Few people who drink Stella Artois would know that its name was originally inspired by the star that led the Magi to the Christ child in St. Matthew’s Gospel. Perhaps there are some who, familiar with the jubilant and angelic song proclaimed at the birth of our Lord, would find a connection to the Dunkin Donuts’ holiday cup emblazoned with the word, “Joy.” But it would be hard to miss all the attention being given to the new, plain, red Starbucks cup released this year. No snowflakes. No stars. No frills. Just red.
On November 1, self-styled “American evangelist” Joshua Feurstein posted a video asserting that Starbucks had removed all references to Christmas from their cups because they hate Jesus. By the end of the week that post had stimulated more than 11 million views. If that many people were to prayerfully read the nativity story in the Gospel it would probably effect a religious revival. But alas, people today are more concerned with coffee cups than Christ.
But whose responsibility is it to bring the world this message that Jesus Christ was born to save us and take away our sins? Let us hope those beer and coffee companies get their act together before we all perish.
