Starbuck Christianity

I could honestly care less about Starbucks, or what their cups look like or don't look like. I don't actually go there, as I don't drink coffee and never bothered to see what else they have.

The ONLY reason, I know anything about the cup complaints, is because of people on Facebook getting all up in arms, over the people who are up in arms over the cups and their "anti-Christian" design. I find it funny.

Funny that people are freaked out over what a cup looks like. Then again, for years I've heard "Let's keep Christ in Christmas, by saying "Merry Christmas"" and similar sentiments. Though, I personally am not offended by Merry Christmas, and often say it myself, I am also not offended by the fact that other people celebrate other holidays. This is, probably, because I didn't always celebrate Christmas. In fact, hearing "Happy Hanukkah", usually came from someone at synagogue or my family. Yet, as much of a "Grinch" as my father may be, I've never heard him have a tantrum over the fact that other people were disregarding his faith and the fact that it isn't the same as theirs.The truth is, if we think saying "Happy holidays!" or choosing to not put up a Christmas tree, lights, decorations (such as reindeer and Santa) are anti-Christian, we've forgotten how Christ fits into the term "Christmas".

At the same time, I find humor in all the people reacting to the minority that is unable to handle the change in cup decor. For one, if people weren't going on about how ridiculous and shameful it is to be upset about a cup, I wouldn't even know there were people who had a problem with it. Which really, aren't there more important things to be upset about and spreading the word about? Which I guess would be for a second thing. How is complaining about something petty that someone else thinks or feels not petty in and of itself? The comments I've read don't seem to come from a place of love, compassion, and other Christ like characteristics, but instead from the same anger and disgust as those they are commenting about are coming from. Just a different package.

To be fair, I am just as guilty as everyone else, for going on about petty things. But what if we took a moment to realize how ridiculous it all is and just stopped. Stopped talking about it. Stopped trying to convince others of their brokenness. Stopped making such a big deal out of something that isn't truly important. Instead, replacing that with love, compassion, understanding, prayerfulness, and other Christ like characteristics.

That is how we can truly keep Christ, not only in Christmas, but in us everyday.