I think that
Christians are prone to a victim type mentality. We probably deserve it. For
two thousand years this world has pretty much made victims of Christians.
Whether it was from the Romans, the Catholics, the Protestants, or some other
unfriendly power those who have held to the idea of seriously living like we
believe the Bible teaches has been hunted down, tormented and very often
killed. Though, in America, we have had comparative peace for the last couple
of hundred years, we haven’t forgotten. By the way, this world has ever let us
forget, there has always been a current of resistance to faith. Though
persecution may not be incredibly violent for the two centuries, there has been
plenty of offing, mocking and general finger pointing at believers. We have
some reason to be fearful of the world’s position against Christianity.
That said, this victim
mentality frequently leads Christians to misread, overemphasize and over react
to world events we deem critical of our faith. An article in The Christian Post
puts this into perspective concerning recent allegations by Christians towards
coffee giant, Starbucks.[1]
Starbuck's CEO was reported to have said he did not want the business of people
who supported traditional marriage. The article in The Christian Post
clarifies, “Schultz never said or implied people who support traditional
marriage should take their business elsewhere.”
Now I get to the point of
my article.
Our church hosts an
annual ladies’ conference. In the past, I am talking about ten or more years,
Starbucks has donated coffee to this conference. Until last year. When our
ladies asked about getting coffee donated from the nearby Starbucks last year,
they were told that their annual quota of donations was exhausted. This year
the ladies approached the same Starbucks but did so much earlier in the year.
They received the same reply, their donations of the year had been exhausted.
Not to be discouraged,
the ladies approached a newly opened Starbucks store. This time they were
interrogated by the store manager as to the nature of the event. When it was
revealed that it was for a local church event the store employee told our group
that it is Starbuck’s policy not to donate to religious organizations. I have
gone online and, at this point, have not been able to find such a policy.
Maybe it is not the
corporation's policy, but it was certainly this local store’s policy. They
refuse to donate to our conference, even though they have in the past,
specifically because we are a religious institution.
