book to charity, it is not helpful or Christian to do that. 

How disgusted I was with myself that I even missed the shirt for one moment. That was certainly a spiritually lazy moment for me. Forgive me Father. As I write this, I am looking at an expensive Happy Puppy sweatshirt stuffed into my waste bin and I can not wait for garbage day. Next, I sent the owners an email thanking them for that which was good and questioning that which was bad. My best hope was that they might re-consider the direction that their business was pivoting in. My worst fear was a nasty crossing of the swords where I might get scratched up a bit. No matter what the outcome, I hoped and prayed that I might plant a seed.

The email was answered rather quickly and I was given sloppy justifications for the use of straight up curse words on their menu. Further, I was told how unfair it was to suggest that they were selling sex. Are the owners so innocent of the meaning of life or just surrounded by those like them who call this behavior normal. Is this the first clue for them of wrongdoing? Perhaps, it was.

Within days of me sending this email, Happy Puppy was again in the local news. This time it was to announce the grand opening of yet another Happy Puppy Coffee Shop. Is this business actually succeeding because it is simply catering to what the public wants? The flavored coffee, and music are youth oriented, and the humor drenched with sexual innuendo draws too. There is a market for this but is it right?  “What good is it if we gain the whole world but lose our immortal souls?”-Mark 8:6

These spiritual wars have happened before as outlined in the Old Testament. The Old Testament gives accounts of the spiritual rise and fall of the Hebrew nation. They would alternate between following God and rebelling against God. Each time they rebelled, God would send prophets to warn them of the consequences of those actions. The time is coming when our rebellion will be punished, we have had plenty of warning too. That is the spiritual law of God.

What does one email sent to one little coffee shop matter in the spiritual scope of things? What about an email to a school board to object to a curriculum? Every daily decision that we make to ignore evil is a day evil grows larger and larger. 

I told a non-believer what I had experienced at the coffee shop. I was eager to hear what she thought was happening. She thought there were two types of people who are visiting that coffee shop. Firstly, people who love the profanity laced hype because it represents them. Secondly, the Christian who knows the shop is ungodly but can not give up their favorite flavored coffee, hangout place, the convenience of the location, or they are simply afraid to take a stand. I agree with Lauren* in her analysis but I would add the category of  Christian in name only. 

Meaning those people who state their religion as being “Christian” but, may just be culturally attached to the family history of this practice or attend a fallen away church and are unaware of real biblical truths. Suffice it to say that continuing to go to a coffee shop and ordering a slutty brownie shows no christian maturity and no Holy Spirit power. 

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.-2Timothy 3:1-4

* some of the details and the names of the people, shops and coffee were changed so that no one would throw a brick thru my window. The story is true and I hope we can see the lesson therein.