I walked to Starbucks this morning to get some coffee and as I walked home I was reading some messages on their new holiday season cups, what I saw were some Christian messages being used as a marketing strategy. In fact, lately, Starbucks has been using several Christian principles to promote their stores and products. The statement that caught my attention on the cup was: “I wish everyone could see how much we all have in common.” When I read this statement promoting unity I can’t help but think about passages like Philippians 1:27 and 2:2, that talk about unity. And especially Acts 2:44: “And all who believed were together and had all things in common.” Also, 1 Corinthians 1:10: “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”
I was really surprised to check out some of the statements they had on their web page (http://bit.ly/BqZlG). Their mission statement sounds very similar to what church and Christian community should look like.
About their customers they say that their work isn’t done with the coffee they serve them, there’s more to it, “It’s really about human connection,” sates their mission statement. How true is this in the church today? While we focus so much on church activity and program involvement we’re missing the point, that “It’s really about human connection.”
About their stores, Starbucks’ mission statement says: “When our customers feel this sense of belonging, our stores become a haven, a break from the worries outside, a place where you can meet with friends. It’s about enjoyment at the speed of life—sometimes slow and savored, sometimes faster. Always full of humanity.” Isn’t it interesting how they don’t emphasize the store? That it’s the “sense of belonging” that makes their building a special place? What connections to Christianity do you see in this statement? What lessons can we learn from this statement?
About the locations their stores are in they say: “Every store is part of a community, and we take our responsibility to be good neighbors seriously.” Yet another Biblical principle, Hebrews 13:2: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
At the core of Starbucks’ mission statement they hold to this statement: “To inspire and nurture the human spirit— one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.”
The church in America decided to model itself after the corporate world and it seems like the corporate world is modeling itself after Christian principles.
I believe that the days we are living in are days where the message of the Gospel and Christian living are attractive to people. Words like “community” and “unity” are being constantly used by my generation. Why aren’t we taking advantage of that in the church? It seems that even Starbucks has caught on to the vision that the Christian life-style is attractive.
Now I’m not saying that we should quit planting churches and open Starbucks franchises instead, but that we think about what our world is after today. They are after true and meaningful relationships among a group of people where love and a sense of belonging is felt.
I think Starbucks is going down a good path, but we, the church, have one thing that they don’t have: Jesus Christ and his sacrifice. That is the only key to make the concepts Starbucks is adopting to promote their products and stores actually change lives and change the world.
What if we held at the core of our mission statement something like this: “To inspire and nurture the human spirit— one person, one family, and one neighborhood at a time?” How much impact would we have in the world that way?
Let me know your thoughts and if you have answers to some of the questions I made. Romans 14:19 says: “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” Living in a Christian community involves “mutual upbuilding” and I would love to be built up by your comments as I hope I have built you up in some way.
Blessings,
Daniel Coutinho
