Drive-through faith: give it a try!

It should not shock you to learn that I am no stranger to drive-throughs.  There is the banking kind and the food kind but it is the coffee kind that is most familiar to me.

Canadians love our drive-throughs.  They have their opponents, mostly on environmental concerns.  I can understand that - how long does a car sit idling, waiting in line?  When I find myself in that predicament, I ask Sharon, “Should I honk?”  Being of wise and gracious spirit, she always says, “No.”

A quick and casual survey of your average drive-through facility would suggest that environmental concerns are not out-weighing the convenience factor of drive-throughs.  Their popularity is not diminished;  in fact, more and more services are trying to figure out how to cash in on them.

Why is the drive-through so popular?  The general consensus (I read 3 online articles)  seems to be a singular factor:  convenience.  If a drive-through doesn’t at least appear to give more efficient access to a product or service, it will fail.

Given their popularity, maybe we should consider “Drive-through church?”  There are several churches in the US that have experimented with “Drive-through prayer meetings.”  Do you have a worry or concern?  Just pull up to a booth in the church parking lot and someone will pray for you.  To keep efficiency to the maximum, there could be a large countdown timer so the “request-er” knows exactly how much time they have to present their need and the pray-er knows exactly how long to take in their intercession.  Next.

Hmm . . . not a fan of that idea.  But let’s not through the baby out with the bathwater.  Is there a place for “Drive-through faith?”  Perhaps there is.

Let’s begin with a couple of caveats.  First, as a community of faith we are the Body of Christ, not the Business of Christ.  Whatever “Drive-through faith” is, it will be distinct from your run-of-the-mill coffee or food service.  Second, the “community” part of “community of faith” is a non-negotiable.  Gathering together as community is not a strategy for corporate growth.  It is one of the fundamentals of life in the Kingdom of God.  There is a special dynamic that takes place when we are reconciled to God through faith by His grace.  The unity described by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4, Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 11 is not a theoretical or philosophical idea;  it is a reality facilitated by the Spirit of God.  We ARE united in a singular corpus called “The Body of Christ.”  As my friend Jim frequently says, “We don’t create unity;  we guard our unity.”  Around the world there are smaller, local Bodies of Christ - each with their own unique way of expressing their faith in God yet all founded on the truth of our reconciliation to God through Christ, the Son of God and the authority of His Word.  We are united in our dependence on the Spirit of God to transform and mature us in the faith.

If community is central to being a people of faith and living by faith, how can we also have “Drive-through faith?”  Aren’t drive-throughs inherently individualistic?

“Community” isn’t just a group affair.  Certainly “community” happens when we gather, united in corporate expressions of worship (like on a Sunday morning), but “community” also happens over a cup of coffee, side-by-side at a hockey game or concert, movie, or over a meal.  It happens in smaller groups of just two, or as many can fit into a car, or around a table, or on a run.

“Drive-through faith” isn’t a highly individualized quick hit of double latte faith with a double pump of Scripture, flat white of prayer, skinny tithe, and pour over of the Holy Spirit.  It is about being conveniently available to meet one another’s needs - whether that is in celebration, sorrow, or slugging it out in the trenches of life.  In the context of the Body of Christ, we also call this serving one another, loving one another, encouraging one another.  Most people call it friendship.

If we are going to represent Christ well, we must be engaged in the lives of people around us - family, neighbours, coworkers.  How else will they see the transformational work of the Spirit of God within us?  How else will we be able to engage them in conversations about the hope that is within us?  

We also need to be engaged with other members of the Body of Christ.  For authentic, trusting relationships to flourish, that engagement will include enjoying our life-interests together - hockey games, concerts, movies, games, food, and walks in the great outdoors - or whatever floats your boat.

Convenient availability is an important part of our dynamic as a community of faith.  Life happens 168 hours a week, not just a few hours on a Sunday morning.  Having access to “Drive-through faith” can make all the difference in how we survive a week.  Find a “Drive-through” near you!