The Great Red Cup Debate seems to be dying down, but I’d still like to throw my two cents in. Or in this case, bounce my quarter. The problem is rarely the problem. No, this isn’t a corporate snubbing of Christianity, and the idea that the Christian response to an offense (an imaginary one at that) should be self-righteous coercion upsets me. But this isn’t just religious ignorance, either. In much of the American church right now, there is a genuine fear of loss- a loss of identity, honor, and influence in the culture. When we fear we’re going to lose something or someone, our natural response is to grip tighter and try to control. That doesn’t usually work out so well. We end up fighting an endless number of battles that no one can win.
But there is such good news attached to this. In a time when people’s orphan hearts are on full display, from college campuses to Wall St. to Hollywood to Washington D.C., Jesus is visiting His church to deal with theirs first. We don’t intend to, but over time our focus can shift from what Jesus is doing to what our particular church is doing. We slide from the Great Commandment and Commission to the Great Offering and Pot Luck Dinner. When we have more of a relationship with a religious system than with God himself, we focus on keeping that system exactly the way it is to make us feel secure. When something threatens that security, like a cardboard cup, it’s seen as an offense against God that must be defended.
Every time you allow God to expose the roots of your problems, you will also see that He has plans and provisions to deal with them that are immeasurably greater than the problems themselves. In the face of a secularization of culture, the root problem is not a lack of cups with “Merry Christmas” printed on them. The root problem is hearts that have become disconnected from knowing God’s. His plan, at least in part, is an invitation to more of an intimate, trusting, growing relationship with Him than you have ever known before. He has provided for a relationship with you in which you are no longer trying to gain His favor, but living from it toward everyone else. Instead of tripping over a paper cup, you become the overflowing cup that gives peace, joy, and healing to everyone who takes a drink.
Equip Your Spirit 