A Pastor's Sermon Leads to a Surprising Change in His Church's Beverage of Choice
Pastor John Piper of Bethlehem Baptist Church was annoyed by the sound of his congregants sipping coffee in their seats while he was preaching. He said that they were being irreverent and disrespectful to God and to him. He urged them to give up coffee and to seek God's presence and power instead.
However, not everyone was convinced by Piper's arguments. Some felt that he was being too harsh and legalistic, and that there was nothing wrong with enjoying a cup of coffee as long as it did not interfere with one's relationship with God. Others felt that he was missing the point of church, which was to be nourished both spiritually and physically, with equal amounts of instructional messages, watered-down coffee, and frosted cookies.
One of these dissenters was Bob Smith, a longtime member of Bethlehem Baptist Church and a self-proclaimed coffee lover. Smith said that he did not agree with Piper's sermon and that he felt no conviction or guilt about his coffee habit.
"I think Piper is overreacting," Smith said. "Coffee is a gift from God. It helps me wake up in the morning and stay alert during the sermon. It also tastes good and makes me happy. I don't see how that's a sin."
Smith said that he was not going to stop drinking coffee, but that he was also not going to flaunt it in front of Piper or anyone else who might be offended by it. He said that he respected Piper as his pastor and his brother in Christ, but that he also had the freedom to make his own decisions about what he consumes.
"I'm not going to let Piper or anyone else tell me what I can or can't drink," Smith said. "That's between me and God. As long as I'm not hurting anyone or dishonoring God, I don't see what the problem is."
However, Smith soon found out that he was in the minority among his fellow churchgoers. To his surprise and dismay, he discovered that most of them had taken Piper's sermon to heart and had decided to quit coffee altogether. But instead of giving up caffeine completely, they had switched to another source: Red Bull, the popular energy drink that claims to give you wings.
According to a recent survey by Nielsen, Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the United States, with a market share of 43%. It is especially popular among young adults, athletes, students, and workers who need a quick boost of energy.
But why did Piper’s congregation turn to Red Bull over other alternatives, such as Monster or Rockstar? Some likened the claw marks in the Monster Energy Drink logo to the number 6 in Hebrew writing, which when present in triplicate is a reference to “666,” the Mark of the Beast found in the Book of Revelation. Others said that the “Party like a Rockstar” slogan was too worldly. However, many in the congregation were inspired by the commercials and advertisements that showed people who drank Red Bull sprouting wings and soaring into the sky, resembling angels. They said that they saw this as a sign of God's favor and blessing, and that they hoped to one day soar on wings of their own.
They started to drink Red Bull every day and to share their experiences with each other. They also evangelized to others about the benefits of Red Bull and challenged other Christians who drank coffee or other beverages to join them in their new lifestyle.
They claimed that they had seen positive changes in their lives, such as improved health, increased productivity, enhanced creativity, and stronger faith.
Piper, however, was appalled by their actions and their beliefs. He said that they had misunderstood his sermon and twisted his words. He said that coffee was not sinful and that Red Bull was not godly. He said that they were addicted and deceived by a worldly product, wands their focus at church should be on worshipping God, not merely enjoying the beverage of their choice.
Not everyone in Piper's church agreed with him or with the Red Bull drinkers. Some felt that both sides were being too extreme and divisive. They said that they wished the church would value being welcoming over being right.
One of these moderates was Lisa Johnson, a 28-year-old teacher and a member of Piper's church. Johnson said that she did not care what people drank as long as they loved God and loved each other.
"I think Piper is being too harsh and judgmental," Johnson said. "Coffee is not a sin. It's just a drink. I think he should focus on more important issues, like justice, mercy, and grace."
Johnson also said that she did not agree with the Red Bull drinkers and their claims. She said that they were being too naive and fanatical. She said that Red Bull was not a miracle. It was just a drink.
"I think the Red Bull drinkers are being too gullible and obsessive," Johnson said. "Red Bull is not a godly drink. It's just a drink. I think they should be more careful about what they put in their bodies, and what they believe in their hearts."
Johnson said that she hoped the church would find a way to reconcile and unite. She said that she loved her church and wanted it to be a place where everyone felt welcome and accepted.
"I think the church should be more loving and inclusive," Johnson said. "It doesn't matter what you drink. It matters what you do. I think we should all respect each other's choices, and support each other's growth."
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