In
case you've had your head in the sand the last few days, there has been a huge
controversy brewing, and blowing up all over social media. It's all related to
this year's Christmas cups at Starbucks. If you're not a Starbucks regular, let
me explain: Every year during the holidays, Starbucks uses special cups, which
have always been red and adorned with some type of theme, such as snowflakes,
ornaments, or trees. This year, their cups are plain red without such
ornamentation. Why is this causing such a stir?
Some
Christians are claiming that the plain red cups are part of the “War on
Christmas” and that Starbucks is denying Christ by not putting snowflakes on
their cups. In fact, videos have been made by some outraged Christians
demanding everything from boycotting Starbucks, to “pranking” them by telling
them your name is “Merry Christmas” so when your order is ready they will be
forced to say “Christmas.”
Ugh!
When I first heard this story I had that sinking feeling in the pit of my
stomach again. Sometimes I am stunned by the pettiness and foolishness of those
in the Body of Christ. As I shook my head in disbelief, here are few things
that came through my mind.
1)
Its frivolous drivel like this which makes Christians look so foolish. Freaking
out about plain red cups does nothing to bring people to Jesus, instead it
repels them. I wonder what our brothers and sisters in the Middle East who are
being persecuted by ISIS think when they see that the church in America is all
tore up about a red cup?
2)
To be honest with you, I’d be willing to wager a fruit cake that Starbucks
doesn’t have any idea who the reason for the season is in the first place. Should
we really expect a secular institution to embrace Christian truth? Why are we
in the church stunned when unbelievers don’t think or act like we do? Moreover,
they are a business not a religious organization. If you don’t like their core
principles, just don’t buy their products.
3)
We have way larger problems to worry about in the world: hunger, terrorism, human
trafficking, abortion, and oh yeah, fulfilling the Great Commission. Let’s
focus our time, energy, and anger on something that matters; not a cranberry-colored,
environmentally-friendly paper cup.
This
reminds me of a story that Pastor Ray Stedman told in one of his books. He knew
of a church that got into an argument over whether they ought to have a
Christmas tree at their Christmas programs. Some thought a tree was fine and
they understood it in a Christian sense. Others thought no, Christmas trees are
of pagan origin and you should not have any Christmas trees. And so when the
time came for the party, one group brought in a Christmas tree. The other group
dragged the tree out. The first group dragged it back in again. They got into a
squabble and finally actually some fist fights broke out at the Christmas party
over the Christmas tree. Eventually, the whole thing was in the newspapers
because they ended up suing each other. Ray said, “What else could
non-Christians conclude but that the gospel consists in whether you have a
Christmas tree or not?”[1]
We
in the church are just like the Pharisees in that we can forget to keep the
main thing, the main thing and instead focus on secondary issues. Recall, Jesus
scathing words to Pharisees in Matt. 23:23-24, “Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have
neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and
faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting
the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” The
red cup rage of recent days definitely fits Jesus’ description of forgetting
what really matters to God. Remember it’s our job to tell people about Christ,
not a coffee company. -DM
[1]
Ray Stedman, “What Matters,” Authentic
Christianity <http://www.raystedman.org/daily-devotions/romans-9to16/what-matters>
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