The 2015 Design of Starbucks Holiday Cups.

As most of you have seen, Starbucks has decided to go with a simple look for their cups this holiday season — a plain red cup accompanied by the Starbucks logo. Seems harmless right? Well, apparently some people have become outraged by this decision of Starbucks because they feel as if the liberal coffee giant is taking “Christ” out of Christmas.

Starbucks Cup from 2013.

This is no different from last year or 2013, or even 2009. You wont find a nativity scene or anything to do with Christ on those cups either. Cups of the past featured ornaments, carolers, and snowmen…all of which can be associated with a secular view of Christmas. If you look at the picture to the left, you will see a cup from the 2013 holiday season. You can see how Starbucks could evolve into a plain red cup with a more sleek look, right? Eh, maybe it’s just me.

This controversy over the cup was started by American evangelist and social media personality Joshua Feuerstein. He posted the video about Starbucks removing Christmas from their cups because they hate Jesus. He also points out that Starbucks employees are not allowed to say “Merry Christmas” to customers.

In an email from Starbucks received by The Atlantic, a Starbucks spokesperson said that baristas “are not provided a script or a policy around greeting customers. They are simply encouraged to create a welcoming environment to delight each person who walks through our doors.” I guess Joshua was wrong. Starbucks does sell a “Christmas Blend” coffee and offer a variety of gift cards that even say “Merry Christmas.”

Even presidential hopeful Donald Trump weighed in on the issue during a campaign rally on Monday. “Maybe we should boycott Starbucks? I don’t know. Seriously, I don’t care,” Trump said. “If I become president, we’re all going to be saying Merry Christmas again, that I can tell you.”

A Starbucks cup has never been about Christ though. Starbucks isn’t starting a war with Christians or on Christmas, at least not on the Biblical version of Christmas. We should be more mad that they are taking away from the worldly view of Christmas. No snowmen? No reindeer? No Santa Clause?? Why???

What about people who don’t celebrate Christmas, should they have to drink out of a cup that says “Merry Christmas”? I understand that other people practice different religions. I respect people who have their own beliefs and faith, even if it isn’t the same as mine. This cup has nothing to do with religion or Christianity…its simply just a cup.

Instead of being mad about this, Christians should be having conversations with non-believers over a (red)cup of Starbucks coffee. After all, the place IS pretty inviting, and the coffee IS delicious. If you still don’t agree with what they are selling though, then you have the right to not buy the product. But you can find me over at the corner table in Starbucks enjoying my White Chocolate Mocha in a little red cup.

MDavidScott