It's finally here.
The Christmas season is upon us and retailers, even before Halloween creeped up, began their journey toward decorating the consumer landscape with snowflakes, reindeer, and holiday cheer.
One retail giant, however, made a decision to redesign their iconic coffee cups leading some very uncheerful.
The Starbucks Coffee Company, each year, releases red and green themed hot coffee cups to celebrate the holiday season. And, in addition to the temporary colorway, the Seattle based retailer usually adds Christmas trees, ornaments, and other customary seasonal artwork that sets the mood for the wintery holiday.
Starbucks decided to go with a minimalist look this year by simiply designing their cups in plain red with the Siren logo in the traditional Starbucks green (Hex Code 00592D in case you're interested).
Now, without putting any pastors and other Christians on blast (you can Google it), many have joined a movement to boycott Starbucks by ordering hot drinks and indicating their names as "Merry Christmas", forcing baristas worldwide to call out the greeting everytime their drinks are ready.
I've always leaned toward showing others what things I'm for rather than showing others what I'm against. And, as a follwer of Jesus, I'm against sin and that's it. I'm againist habits and choices that lead people toward destruction. I'm against, as Jesus was and is, religious arrogance.
I'm not against people nor am I against companies who decide to be more inclusive in their marketing approach.
I am for the truth of God. I am for the love of Christ. And I am for sharing that love with others.
Micah 7:18 says, "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."
God isn't concerned whether Starbucks designs their cups with a minimalistic look or decked out in holiday cheer. He is concerned with people's lives. He's concerned with where we're headed and if we're headed toward Him or not. God's desire is to reconcile all things to Him (Colossians 1:20). And, as Micah says, God is looking to show us mercy and have compassion on us.
A good friend of mine and pastor of New Life LA said, "I am not mad at Starbucks and I am definitely not gonna say my name is Merry Christmas to force my barista into a false declaration of a holiday greeting that he/she may not believe in... Until someone says to me that I can't drink their coffee and disciple people in their establishment I am FINE. Furthermore, I have no expectation that Christ would be glorified by our culture. However, I do expect those who frequent Starbucks and other places this Holiday season...Who know Jesus...to model His life and words to those who don't know him....which would not include protesting their lack of reverence without our revelation."
Our job is to preach the Gospel and make disciples, not throw religious fits when a non-Christian company decides to change their decorations.
*Please note that the writings expressed in our blogs do not necessarily reflect the opinions and position of The Branch, but are the thoughts of each individual writer.
