Starbucks put out a plain (read: ombre) red christmas cup this year and somebody got upset about it saying they were removing Christ from christmas because snowflakes represent the hope of Jesus. I've been thinking about this since I first saw it last night and boy is it really irritating me, which.. REALLY irritates me. Our culture is so (curses and swears) that we will get upset about the removal of snowflakes - because Jesus equates snowflakes - and then I googled "what can you do with $5 a day" And I got even more irritated. And since it is 2015 and I am a woman living in a gender neutral, supposedly egalitarian, post-christendom culture and have internet access I have the ability to speak my mind and so I will. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.
Dear Snowflake Jesus Christians,
Did you know that Jesus was not born on December 25th? Did you know that even if he was born on that day there likely wasn’t snow, or snowmen, or eggnog lattes, or trees in peoples houses, or lights on their eves, or gifts wrapped in paper, or excessive feasting, or wreaths. There were no pop singers butchering O Holy Night, no christmas letters, no ugly christmas sweaters, no candy canes, no flying reindeer, no fat man in a red suit breaking into peoples homes to leave things.
It has long been acknowledged by scholars that Jesus was probably born in the spring, due to the Apostle Luke’s account of the shepherds tending their flocks in the fields. And it has long been documented that Jesus was probably born 2-4 years B.C. do you know B.C. means before Christ? So, even our historical chronology is off which is rightly why many historians choose to use B.C.E (before common era) as a pinpoint in history to avoid religious affiliation and confusion. (Also many of the months of our year are named after Roman gods and goddesses) I’m getting a little off track here, but not too far.
Back to Jesus’ actual birthday and christmas.
Christmas is an attempt by the church to redeem a pagan holiday. Have you heard of Saturnalia?
Saturnalia was first introduced by the Romans as an attempt to rescue the sun god. It was believed that the sun was defeated in battle every year and required human sacrifices (of all kinds) to bring it back to life. And since it appeared to work every year they continued this “celebration” every year between December 17-25th. And, let us not dumb down or sunday school this pagan holiday. It was a week where “anything goes”. Every year local authorities in every community would chose a “lord of misrule” one person that would be forced into these horrific’s and at the end of the week would be sacrificed as the Romans believed this would defeat the forces of darkness.
Ancient Greek poet and historian Lucian had observed Saturnalia and documented these things: widespread drunkeness, going naked house to house while singing, rape and other sexual immorality and the consumption of human shaped biscuits.
It’s no wonder the church wanted to redeem it… except they couldn’t get the pagans on board unless they allowed them to continue with their debauchery. Stephen Nissenbaum, professor history at the University of Massachussetts, Amherst, writes, “In return for ensuring massive observance of the anniversary of the Savior’s birth by assigning it to this resonant date, the Church for its part tacitly agreed to allow the holiday to be celebrated more or less the way it had always been.” The earliest Christmas holidays were celebrated by drinking, sexual indulgence, singing naked in the streets (a precursor of modern caroling), etc.
sigh..
They had to find a way to make Saturnalia Christian so they told people that it was Christ’s birthday and closed out the festivities (if you could even call them that) with Jesus’ birthday.
Happy Birthday Jesus.
Now, Jesus was never too good for a party but this is excessive. And while he ate with tax collectors and prostitutes and spoke to them about the love of God, he did not participate in their vocations.
Now we know that Saturnalia is no longer observed in this fashion so it certainly wasn't the worst thing the church has ever done in Jesus name but it still causes divisions amongst christians and in fact in the 1600's Christmas was banned by many Puritans because they were aware of it’s pagan origin. But, over the years we have worked to redeem it and although, redemption is not our job, we have successfully turned some pagan symbols into meaningful expressions and pointed people to Christ.
but as for the red cup..
How much do you spend on your red cup? If you are getting a grande latte you are in the $6 range. But, maybe you just like a regular brewed or even an americano so we are in the 2-3$ range so let’s average out to $5. How many days a week do you enjoy your red cup? I have been known to consume 5 in a week, some people have to have their red cup every day, others, once a week if that. So, I’m being generous to say three red cups a week? that’s about $15 a week, and red cups have started as of November 1. And they run all the way to the end of the year. So we have 9 weeks of red cups. Let’s do the math. 9x15=135. $135 on coffee. What else can you do with $135? I googled “what can you do with $5 a day” and I was woefully unprepared for the list of money grabbing ideas. I was hoping for some charitable contributions but no. Things like “what to buy for $5 a day, how to become a millionaire for $5 a day” Not exactly the “christmas Jesus is a snowflake hope” kind of thing I was looking for…
or maybe it was.
Dear snowflake Jesus christians
if you want to see a symbol of hope in Jesus
Be it yourself.
don’t let a red cup, that clogs our land fills and contributes to the carbon footprint and destruction of our planet that God entrusted to us determine the Holiness of Christ.
please don’t.
Here are some suggestions for what to do with your $5 or $135
http://helponenow.org/
https://www.ugm.ca/
These are just a few off the top of my head. There are millions of charities out there that are doing amazing things for the least of these, you know the ones Jesus talked about, and they desperately need your help. And if you have an aversion to giving, then why do you associate yourself with the biggest giver of all? Maybe because you only like to get?
Well, the sun is shining here, thankfully I won’t have to sacrifice my children, and it’s supposed to snow later this week, that means that on Thursday and Friday only I’ll be able to have the hope of Jesus.
Beautifully written Colleen! The western church gets offended at the craziest things and yet lets so many vitally important things, like our care for the least of these, pass by without comment. Thank you for calling attention to Biblical priorities!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sonya. I think what frustrates me most is that one or two people get upset and then the media lumps us all together.
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