Considering that Starbucks’ cups of Christmas past included snowmen, swirls, and trinkets, they should never be considered a litmus test for whether Christmas is slowly being removed from cultural awareness. All of those things are secular holiday traditions, and neither support nor break down the Christian celebrations associated with Christ’s birth. They just don’t. If your religious traditions must be affirmed by Starbucks, a secular business, then you need to reconsider the earthly sway on your religious leanings. And please, look elsewhere for actual cultural trauma.

The “outrage” has definitely gone viral. Joshua Feuerstein, a kind-of social media evangelist, videotaped a trip to Starbucks to receive his own red cup…and to make a statement. But instead of being any of worth, the video, which has amassed more than 8,000,000 views, is embarrassing, and far removed from what Christians should be outraged about…

Not only is the Starbucks cup issue nothing to be concerned about, but it takes energy and time away from issues that are of concern. The next two months should be filled with thankfulness, giving, and helping those in need. This hyper-emotional reaction to the color of coffee cups shows that we need to center ourselves around what actually matters. As a Christian, the foundation for my belief isn’t anchored in seasonal marketing ploys by businesses just wanting my money. We need to cut the distractions, and focus on what’s real.