Dear Offended Christians,
Please boycott Starbucks this holiday season. Don't continue to support Starbucks by buying their drinks and giving them the fake name of "Merry Christmas" because their holiday cups don't show enough "Christmas" spirit. Just go get your coffee elsewhere.
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| BEHOLD! The ombre red cup of Satan himself, here to ruin your Christmas spirit! |
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here’s what the
world thinks about us Christians right now: http://www.salon.com/2015/11/07/merrychristmasstarbucks_watch_the_absurd_war_on_christmas_call_to_arms_over_red_coffee_cups/
So…why am I asking you to refrain from your peppermint
mochas?
Because the over-worked baristas don’t need your “Merry Christmas”
crap. Those people who SERVE you the
drink you ordered—they didn’t choose the cups, and they can’t change a
thing. They can’t complain to the
management about customers harassing them.
They NEED their jobs, especially around the holidays, so they have to
put up with your self-entitled hooey because your cup isn’t as pretty as you
think it should be.
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| designs from the past four years |
Because here’s the truth:
Starbucks cups NEVER SAID “MERRY CHRISTMAS” before! If you think Starbucks is making their cups
less “Christian” by removing the ornaments, snowflakes, polar bears, trees, and
other “holiday” related items, then perhaps you need a refresher course on the true meaning of Christmas.
***Reminder: Christmas is a holiday where we celebrate the birth of Jesus. This event took place in a warm, desert environment where snowmen, reindeer, and polar bears don't exactly thrive. Might I suggest this inspirational video, The True Meaning of Christmas, from one of my all-time favorite philosophers?
So, how is toting around a red cup bearing the image of a
reindeer supporting the “Christianized” version of the holidays? Aren’t we actually supporting some version of
a Nordic Christmas? I mean, what
percentage of Christians actually get
snow for Christmas? Or have money for
ornaments and trees? Or have reindeer prancing in their yards? Seriously, WHAT DO THESE THINGS HAVE TO DO
WITH JESUS?
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| Do you think this cup offends people in the tropics? Maybe they need their year for a cup design. |
But our "red cup" behavior would be like Paul going into a secular shop, and
instead of saying, “Hey, let’s eat the bacon!"(which is what he did, by the way); he says, “These pigs offend
me. This store should not sell
pigs. I’m a card-carrying, sword-toting
Roman citizen, and I know my rights!”
So let’s be rational about this. You either accept the business practices of
these secular businesses, and you enter into their domain with the intent of
being light in darkness. Or, just stay
away. Christianity doesn’t need you to
make our job any harder than it already is.
We don’t need angry attitudes; turning hard-working individuals
sour against our God.
If you want your cup to say “Merry Christmas”, write it
yourself. If you can afford a Toffee
Sprinkle Soy Mocha Skinny Caramel Latte or whatever it is you are buying, then
you can afford to buy yourself a freaking Sharpie and decorate your own
cup. Hey, it may even be
therapeutic. Coloring for adults is all
the rage right now. You may even start a
trend. Leave Sharpies at your local
Starbucks with a note inviting others to decorate their own cups any way they
please. They might just draw a palm tree
on a beach, which may not be “Christmas” appropriate for you, but I assure you
that a large portion of the world will find it looks just like THEIR Christmas.
Please, let’s spend this season showing people WHY we
celebrate Christmas. Why don’t we
remember, when we order our Gingerbread Latte, that Jesus DIED FOR the person
whipping our milk to the proper temperature?
That Jesus would want us to treat that HUMAN with compassion?
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| Seriously, it's NEVER a good idea to mess with people who are serving you things you plan to ingest. |
During a busy holiday season, when everyone
is cranky and the lines are long, HOW YOU TREAT YOUR BARISTA SAYS A LOT ABOUT
YOUR FAITH WALK. In God’s eyes, we are
all just as special, just as loved, and just as important. Look in their eyes. Smile.
Say “Please” and “Thank You”.
Tell them you appreciate their work.
Say “Merry Christmas” if you want to, but if they are Jewish or Atheist
or something else, still wish them a pleasant time with family and
friends. I mean, shouldn’t we STILL WANT
THAT for them? Let's not shove our words into their faces without being willing to walk in relationship with them. Let's not try to hurt or anger or trick people whose lives are closed books to us, who may be having a very rough day and just need a touch of kindness.
Let’s make this season a “Be Nice to your Barista” Christmas
and find amazing ways to bless those who serve us with a smile every day. Let's remember that the people behind the counter are the ones God calls us to love and they are NOT the ones He calls us to demean, degrade, or dismiss. They are His children, and if they don't know Him, He wants us to show them what He's really like. So, would God or Jesus walk into a Starbucks and demand the barista write "Merry Christmas" on his cup? I know what my God would do.
And to my favorite baristas...thank you for your smiles, your willingness to make my favorite specialty drink which takes extra time (even though YOU got me hooked on it in the first place!), for always making me feel welcome. YOU BRIGHTEN MY DAY.
