Recently a weird coffee mermaid lady corporation, Starbucks, announced a new minimalist design for their Christmas, or I should probably say Holiday cups. Red cup, regular logo. There are many reasons for a huge company like Starbucks to make this move. Obviously the design is both specific enough to invoke them holiday feels, while non-specific so not to risk any specific holiday or religious observance. Its smart, and safe, but not without some ridiculous controversy.
Apparently SOME Christians are upset by the removal of anything that may be Christmas specific from decorating the cups. To them this is blasphemy, part of the war on Christmas, because after all, if you remove Christmas, you also remove Christ, and this is apparently unacceptable.
Now there is a lot to learn from here about worldview, both Christian and non. Is this a valid reason for Christians, I believe a minority. to be up in a tizzy? Short answer, NO, but in response to some of the hubbub, more sensible Christian folk have responded in a variety of ways.
The first response was a picture of the red Starbucks cup, surrounded by a cardboard coffee sleeve with the words “If your coffee cups define your Christmas, Honey it’s you that needsJesus.”, fair enough, point made.
This was then followed by a post from a Kevin James look-a-like “Pastor”, suggesting that Christians lie and tell their barista that their name is “Merry Christmas” so they have to write it on the cups. The first one I like, the second one, well that guy gets way too much time on my news-feed. Not to mention, he claims to be a pastor and tells everyone to go in a Starbucks and lie about their name, but it was the third post that really got my interest.
One of my fave writers Jon Acuff echoed this sentiment posting
“I’ll worry about if Starbucks says Merry Christmas as soon as we Christians find homes for all orphans, comfort all widows & feed all poor.”
Theology and adoption, two things I am familiar with and love to talk about. I am a christian, and I have two daughters who share no biological similarities with me.
While there is no direct prohibition or edict in the bible that says Christians should not drink from cups near the holidays that do not explicitly mention that holiday, there are edicts that suggest that Christians can not be neutral when it comes to the issue of adoption. The most famous of which probably being James 1:27
“Religion that is pure and un-defiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
Did I say “suggest”? I meant flat-out declare it.
Now i think a danger here may be to make this text too broad. Some might say “Well James is really making a general appeal to look out for the needs of the least of these as an essential part of Christian living.” Those same people may also comment on the picture above or Acuff’s tweet and reply “Exactly, if only more people would…” The problem two-fold. One, this that this is a very bad way to read scripture. Two, this is face-less impersonal charity.
On scripture, we are not aloud to make specific what the scriptures leave broad, nor make broad what the scriptures make specific. This is a very good bible reading rule, and I am afraid that far too many of us interpret this passage this way. As a result, our response to this very specific call is also very broad. We agree and post “Exactly!” and the enthusiasm is great, but the quote from the picture reveal that our outward enthusiasm does not match our actual activism, our reply doesn’t not make one less orphan homeless. The reality is that far more people will share this picture or Re-tweet Jon Acuff than those who will actually adopt a child, or foster a child, or adopt a foster or adoptive family to take care of.
Here the scriptures give us a specific target. “Hey God, what should I do?” we ask. “Read James 1:27 and do it!” He replies. “Can’t I just post to facebook about it?!” we wonder.
No you can not, and every time you do there is still a child without a home.
Brothers and Sister, this should not be so!
Think of all the negative attention Christians get in the media. How people often look at us like a joke, and therefore think of Jesus as a joke. Think of all the hot button political issues like abortion and ask yourself “is adoption is the answer?” Would abortion even be needed, if every time a child needed a home, a Christian was there to greet them? Would people take us more seriously if we took our faith more seriously? Not more politically, or even more militantly, but actually let the words of scripture change the way we live!
We must take this seriously, but enthusiastic non-activism and face-less charity are not going to cut it. Sure, give your old clothes to goodwill, but guess what, my two adopted daughters don’t need your unwanted worn out clothes. Volunteer at a food pantry, but families like mine, well I make too much money to qualify for that type of assistance, so while you’ll benefit some, there will be plenty of others that fall through the cracks of the system. Meanwhile I need new tires for my car. And there are numerous programs where you can donate and some people will be helped, but you will never have to touch. or know, or see those in need face to face.
So why does James get specific here? Why widows and orphans? Well ask yourself, “Who is missing from this family portrait?” The father. And who did Christ come to reveal to us? “The Father” This is no accident, it is no tricky reading of the text, it is no mere coincidence that the very picture that the scriptures use to paint a picture of our salvation is adoption, it is by design. And Christians, aren’t you glad that Jesus was specific when he rescued you? That he didn’t just send aide from far off, but he came down, took on flesh, touched you while you were filthy, lifted up your face so you could see his eyes and loved you while you we unwanted?
So you can adopt, you can foster, or you can seek out a specific family who does, and you can adopt them. Take care of all the needs that the system fails to meet, be friend and love that family and make a real difference. If one family out of every three churches is all that it would take, then that means that there are enough families left to make sure that that one family never lacks in their ability to care for their children. Surely if there is one family per three churches, then three churches should be able to support one family.
This is a Gospel Issue.
Everything is a Gospel Issue.
Especially adoption.
Your activism needs to be greater than your enthusiasm.
Your charity needs to be specific, not broad.
Your response towards widows and orphans need to have a face, your face.
You have been neutral on this issue for far too long.
God, in Christ, was not neutral towards you.
He was active, so be active.
Theist the Bearded 