The Starbucks Christmas Cup of Christ
By now, I am sure many of you have heard of the controversy. CNN has reported, and the Huffington Post has commented, on the responses Starbucks is receiving on their new cup design for the Christmas season. Some are upset that the Christian symbols for Christmas were taken off of the cup that Starbucks promotes for the holidays. (Snopes lays out the facts and the truth in detail.) Some Christians have responded with satire, but I have a better idea. I think that Christians have an even better opportunity to promote Christ now that they are just red cups. Instead of focusing on Christmas, one can focus on Easter. Instead of engaging in the “War on Christmas,” one could focus on sharing the Gospel. Jesus shed His blood on the cross. So the Starbucks Christmas Cup gives a Christian a perfect symbol to use to share the Gospel.
For example, one could share the following presentation:
WHITE – the white top symbolizes the place of God in Heaven. God is pure and He has created each person with a pure motive. He loves every one of His Creation and cares for them.
STARBUCKS SYMBOL – the Starbucks symbol can be used to describe our desire to live lives apart from God. They come from Greek mythology. The mascot is one of the Siren mermaids, calling Odysseus away from his mission. Sin is just as enticing. We live in a world in which our own desires entice us to sin. Sin leads us to death, away from God (James 1:14-15).
RED – the red cup symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. His death, burial, and resurrection cleanses us from our sin, and gives us a new life for eternity.
The cup stops becoming an idol of our society and becomes an object lesson about salvation (Acts 17:23-31).
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