“Let’s go for coffee!”

In today’s world of abundant communication, the timeless tradition of meeting up for coffee remains an important aspect of everyday life.

While I’m a big fan of technology, admitting that most information is exchanged via text, email, and social media, there’s an undeniable difference when communicating over a good old cup of joe.

Throughout the centuries, face-to-face interaction has remained the preferred and most beneficial method of conversation. Especially when sharing large amounts of information. This fact comes to light in the New Testament letters written to the early church.

John’s 2nd Letter

The small book of 2 John drops a hint that even the apostles favoured sitting down for a chat. Although the Spirit was moving in John’s writing, there was a broader ministry happening in and around his letters.

John speaks a few key truths about Faith and loving one another, which is typical of John’s call by God and writing style. Then all of a sudden, he throws out this statement:

“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” (1:12)

Did you catch that? Instead of detailing everything in the letter, it was preferable to speak with this woman in person. All of a sudden, I have so many questions about his ministry outside the letter, specifically with and for this woman.

• What did he want to tell her and why?
• Was the content too sensitive or personal to write in a letter?
• Was it just too much content, and his hand was getting tired from writing so much?
• Was this his choice or a shift from the Spirit, as something the future church wouldn’t need?

The questions just keep coming. Nevertheless, it was an important enough conversation or it had enough substantial content, that it warranted a face-to-face discussion.

Today’s Coffee Meeting

Today, the culturally relevant invitation to a face-to-face chat would be, ‘Want to get a coffee sometime?‘ This has little to do with the beverage itself and everything to do with a face-to-face relational moment, akin to what John anticipated with this woman.

If this situation were to take place today, perhaps John would have been texting this woman. In Western culture, John might have written the thirteenth verse like this:

“I have much to text you, but I don’t want to post that much info. Instead, let’s meet for coffee and speak face to face so that we can have a good time chatting.“

Maybe that’s taking too much creative control, but I wanted to highlight the importance of John’s desire. There has always been, and there always will be, something special about sitting down for a beverage, sharing life together, and investing in the lives of others.

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

• Why has meeting for coffee (having a chat over a beverage) remained a culturally relevant practice throughout the ages?
• How does hearing someone’s voice and seeing their face change the dynamics of a conversation?
• Have you personally witnessed the power of a face-to-face conversation versus a text or email?