I'm not 100% sure who is the author of the thoughts on the thoughts on Starbucks coffee cups. Perhaps it's made it's way into your inbox. It blasts them for a couple of pretty "out there" quotes. Quotes that while not graphic in their language are bad enough that I won't give them a reprint here. I've seen some quotes that I don't like on my Starbucks and a few that I really do like. But the piece I'm referring to calls on us to boycott Starbucks based on these. Now, boycotting Starbucks would not be a problem for me. While I like the comortable enviorment, coffee doesn't get me going and there are plenty of other good places for study. In a typical week I'll usually spend a part of one or two days studying in a Starbucks...so I have no reason to defend them. Here's a response to a friend on the suggestion of boycotting them - I invite your thoughts and comments:
- I have never thought Starbucks was a Christian place. I know they have used some quotes on those cups from people who are people of faith as well. This sort of thing always provides me a lot of thought.
After Melanie's brother, Tim, was killed by a drunk driver. For sometime I would not eat at a place that sold alcohol or shop any grocery that sold beer or liquor...then I added tobacco to the list -but finally I decided that this was making no difference. I mean, how far should I take it? Should I not read a magazine that has a beer ad in it, should I not watch a show that has a beer sponsor...and if so, should I not shop in a grocery store that sells magazines that have beer ads in them...then if I go there should I not go to stores that the owners buy beer even if they don't sell it there - my business provides the money to the owners or managers for them to buy such.And if I'm really a Christian should I so support say a denominationalist who takes the profits from products I buy at his business and makes contributions to his church which teaches false doctrine. And even say I decide I should not do that so I only buy from businesses owned by Christians who do not sell beer or tobacco or magazines that advertise them. What about the employees? If they are not all Christians then I am buying products that provide income through the business where they get the income to give to or buy products that are against my Christian faith. And let's say the business only employees Christians. I then must investigate every product they sell - and the people who own the businesses that make those products. What if they also own say like Coke - a side business that produces alcohol. And what about the roads I drive on, highly financed by the proceeds of "sin taxes". If I drive on them and enjoy the experience then could not one say that if strectched far enough I am encourageing people to drink by enjoyng the drive on a road that their use of alcohol helped create?
Or what if the owners of the businesses of ... well, you get the point. It's just hard to know.
Christians are to be in the world and not of the world. What a challenge. All that said, I have boycotted some businesses before, some on purpose, some just by a decision not to take my business there anymore. And given the opportunity I buy first from Christians (even if I might have to pay a little more). I try to frequent places that if I know have a high moral standard offer what I'm looking for (But even this is difficult. For while Target is by nature much more likely to support liberal causes than Walmart - both do and support things I object to). For instance I like Chick-Fil-A for a lot of reasons (the world's best sweet tea, great chicken sandwichs, and they don't open on Sunday's to encourage their employees to go to church) but I can't vouch for the spirituality or practices of Cathy Truitt who owns Chick-Fil-A. Must I investigate his every investment before going to his resturant or can I simply say I like going there for what I know of his standards and morality?
As you see, I could go on a while about all of this (already have).
I haven't decided yet if I'm going to boycott Starbucks - but if I did I'd have to leave here now!
6 comments:
(First comment came from a friend. His thoughts are ones I wish I'd included, so I'll paste them here)...
Good observations. My reaction to starbucks is mixed. I have long struggled with their extreme left ideology, but realize that if I boycott every business where I don't like their politics or religious stance I may go hungry.
On the other side, I was offended by the quote (I did get the email that circulated). I will send an email to starbucks (more for my sake than theirs) and let them know that all those "coffeehouse studies" going on in their buildings could be hindered by such comments.
I find that sometimes a little levity is more effective than blistering someones backside.
I am reading an extraordinary book right now that is almost too much to absorb. I'm going to read it again with my high-lighter out! Ironically though, it leads to some input about this "wordly boycott" idea.
You are right in creatively explaining that it is impossible to live in social America AND isolate oneself to only Christian ideals, principals and morals.
It's kind of like the Kevin Bacon movie game.......(you can link any actor/actress to Kevin Bacon in less than 3 movies)....or the internet for example. I would be lost without my online Bible search tool, my Lifewaystores site, and my freedom to post my thoughts about God....yet I know that when I enter this "cyberspace", I am only two clicks away from pornography, illegal activity, suggestive blogging, athiest clubs and so forth.
Unless we move to a little farm in the middle of nowhere and become absolutley self-sufficient (and on some days I REALLY want to), we are going to have to consume from businesses that are "two clicks" and "two movies" away from things we don't agree with at all.
The author of the book I refer to suggests that we take, "In the world and not of the world" a step further. He says that we should be RULING the world and not allowing the world to RULE us.
While I totally agree with supporting Christian businesses whenever I can, I think we must be careful that in an attempt to make our point by driving 20 extra miles to go to a specific store, which costs more gas money which could have bought more groceries or added to the church collection, we actually allow the "non-Christian" businesses to take away from our finances, our freedoms and our focus on increasing God's kingdom.
We can become so engrossed with being ANTI-everyonewho'snotaChristian, that we spend more time thinking about that than we do living for God's Will here on earth.
I'd love to talk about this book! Have you read it? Have you heard of it? When you get some time, it will spark big discussions!!!
Dr. Myles Munroe, "Rediscovering the Kingdom"
From Sellers Crain:
Dale,
I boycott Starbucks! The truth is, I never have gone there and likely never will. There is just something about paying $3 or $4 dollars for a cup of coffee that doesn't seem right to me. Especially, since at my age, I can go to Hardees and get a cup of coffee for 25 cents. Not being a coffee purest - to me coffee is coffee.
On the boycotting deal. If we boycotted every place that did something, sold something, or supported something that we didn't agree with, we wouldn't have any place to shop. Maybe no place to go to church either.
"In the world, but not of the world" says it best.
Brotherly,
Sellers
Where would Jesus shop in our 21st century world? Would he buy only from Christians and avoid non-Christian establishments?? I don't see it. Jesus didn't boycott the tax collectors and prostitutes, instead he went to their homes. Good thoughts Dale.
"And if I'm really a Christian should I so support say a denominationalist who takes the profits from products I buy at his business and makes contributions to his church which teaches false doctrine." Dale please define false doctrine.
Ricky
I'm seriously not smarting off here (and don't know that "Ricky" will even see this) but false doctrine is any doctrine that is not true doctrine. Jesus warned that there would be those who were wolves in sheep's clothing. Some today seem to think that there is no such thing as error (and then others seem to think that is all there is). There are some specifics in the scriptures such as those who cause division, those who do not follow the apostle's teaching...
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