Guys. Stop it.

In light of the circulating videos and social media posts on the Starbucks seasonal red cup design, I’ve decided to add just a bit of commentary. And I have a feeling that many will not like it. But when have I ever been one to not utilize my voice in the face of controversy? Never. So I’m here to say, “STOP IT.”

Look, I get it. I really do. There’s been a cultural shift on how we, as a society, interact and move through the holiday season. “Merry Christmas” is seldom used in a business setting, corporations have moved from phrasing on products that resemble a more inclusive product, and much of holiday decorating includes snowflakes and Santa Claus than the manger. As a Christian, especially one that wishes to see the world know and love Jesus just as much as I do, I really get why this cultural shift generates a bit of frustration.

But with this in mind, I ask that we all take a second and really try to understand what’s happening here. We, as Christian consumers, are causing an upset. We’re angry. “How could Starbucks take away the decorating on their cups? How can they not say Merry Christmas to me as I walk out the door? This is outrageous.” Blah Blah you get the point.

But when we throw our cups, and demand that we’re ‘taking our money elsewhere’ and we post videos and tweets, and Facebook statuses about the evil that is the Starbucks corporation, we’re sending the message that nothing but us matters. We are the only worthy consumers. Christians. If you’d like to buy that mocha latte on your morning commute, then you’d better enjoy drinking out of a cup that symbolizes the beliefs that you may not necessarily agree with.

And this isn’t to say that I’m against particular merchandise and products featuring Christmas symbols. But I’m saying that not everyone feels the same joy I feel when thinking about the birth of Jesus. Not everyone knows that joy. But it is my calling to let others know of that joy in any way that I can. And I’m just not sure if I can do that when I’m stomping my feet over a plain red cup.

An even bigger question I ask myself with this ‘controversy’ in mind is, Why isn’t this emotion being utilized for something good?

If the point of these narratives are to bring awareness to the meaning of Christmas, or even the sheer celebration of Christmas, then why can’t we channel it to REALLY celebrate? Where’s our anger when it comes to the man laying out on the street that’s hungry and homeless? Where’s our passion when it comes to the literacy rates and graduation rates at high schools located no more than a hour or two away from us? If we’re putting the issues of the world in perspective, does a red cup really matter? Probably not.

So maybe instead of spending so much time ranting and raving about a $5 paper cup that we’ll just end up trashing anyway, perhaps our energy would be better spent ministering to others, helping others, and showing this nation the love given to us in a manger years ago. Because that is what matters. That is Christmas.