But you are a chosen people…to declare the praises of Him who called you…into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).

Breakaway Cafe, a favorite coffee spot near Briar Chapel, has delicious coffee, so one day I inquired about the brand, knowing they weren’t sourcing and making their own. I learned they serve Counter Culture Coffee.

Hmmm, Counter Culture…our Scripture theme. 

As Christians whose “values and norms of behavior differ substantially from those of mainstream society,” we fit Wikipedia’s definition of counter-cultural. Peter’s first epistle underscores what should distinguish us: “we are strangers in the world, chosen by God to be a holy people” whose main purpose is to “declare God’s praises” (v.11,9). 

We are meant to stand out, to be noticed (“say, isn’t this coffee amazing?”), but not to be so different that we seem absurdly out of place or contrarian for its own sake. I expect coffee to be served at a cafe, but when that coffee is remarkable for its uniqueness, it gets my attention, interest, and my loyalty.

Shouldn’t Christians be that way? 

Curious about the company itself, I googled their website. Counter Culture Coffee’s mission statement could be our church’s:

• “Counter Culture Coffee considers every improvement in the relentless pursuit of coffee perfection.”

Peter, urging a similar pursuit, sets forth in 2:11-17 several priorities for Christian behavior in the world. While Counter Culture's aim is coffee perfection, we “aim for the mark of our high calling” (Phil. 3:14), which is maturity as individual believers and as communities. Both Counter Culture Coffee (CCC) and Chatham Community Church (CCC) want their “products” to stand out, to be distinctive. 

• “Counter Culture Coffee finds every opportunity to challenge the status quo with a positive, opportunity-seeking mindset... aiming to understand the perspective of our customers.” 

A coffee company needs to “challenge the status quo” to stand out, and CCC chooses to do so with tact and positivity. Peter urges the same counter-cultural goal when he counsels Christians to “submit to every authority” with a godly attitude, to “show proper respect to everyone,” and to “live such good lives” that others cannot accuse us of wrongdoing (vs. 13,17,12; emphasis mine). Thereby, we definitely challenge 2022’s status quo of division and partisanship, of rampant disrespect of anyone with opposing views, of aligning with only those who believe as we do. We challenge that, but with a positive and gentle spirit of engagement, trying to understand others’ perspectives.

• “Thoughtfulness fuels Counter Culture Coffee’s passion. We know a positive attitude is infectious and inspires those around us.”

Coffee shops and Christians are not counter culture just to be contrary. Both have a vision for the common good. The coffee company’s vision is fairly narrow: a better world through great coffee. Our vision is a world filled with God’s goodness, truth, and beauty. We should be passionate about sharing that, prioritizing thoughtfulness in doing so. We don’t dissociate from neighbors with whom we disagree but, instead, we interact with them, not engaging in divisiveness, realizing kindness and positivity may inspire them to notice, and then ask, “what makes you different…and why?”

Counter Culture chose specific beans to declare their coffee’s uniqueness. We are a people chosen to be counter cultural to declare our God’s uniqueness. Consider one or two ways your actions could showcase (or have showcased) God’s uniqueness. How counter-cultural are those actions?