A McDonald's in a church?

[drjean]

Why not? They've had Starbucks in churches (I use the term loosely) for years!

Today's "churches" are not what I know of for worshipping God. They are not worshipping in sanctuaries but attending feel good meetings in "auditoriums"... yes, God is being removed even from His Houses!

 

[Almighty's humble servant]

Why not? They've had Starbucks in churches (I use the term loosely) for years!

Today's "churches" are not what I know of for worshipping God. They are not worshipping in sanctuaries but attending feel good meetings in "auditoriums"... yes, God is being removed even from His Houses!

Thank you Sister.

 

[Almighty's humble servant]

So really spiritual preachers don't have a cup of water?

I didn't say that they couldn't.

It is excused by the congregation b/c his throat, REALLY may get dry.

However, walking around the the altar of God with a bottle of Starbucks Latte in one hand and an IPAD in the other

Oh, and at least the IPAD could be set to the same version of Scripture the Church has sitting in the pews.

 

[ViaCrucis]

My church has starbucks, is it equally bad?

It's tasteless, tacky, and combines Western commercialism with Christianity in a very obvious way. I'd say it's entirely inappropriate, but then I believe the church building, the kyriake* itself, to be sacred space that is dedicated for a specific purpose. In the modern world the idea of sacred space has largely been abandoned in favor of something more transient, that the church building is "just a building" and serves no important function apart from being a roof over the congregation's head on Sunday.

Traditionally churches were built with very specific intentions, the architecture and layout had a purpose, it wasn't about mere aesthetics or utilitarian function; it was about providing a space, a sacred space, that was dedicated for the worship of God.

So from the perspective of a traditionalist, such as myself, putting a Starbucks or a McDonalds in a church is akin to the corrupt moneychangers in the Temple that Jesus drove out. It does not belong. The church is not a place of business, the church is a place of worship. It is where the People of God gather for the sacred liturgy, to hear and receive God's Word, to offer prayers and thanksgivings, and to receive the very body and blood of Christ at His Table. It's holy ground. An outpost of the kingdom of God in the world.

It's not hard to find a McDonalds or a Starbucks in most towns and cities. Chances are that if you need your fast food or coffee fix, you can find one within a ten minute drive from your place of worship. But the place of worship, the church building, the kyriake* itself, that's reserved solely for God's People doing the things of God's People.

-CryptoLutheran

*I've used the word kyriake several times, it's from the Greek phrase kyriake oikos, meaning "Lord's house", and was the term used to describe Christian houses of worship. It is the origin of the English word "church", through the German kirche.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[JCFantasy23]

via Imgflip Meme Maker

Probably the funniest thing I've seen all day.
http://www.christianforums.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

[Albion]

My church has starbucks, is it equally bad?

Very true. And you can find Methodist and Anglican churches doing the same. While I'm not taking McMass terribly seriously, most people take the coffee bars that are located in otherwise normal churches without much alarm.

 

[ChristsSoldier115]

I would honestly, be confused if I walked into sucha church that had a starbucks or a mcdonalds, and then promptly leave thinking that was it was.. a starbucks or mcdonalds.

The church I go to here has a coffee bar, not a starbucks, but a coffee bar, and they sell some sort of coffee, but all the money used for it goes straight to the local missions they support.

It isn't really used since they give free cups of coffee prior to service every morning.

 

[Albion]

I would honestly, be confused if I walked into sucha church that had a starbucks or a mcdonalds, and then promptly leave thinking that was it was.. a starbucks or mcdonalds.

The church I go to here has a coffee bar, not a starbucks, but a coffee bar, and they sell some sort of coffee, but all the money used for it goes straight to the local missions they support.

The point, I guess, was that there may not be a huge difference between the two when you get right down to it.

 

[abysmul]

Heck, churches are out there now with gift shops, book shops, arena seating with better AV equipment than some civic centers, gymnasiums, pools, basketball courts, etc, etc. What's wrong with having a Big Mac after you buy some gifts, listen to a concert, shoot some hoops, and work out?

 

[ChristsSoldier115]

The point, I guess, was that there may not be a huge difference between the two when you get right down to it.

I would have to agree. American Christianity, at least the protestant circles, are all morphing into this sort of thing slowly but surely.. but is this what we really want, or how it should be? I don't know. Crypto already pointed it out, they use the "the church is the people and not the building" then why do they need all that stuff in the building if it is?

 

[Albion]

I would have to agree. American Christianity, at least the protestant circles, are all morphing into this sort of thing slowly but surely.. but is this what we really want, or how it should be? I don't know. Crypto already pointed it out, they use the "the church is the people and not the building" then why do they need all that stuff in the building if it is?

...to attract the people into the building, natch' .

 

[graceandpeace]

Just to add clarification:

I don't object to having fellowship with food or coffee in a church building outside of service times. That is not the thing that upsets me.

What upsets me is the whole reason behind this McMass Project, or placing Starbucks in the church building, or something similar: trying to buy people.

That is not how churches should be reaching out to their community or treating the faithful, with a gimmick. The church building is a sacred space, where God's people offers worship & prayers - where we receive grace in the Eucharist. How can we prepare our hearts to worship or receive grace if the smell of fresh fries overpowers the room, or a hot mocha latte is being sipped on nearby?

My brain is constantly on the go, & I have to discipline my mind during the service to participate. I don't need more distractions.

And for goodness sake, there is already a McDonald's on every corner!

 

[Albion]

Just to add clarification:

I don't object to having fellowship with food or coffee in a church building outside of service times. That is not the thing that upsets me.

What upsets me is the whole reason behind this McMass Project, or placing Starbucks in the church building, or something similar: trying to buy people.

That is not how churches should be reaching out to their community or treating the faithful, with a gimmick. The church building is a sacred space, where God's people offers worship & prayers - where we receive grace in the Eucharist. How can we prepare our hearts to worship or receive grace if the smell of fresh fries overpowers the room, or a hot mocha latte is being sipped on nearby?

Personally, I'm sympathetic to your POV on this, grace. However, I can't shake the thought that we're splitting hairs. If the church has a coffee bar in the vestibule and people take their drinks with them into the nave for the worship service--which I have witnessed in very mainline and liturgical churches, Anglican ones included--how is that a lot different from having Starbucks operate it instead of the Woman's Guild?

Of course, McDonald's seems to be the epitome of commercialism, but if we're to talk about the smell of French Fries, what do we say about the smell of coffee nearby? There's a difference, but it seems slight...and I don't notice much outrage over the coffee bars that now are rather common, so where would this line be drawn? Seriously.

 

[graceandpeace]

Personally, I'm sympathetic to your POV on this, grace. However, I can't shake the thought that we're splitting hairs. If the church has a coffee bar in the vestibule and people take their drinks with them into the nave for the worship service--which I have witnessed in very mainline and liturgical churches, Anglican ones included--how is that a lot different from having Starbucks operate it instead of the Woman's Guild?

Of course, McDonald's seems to be the epitome of commercialism, but if we're to talk about the smell of French Fries, what do we say about the smell of coffee nearby? There's a difference, but it seems slight...and I don't notice much outrage over the coffee bars that now are rather common, so where would this line be drawn? Seriously.

I understand your point, but to me there is a distinction between the church offering food/drink to parishioners in fellowship & using a fast food joint to drive traffic through the door.

I will back peddle some in that I don't necessarily object to food/drink in the sanctuary. My small children bring their stuff with them, but I avoid anything with a strong smell (I.e. Fries). Personally I might sip on water, but in general I don't eat/drink during the service - except at the communion rail, of course.

 

[Albion]

I understand your point, but to me there is a distinction between the church offering food/drink to parishioners in fellowship & using a fast food joint to drive traffic through the door.

Yes, I think there is a difference, too.

However, it looks smaller upon closer examination than it does at first glance IMO. And it may be only an arbitrary distinction, after all is said and done.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Just to add clarification:

I don't object to having fellowship with food or coffee in a church building outside of service times. That is not the thing that upsets me.

What upsets me is the whole reason behind this McMass Project, or placing Starbucks in the church building, or something similar: trying to buy people.

That is not how churches should be reaching out to their community or treating the faithful, with a gimmick. The church building is a sacred space, where God's people offers worship & prayers - where we receive grace in the Eucharist. How can we prepare our hearts to worship or receive grace if the smell of fresh fries overpowers the room, or a hot mocha latte is being sipped on nearby?

My brain is constantly on the go, & I have to discipline my mind during the service to participate. I don't need more distractions.

And for goodness sake, there is already a McDonald's on every corner!

I agree with this. Serving food to the congregation as a gesture of goodwill is great; having a restaurant inside a church is not.

 

[jsimms615]

Just to add clarification:

I don't object to having fellowship with food or coffee in a church building outside of service times. That is not the thing that upsets me.

What upsets me is the whole reason behind this McMass Project, or placing Starbucks in the church building, or something similar: trying to buy people.

That is not how churches should be reaching out to their community or treating the faithful, with a gimmick. The church building is a sacred space, where God's people offers worship & prayers - where we receive grace in the Eucharist. How can we prepare our hearts to worship or receive grace if the smell of fresh fries overpowers the room, or a hot mocha latte is being sipped on nearby?

My brain is constantly on the go, & I have to discipline my mind during the service to participate. I don't need more distractions.

And for goodness sake, there is already a McDonald's on every corner!

well said; I agree.