Posted on 10/19/2005 12:19:56 PM PDT by linkinpunk
Starbucks stirs things up with a God quote on cups
By Cathy Lynn Grossman
Wed Oct 19, 7:25 AM ET
Coffee drinkers could get a spiritual jolt with their java in the spring when Starbucks begins putting a God-filled quote from the Rev. Rick Warren, author of the mega-selling The Purpose-Driven Life, on its cups.
It will be the first mention of God in the company's provocative quote campaign, The Way I See It. In 2005, Starbucks is printing 63 quotes from writers, scientists, musicians, athletes, politicians and cultural critics on cups for company-run and licensed locations to carry on the coffeehouse tradition of conversation and debate.
Some mention "faith in the human spirit," but none is overtly religious. Last month, Baylor University pulled Starbucks cups after objections to a quote from writer Armistead Maupin saying that "life is too damn short" to hide being gay.
Warren says the idea of a grande pitch for God as creator came to him after seeing a Starbucks quote on evolution from paleontologist Louise Leakey. Because Starbucks solicited customer contributions for 2006, Warren sent his in. On Tuesday, Starbucks spokeswoman Sanja Gould confirmed that it would be used.
The cups carry a disclaimer that the opinions "do not necessarily reflect the views of Starbucks."
But a few companies plant clues to Christianity in their wrappings, music or signs precisely because the owners are believers.
In-N-Out Burger, the California-based fast-food chain, has included tiny notations for Bible verses in some of its burger and drink packaging since Richard Snyder, son of the founders, called for it in 1987. "He told me, 'It's just something I want to do,' " company spokesman Carl Van Fleet says.
After Snyder's death in 1993, "the family felt strongly about keeping this just as he had done it" at its 196 outlets in California, Arizona and Nevada. The Bible book and verse in minuscule type "are so subtle most of our customers never notice."
One who did: Don Chang, the deeply religious founder of clothing chains Forever 21 and XXI.
Five years ago, the clothier copied In-N-Out by stamping the Bible book, chapter and verse notation John 3:16 on the bottom of his stores' shopping bags: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
It's "evidence of faith," corporate spokesman Larry Meyer says.
Other owners making a faith statement in the secular marketplace include David Green, whose craft chain Hobby Lobby plays only Christian contemporary music in its 362 stores, and S. Truett Cathy, who advertises that Chick-fil-A sandwich shops nationwide are closed on Sundays to free employees to focus on faith and family.
"Americans are more accepting of overt religiosity these days, and corporations are good at figuring out how to do it with a light touch, one that's not going to scare off unbelievers," says sociologist David Halle, director of the LeRoy Neiman Center for the Study of American Society and Culture at the University of California-Los Angeles.
Alaska Airlines has put baseball-card-size prayer cards on hot-meal trays for 30 years "just to differentiate us from the competition," spokeswoman Amanda Tobin says. "Compliments have always far outweighed complaints."
"God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men"? Luke 18:11.
By the way, I noticed that you weren't wearing a tie last Sunday. That reflects very poorly on us. A little polish on the shoes would help also. In fact wear shoes, not sandals, after all, it is church.
You'd have to ask them. If they are intent upon offending everyone and challenging their worldviews, the statement is sufficient, isn't it?
The Gospel is not about what we do, but what Christ has done for us. If Rev. Warren's goal, as should be the goal of all Christian pastors, was to preach the Gospel, he failed. What he likely did do in his repeated mention of his buzzword "purpose" was to peddle his book.
(don't know why this didn't show the first time)
You'd have to ask them. If they are intent upon offending everyone and challenging their worldviews, the statement is sufficient, isn't it?
The Gospel is not about what we do, but what Christ has done for us. If Rev. Warren's goal, as should be the goal of all Christian pastors, was to preach the Gospel, he failed. What he likely did do in his repeated mention of his buzzword "purpose" was to peddle his book.
Are we talking about being associated with sinners like the Starbucks company, or Saddleback preacher Rick Warren?
Some people on this thread would have you think that Rick Warren is worse than Zaccheus.
Deeply religious!! My butt!
Has anyone been on a Forever 21 store lately? It SCREAMS skank! And it is geared towards those who are younger than 21.
Have you submitted your idea for a quote to Starbucks?
If you have done something noteworthy with your life, as Rick Warren has, maybe they will use your quote.
Some people on this thread think heaven is a dinner party for 8 and they get to review the guest list.
Well, that's for God to decide.
I have always looked at such words those in his quote) as comfort to hurting Christians rather than an outreach to sinners.
Both have their place.
And there is not one thing wrong with finding God's purpose in our lives.
LOL! I'm just surprised some of these people have Internet access in their mountaintop monastery. Apparently they would rather have God banned from Starbucks.
I am in a small group going through the "40 days" from Purpose Driven Life.
We meet tonight as a matter of fact.
I don't see anything that is not biblical.
(Maybe that only proves I am not "biblical enough.")
How is it factual, and how is it Scriptural? Looks like "positive thinking" type opinion to me, and I don't recognize any Scripture in it. My pastor has warned against The Purpose Driven Life as works righteous and legalistic, full of Law, but without Gospel.
LOL!
Good one.
I think you are correct. In fact, I'm pretty sure the Apostle Paul said this:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
(Romans 12:2-3)
That is a bunch of baloney and is totally not true. Check your facts before spreading that sort of rumor.
Really? Would you care to point out the false assertions made in the quote?
Or, maybe, you think this is the truth:
"You are an accident. Your parents may not have planned you, but God didn't, either. He did not want you to live and did not create you for any purpose. Focusing on yourself will reveal your real purpose. You were not made by God or for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. Only without God do we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance and our destiny."
Better?
The price of Starbucks stock has gone down since these quotes were put on the cups. I'd imagine that they're trying to drawn in the conservatives again and bring their stock back up. In the mean time, they're coffee is expensive and there are too many liberals in the place at any given time of the day!
"You are not an accident. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He wanted you alive and created you for a purpose. Focusing on yourself will never reveal your real purpose. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. Only in God do we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance and our destiny." - The Rev. Rick Warren for Starbucks
What is in the quote that is contrary to scripture? It is positive for the world and it is optimistic for those whom God has called. What is the problem?
Oh, good grief.
I find it pleasantly pro-life (along with being very much Bible-based). I was surprised to hear the quote on Fox News earlier, and wonder what will happen when NARAL complains to Starbucks....
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