Thank God for Starbucks

Today, Starbucks announced that Rick Warren has been selected to write words that will appear on its coffee cups nationwide beginning in the spring. As part of it’s "The Way I See It Campaign," Starbucks solicited quotes, slogans and sayings to print on its paper cups as a way of continuing the tradition of coffee houses being host to debates and dialogue. I go to Starbucks so much that now I may not have to break down and actually read The Purpose Driven Life.

I was first alerted to this news story today by a phone call from a friend. After reading the story, my friend remarked, “See, Sam, it is clear that this nation is clearly pro-God and pro-Jesus.” I let him know that this was a poor conclusion to draw and that the prefix 'pro' might be too strong, but I did acknowledge a historical leaning towards Christianity as the religion of the majority of American citizens. “You can read the handwriting on the Starbucks cups all you want, but you won’t find justification for your conservative, anti-poor values,” I told him.

Also making news today was the defeat of a proposed increase in minimum wage. Not having enough votes to be approved, the minimum wage will nationally remain at $5.15, unchanged since 1997. Individual states are allowed to have a minimum wage higher than this, but at $5.15 an hour, a working adult with two children will fall over $4,000 short of the poverty line. Jim Wallis is right when he claims that poverty is the new slavery.

Some of my readers may claim there is no correlation between one’s Christianity and government-led help for the poor. But they will be quick to claim a correlation between Christianity and government-led help for the unborn. We all like to pick and choose the verses of the Bible we think matter, and we all like to legislate our beliefs in the name of truth. But we can’t get around the stories of Jesus challenging his followers to rise and fight the systems of oppression that take advantage of the least of these.

While increasing the minimum wage neither creates jobs nor encourages responsibility, it does give some a fighting chance, especially when gas and heating costs will be through the roof this winter. Because Jesus fought for the underdog, I am called to do the same, whether that calls me to lobby for welfare reform or donate to a relief agency. But, I’ll admit it may be awful hard to give a crap if after I buy a mocha frappuccino and get to read words of comfort from a megachurch pastor. Besides, at my Starbucks, there are no poor people anywhere nearby.

I do applaud Starbucks on several fronts, however. They are known for paying well above minimum wage and offering their part-time employees health benefits. Their commitment to fair-trade coffee is noteworthy, and their inclusion of Christian statements in this series (which has also included quotes from evolutionists and homosexuals) will hopefully shut up those who think mainstream America hates Christianity. But, while there are several American companies who do everything legally and properly, they do not have business practices that promote justice.

As I introduce the ‘j’ word into the conversation, I do so hesitantly. It is a word often misunderstood and rarely examined. In most people’s mind, it is relegated to the courts and the legislature, which again put us into the realms of legality and properness. But there is something about justice that isn’t always ‘fair.’ There is something about justice that as Paul Tillich writes includes, “listening, giving and forgiving.”

I will continue to post in the next few weeks related to the notion of justice, and what it must look like for the Christian today. I will take as my example the life and work of Jesus, who did not fight for fairness, but for justice. There is a difference. God bless Starbucks for being fair on their cups and just in their personnel practices. God forgive us for being fair with our societies, but unjust with our wages.