Dumping Starbucks?

Facebook and Twitter have a caffeine high created by Starbucks' CEO Howard Shultz.

If you haven't heard, he supported same-sex marriage last week at an annual shareholders' meeting.

However, before you judge too harshly or get like happy on Facebook, make sure you have all the facts. If you are confused about the facts, read Starbucks, Same-Sex Marriage and Getting Facts Straight.

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) countered Shultz by calling for a boycott of Starbucks with the "Dump Starbucks" campaign (www.dumpstarbucks.com).

Now some Christians are boycotting Starbucks.

What is a Starbucks loving Christian to do?

First off, I love Starbucks coffee. Like I really love it, so much that I've read Howard Shultz's book Onward. The Starbucks card in my pocket is gold. At this moment, I'm drinking another brew (not due to boycotting) and every sip begrudgingly reminds me that Starbucks' beans are superior.

Second, I hate boycotting things. The only thing I like to boycott are boycotts themselves.

Third, and most importantly, Christians should not boycott Starbucks based on this issue. Please understand that I am 100% against same-sex marriages, but that's not the primary issue here.

If Christians boycott Starbucks, the conversation ends.

There is a time to boycott, but this isn't it. Boycotting Starbucks is like middle school girls caught up in drama. They refuse to talk to each other, only about each other. In the end everyone at the lunch table loses.

Are you really passionate about this issue? If you are, don't you need to have meaningful conversations with the people who that affects?

Stopping the conversation only polarizes us more. That separation denies the opportunity for some to experience the same love that we are called to share with others.

More importantly, Howard Shultz (along with every other supporter of same-sex marriage) is more valuable than that one opinion. That one opinion doesn't define them or their value.

Everyone misses out on something, when the conversation ends...relationship.

By dumping Starbucks, you might be taking away your own God-given opportunity to love your neighbor.

This reminds me of a story Jesus told about who your neighbors are. And who did Jesus use as the hero in the story? That's right, a Samaritan who wasn't even considered clean by Jesus' Jewish audience.

Do you think Jesus would dump Starbucks? Personally, I don't think so. He hung out with the untouchables of his day and he loved people a latte. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Ask yourself this question, "Does dumping Starbucks bring someone closer to knowing Jesus or farther away?" That answer should dictate your actions.

Question:
What do you think? Am I wrong? Should Christians dump Starbucks?

Check out this previous Gravy post:

• A Changed Perspective on Homosexuality