Starbucks has never been overtly Christian. Sure they supported the feeling of Christmas spirit when they put ornaments or snowflakes on their cups. I don't know this from personal experience. I don't even like coffee, but I read that their past cups have been decorated with holiday cheer. 

And now they've decided to go plain red this season. Java at Starbucks this holiday will come in a regular red cup. 

  

This has frustrated some Christians who feel there is a war on Christmas. Others think "war" is too strong a word when it comes to a cup design. Is it simply a red cup that has Christians stirred? 

I read yesterday about a mall who decided its  "Come See Santa" display would be adorned with a glacier instead of a Christmas tree. People complained until a small Christmas tree was placed beside the chunk of ice. Seems like a first world problem. We know that Santa and Christmas trees aren't at the heart of Jesus.

These things only attribute to "Christmas feels". But we also know that there has been a movement in past Christmases to remove manger scenes on government property even when privately purchased. Without a doubt, Christmas is becoming less about Jesus in the general public. 

  But few of us have ever got it right when it comes to making the season all about Jesus. 

There's the shopping. And Santa. And the fretting about shopping and decorating and cooking. There are the parties, filling the shoeboxes and other charitable activities, the travel plans, or the else the disappointment when we're counting down to a Christmas we won't be sharing with those we love. The best we seem to do is ask Jesus to join us in the crazy, naming Him the guest of honor. 

We all fall short when it comes to giving Jesus due worship at Christmas, not to mention the rest of the year. 

It seems to somehow make us feel better to point out how others aren't doing such a good job making Jesus the reason for the season, like the people at Starbucks, or the people pointing out, the people pointing out Starbucks. 

So I guess what I'm doing here is making myself a pot in a line of pots calling the kettle black. 

Some people are clearly offended by Christmas. Starbucks tries to (in their own words) "create a more open way to share the holiday". You can surely say this isn't a war on Christmas (I don't believe it is), but this "being more open" business means backing off from Christmas (even if it's only backing away from secular Christmas.) It feels to some like one more step away from any hint of the important holiday.  They might feel we're on a slippery slope. So Christians share the offense on social media. 

Christians, in response are now offended by the initially offended Christians. They call them out, with sarcasm and ferocity, I might add, claiming that being offended by a red cup means you must not care about orphans and world hunger or the salvation of baristas. Christians who dare say they're bothered by Starbucks unholiday-like cup are branded imposter Christians or Christians who really need help (Don't we all?). 

And here I am today slightly frustrated with Christians who feel the need to point out Christians who feel the need to point out...
Do I agree that God most certainly cares more about orphans than the 2015 design on a Starbuck's cup? Absolutely. I doubt He's downcast that a bunch of commercial outfits have decided to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas in the interest of the mighty dollar. I'm pretty sure He expects it. 

I'm thinking that He's interested in His childrens' response. All of us. I'm guilty as any in thinking that He needs us to be on the ready to jump to His defense; for us to (like Peter) figuratively cut off the ear of Christmas offenders or those who dare to challenge them by boycotting their wares or by writing snarky Facebook posts about their company. Keep in mind that Peter, who cut off the ear of the Roman guard, denied Jesus shortly after. 

We (myself included) pay too much attention to how everyone else is doing in their walk and in their talking (and boy do we talk). It sometimes seems our response is less about our genuine concern for people individually and more about 

"Did you see that Jesus? Did you see what I did for you fellow Christian. Did you see how I stood up for you 'world who doesn't know Him'?" 

I'm on your side. 

 Neither the saving of souls nor gentle correction and encouragement of the saints seems to be as important as picking a side on a line that social media is so excellent in drawing up. We throw each other under the bus in order to "save" another. 

I don't care about Starbuck's holiday cup. We're called to care about people who drink from it and those who've chosen not to. Our love ought to be for people who are offended by Christmas and those who are tricking Starbuck's baristas into writing "Merry Christmas" on the cups. 

We say we love them. That means our response ought to always be made in kindness, not by saying "Starbucks hates Jesus" or  "You judgy Christians make Christianity look foolish". 

It seems we feel like our feet ought to be formally placed in one of two courts. We want to shield those who are lost and support the politically correct. So we honor their rights and respect their feelings, standing up for them with hopes they will see the light. We're careful Christians who don't want the message of Christ to be lost in closed fists as we proclaim Christ is Lord. 

Then there are those who feel the dire need to fight to preserve Jesus' name, a name most worthy of praise. We see His name being erased in effort to not offend. As a nation who once called itself Christian, we as a whole are becoming, as Starbucks says "more open" to other faiths and to the idea of no faith at all. But we're quite closed-minded as a nation when it comes to sharing the Christian faith. Just ask the coach who was fired for praying on school property after games. Just ask military chaplains whose mouths have been shut when it comes to sharing the gospel. It grieves us, and rightly so. 

The only cure for a court divided is Jesus. His love spans the divide. We all need more of it. We all need to give more of it...to the "red cup" defenders and the lovers of Jesus who are cross with His disappearing from Christmas displays and from kid choirs who once sang "Joy to the World" in their school Christmas plays. 

We're fighting about red cups. Seems there is a war. 

Wise men still seek Him. 

Let's fix our eyes on Jesus. 

Let's proclaim his name in kindness to all men; baristas, coffee drinkers and complainers. Let's be devoted to promoting peace on earth and good will toward men. All men. Amen.

P.S. Please don't get offended.