Many in the Christian community are up in arms. Social media is abuzz with the controversy and even people with the stature of a Donald Trump are calling for boycotts. The so-called Faith Driven Consumer group has also urged people to boycott and take their business elsewhere. Some are calling the controversy an “outrage” and a “war on Christmas.”
What is the source of all this uproar? Starbucks has introduced a red holiday cup. Yep. A red coffee cup. Seriously, people?
It’s nonsense such as this that causes some people to think of Christians as loons. No, not the big bird that dives for fish. One definition of a “loon” is a crazy person.
Starbucks has red holiday cups. Why do you care?
Throughout the year Starbucks has plain white cups with their logo. During the holiday season, they have a red cup with their logo.
In the past, the red cup had snowflakes and other “Christmassy” non-religious designs on it. This year the cup is plain red. While red is a traditional color for Christmas, as is green, neither color is the proper liturgical color for the seasons of Advent and Christmas, which would be purple, blue, and white. And maybe gold.
Still, I am confused by the reaction of so many. Especially Christians.
A 33-year-old former pastor and self-described “social media personality” named Joshua Feuerstein, who wrote, “Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus,” has produced a video clip which states that Starbucks’s decision is against Christ and against Christmas.
He suggests that a “movement” be started where every Christian who goes to Starbucks and orders coffee gives their name as “Merry Christmas.” Then, when the coffee is ready, the employee is forced to call out “Merry Christmas.”
Oh, good grief! How silly can one be?
And then there’s student Pastor Nate Weaver at the Crosspointe Christian Church in Sarasota, Fla., who vowed to never visit Starbucks ever again. Well, bless your heart, Nate.
If Christians really wish to get riled up this coming season, let me make a few suggestions:
· Christian believers are being murdered by the truckload by ISIS. They are being drowned, burned alive, beheaded, their throats slit, shot, and crucified.
· 4,400 children in America alone had their lives ended yesterday by abortion. And today. And tomorrow. In fact, in America, some 55,000,000 unborn boys and girls have had their lives ended by those who should have been their protectors.
· 150,000 Vietnam veterans have committed suicide since the end of the war. That means that nearly three times the number of people killed in battle have died by their own hand.
· Speaking of veterans, some 50,000 U.S. military veterans are living on the streets. They are homeless.
· 16 million children in America are on food stamps. Prior to the “great recession,” the number was 9 million.
· 500,000 children in the Unites States this year will be sexually abused before they turn 18.
· 460,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from post traumatic stress syndrome
· The Unites States has the largest prison population in the world with 2,220,300 inmates. In addition to this, there are nearly 55,000 juveniles who are locked up.
· There are 1,347,983 people in U.S. nursing homes, many of home receive not one single visit from anybody. Ever.
· According to Christianity Today, about 160,000 Christians are martyred (murdered) for their faith every year. Every year.
Where’s the outrage for all of this? Hmm? How does Starbucks having plain red cups compare with any of the situations on the above list?
I’m sorry. I have little patience for people who see a conspiracy behind every bush when there are real bogey men in the world and when there is genuine suffering a stone’s throw from any church.
If you want to get involved in a real controversy, check the list. Somewhere, there is someone you can help. Maybe you can make a real in positive difference in someone’s life. Just don’t be a loon.
[David Epps is the pastor of Christ the King Church, Sharpsburg, GA (www.ctkcec.org). He is the bishop of the Mid-South Diocese which consists of Georgia and Tennessee (www.midsouthdiocese.org) and the Associate Endorser for the Department of the Armed Forces, U. S. Military Chaplains, ICCEC. He may contacted at frepps@ctkcec.org.]
