What to do about the 'War on Christmas'
People are funny. Today I saw a bunch of Facebook and Instagram posts about Starbucks and their newly designed red Christmas cups. After clicking on a couple of links I discovered that people, particularly Christians, were deciding to 'boycott' Starbucks.
Let me explain a little bit more...Every year Starbucks releases a Christmas themed cup around the holiday period. This year Starbucks released a plain red cup. It wasn't long (only a couple of hours) before the internet exploded with posts from some upset Christians. According to some, the minimal Christmas theming was a sign that Starbucks hated Christmas and was choosing to leave Christ out of Christmas, sparking "the war on Christmas."
If you search the hashtag #MERRYCHRISTMASSTARBUCKS you will find a heap of angry posts, plus some very funny and witty ones too!
Firstly, can I just say that these people who have taken offence to the red cups are the minority, although they might sound and look like the majority. I feel like there are lessons to be learned for all of us out of this.
Here are a few of my thoughts about the red cups at Starbucks:
1. Run to PEOPLE not from THEM.
There seems to be this push from some upset Christians to boycott Starbucks. They seem to have lost sight of the Great Commission which is all about loving people just as they are!
“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
Look at the life of Jesus for example. Sinners (people like you and me) continually surrounded Him. It was the Pharisees (religious angry people) who hated Jesus, not the sinners.
Jesus tells a story to a crowd of people were a son asked his dad for his inheritance, his dad gave it, the son screwed everything up and spent all his money. The son decides to return home and offer himself as a servant to his dad. His dad saw him from a long way off and RAN to him. Jesus told this story to show the Father heart of God. He RUNS to his children. His Grace embraces people in their brokenness. Jesus didn’t run FROM our sin he embraced it so that we could receive His Grace!
Why would we boycott Starbucks and make a scene when we could choose to love the people who work there? Let's be people who RUN to the hurting, the needing and point people to Jesus. I feel that boycotting something because we don't agree with it is not the answer.
Jesus is so much bigger then a cup. He calls us to “go into ALL the world…”
2. He cares more about the people holding the cup then the cup.
When you read the stories of Jesus in the bible it is pretty obvious what he cared about... PEOPLE! Jesus loved people. He loved people in their broken states. Jesus was continually accused of hanging out with the worst of the worst.
"Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?"
Jesus ate with sinners. Who is at your table? Let's be accused of hanging out with people from all walks of life because that’s what Jesus did. Jesus’ example should be our pattern. I would rather be a person who cares about people then trying to boycott a business because of the colour of the cup.
I’m sure if Jesus was walking around earth today He would be posting pictures on His Instagram account saying how much He loves the people at Starbucks (but maybe not the coffee – I’m not a fan of Starbucks coffee haha…) Let’s be people who put a smile on the barista’s face when we walk into the coffee shop rather then make them cringe knowing you’re the angry Christian trying to boycott Starbucks. We have received Grace so we should SHOW Grace to others.
3. Let the offence go.
Where there are people there will also be offence, there will be hurt and people will annoy each other. I may have offended you with this blog. I’ve learnt something though, we can choose to carry offence or let it go. If we are honest offence doesn’t help anyone. You can be greatly offended at someone or something but it’s not going to help you or the situation.
“I’ve learnt something though we can choose to carry offence or let it go. ”
Above everyone else Jesus had the option to say you have offended me when He was being crucified but He said something so scandalous, “forgive them, they do not know what they do.” Maybe you don't carry offence to Starbucks but maybe there is some other offence you are carrying. Could I encourage you to let it go.
Let’s be known as people who love others rather then people who are easily offended.
Jesus is bigger then a red cup, he is bigger then your break up, he is bigger then your school or university, he is bigger then your family and He can do something great in what seems like a terrible situation.
So could I encourage us all to run to the broken and the hurting? To care about people and extend the Grace that we have received. Finally to let the offence go, it is not going to help the situation.
Why would we waste time getting upset over a cup when we can have fun enjoying life and pointing people to Jesus?
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