Late last month, simple, two-toned red holiday cups hit Starbucks stores nationwide. Starbucks said it removed the usual "symbols of the season", which has many Christians upset. The company’s Vice President of design and content, Jeffrey Fields, contends this seasonal design is a “more open way to usher in the holidays.” He explains, “Starbucks has become a place of sanctuary during the holidays ... We’re embracing the simplicity and the quietness of it.”
Last Thursday, Joshua Feuerstein, a former Pastor and current social media personality, posted an enraged video of himself outside of Starbucks in response to the chain's blank holiday cups.
In his Facebook post, Feuerstien claims, "Starbucks removed Christmas from their cups because they hate Jesus". Instead of boycotting the company, he encourages fellow Christians to tell their baristas to write "Merry Christmas" on the cup instead of the customer's name, and to share a photo of their cup, using the hashtag #MerryChristmasStarbucks. His video currently has over 14.7 million views and thousands of Americans have joined his #MerryChristmasStarbucks movement by posting their own photos all over social media.
I am a Christian and I am not offended by this plain red cup.
Do I think we live in a world that needs Jesus? Yes. Do I think the true meaning of Christmas has been eclipsed by society? Yes. Does this red cup have anything to do with either of these things? No. Did the previous snowflake covered cups reach lost souls? No. That’s the thing. These cups have never served as evangelistic tools for The Church. The previous holiday themed cups from Starbucks have never even actually depicted explicitly religious symbols:
Want to know a fun fact? Aside from their lacking holiday cups, Starbucks is bursting at the seams with Christmas cheer. They sell Christmas tree shaped advent calendars, Christmas tree ornaments, snowman shaped cookies, gift cards that read “Merry Christmas”, stocking stuffers, and they even have a “Christmas Blend” coffee line. Don’t believe me? Go check out the company’s gift page on their website.
Christmas symbols on a paper cup are not God's greatest desire. People are.
Jesus never said “ By the seasonally festive cups you drink out of, all will know you are My desciples.” He never said “ Publically slander an upstanding company, and deliberately disrespect their personal firearm laws, in efforts to “offend” them because they “hate” the second amendment . By this all will know you are My disciples.” No. Not even close.
He says “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” - John 13:34-35
In my humble opinion, Joshua Feuerstien does not seem to be loving Starbucks the way God loves us. God has endless mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Maybe its just me, but condemning this company, and advising others to do the same, does not sound like something Jesus would do.
In this fallen world we live in today, it seems as though there are more pressing issues we, as believers, should be concerning ourselves with. For example, ISIS is a real group of people, who has killed more than 170,00 people- of which the majority has been followers of Christ. Maybe the fact that there are 3.5 million people in America who are homeless, without food, water, or a place to sleep at night. Or perhaps the staggering truth that there are hundreds of thousands of people dying each day without knowing the love of Jesus. That is heartbreaking. These are issues worthy of a hashtag. These are issues that should enrage us, that should start movements. Honestly, not liking a plain red cup sounds more like a personal problem than a Kingdom of God problem.
If you are not a believer, please hear me when I say this opinion does not represent the thoughts of all Christians.This is one man’s point of view. One person, who has by coincidence captured the attention of our nation. Do not get me wrong, I believe Paul when he writes in the book of Romans that all authority is given by God, but I have learned to take everything I hear with a grain of salt. Although pastors are entrusted with great spiritual authority, they are plagued by sin and imperfection just like you and me. They are often held to an unfair standard and are harshly criticized for any misstep they make. I belive Joshua Feuerstien is a God-fearing, faithful man who has just briefly lost sight of what is really important.
Youth Pastor Tim Sommers puts it this way, “I just think we have a lot of bigger issues to worry about than what is on a cup of coffee, like what is in our hearts. Who cares if we have all these things on a cup of coffee, if we don't know how to show love, grace, mercy, and hope. That's the true problem at hand”
I couldn’t agree more.
