Like many viral news stories nowadays, it all started with a Facebook post: “Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus,” read the caption. It was shared half a million times times last week and Monday, the media jumped on the story head first, but none of the outlets that did were very buttoned up. The Washington Post wrote:

Mic.com published a story on Monday purporting that the cup design caused a “boycott from Christian groups,” but the actual article cites exactly zero Christian groups calling for such a thing. The Los Angeles Times claimed evangelical Christians were “seeing red,” but only cited a couple of random Twitter critics. The New York Daily News claimed that “Christian evangelists” were angered by the cups, but they cited only a lone student pastor from a small church in Sarasota.

And just like that, Starbucks’ red holiday cups went viral. Within hours, the spurious claim was memified across social media. Even reality show star Donald Trump suggested a boycott of the coffee chain. The Daily News doubled down. 

But what do actual Christian organizations think about the red cups?

 

 

Starbucks Crucified Over Its Red Cups, But Not By Christians. Image 1.

Katelynn Bernhardi

The Catholic League 

 

"It’s so trivial that the Catholic League will not be commenting on the situation.”

[That’s coming from the group that typically fans the flames of the annual “War on Christmas” narrative.] 

 

 

Starbucks Crucified Over Its Red Cups, But Not By Christians. Image 2.

Bob Brady

Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals

 

"While the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals does not have an official statement about Starbucks and it’s seasonal selections of coffee cups, I would love to mention that this is a crazy debate. First, at no time that I recall has Starbucks spoken the name of Jesus Christ. Second, anyone that is disappointed that Starbucks has removed snowflakes and reindeer from their marketing material (which is what those cups are) does not understand the true nature of Christmas. While many of the Alliance would hold to a doctrine known as common grace (God can use some fairly common things to show Himself and His grace), few stories are told of someone drawing to Christ based on such images. It would be far better use of a Christian’s time to speak of the Salvation found in Christ to the person standing in line or sitting next to them at Starbucks than complaining about this!"

 

 


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Rusty Leonard

MinistryWatch.com

Biblically Responsible Investing Institute

 

"This is not the kind of thing that MinistryWatch.com typically comments on, but you are in luck. I also run the Biblically Responsible Investing Institute where we review the actions of public companies to determine if Christian investors should eliminate offending companies from their portfolios.

From that perspective, Starbucks has not been a company friendly toward Christians who hold the Bible is the word of God. Basically, the company adheres to a liberal-leaning, secular humanist worldview on social issues, which while quite common right now, is still something Christians who pay attention to such things (not many, by the way) are disappointed about.

So, with regard to our thoughts about Starbuck's changes to its holiday cups, we are not very concerned. The company is free to make its choices in this area and consumers are free to react as they please. If a Christian is disappointed about these changes, I can maybe understand that, but I would try to get them to focus their concerns on the much bigger issue of Starbuck's unusually high support for homosexuality, which the Bible pretty clearly labels as a sinful activity. Please don't take that to mean we "hate" homosexuals as we do not. But we do love the Bible and it makes it very clear that homosexuality is wrong. It also says adultery is wrong, and a whole host of other things as well, but we Christians love those folks as much as we love homosexuals (at least most Christians) because we recognize we are all sinners after all.

The Bible teaches us to avoid sin and love sinners, while also honoring the Lord; so that is what we try to do even if it is a bit tricky to balance all that out at times. I can't see how Starbucks design of its holiday cups is a sin so I am not too worked up over that, but it’s very strong support of homosexuality means it is using shareholder resources to support something the Bible says is sinful. Since many of its shareholders are no doubt Christians who embrace the Biblical teaching on homosexuality, we believe it would be best for the company to be agnostic on the issue so as to not offend the many who have deeply held religious beliefs on this issue."

 

 

Starbucks Crucified Over Its Red Cups, But Not By Christians. Image 4.

Paul Batura

Focus on the Family

"I wonder if we’re not overthinking or overanalyzing this? Christmas isn’t found in a cup or in a snowflake. Instead, it’s found in the hearts and minds of those of us who believe that God sent His only son to earth in the form of an innocent, helpless baby. When Starbucks changes their cup each year from white to red, intentionally or not, their acknowledging the anniversary of what so many Christians believe is the greatest story ever told, about the greatest man who ever lived."

 

 

Starbucks Crucified Over Its Red Cups, But Not By Christians. Image 5.

Traci Fralick

Promise Keepers

 

"Promise Keepers isn't offended by Starbucks' red cups." 

 

 

[Headshots via LinkedIn; Cover art by Woolley!]