You may have heard in the news recently about Starbucks’ new holiday cup and how it perpetuates the “war on Christmas” in this country.

How a lack of printed ornamentation on a paper cup is anti-Christmas baffles me. How Christians can’t see that their outrage does nothing to spread the word about Jesus in a positive light is just moronic.

Starbucks has long been upfront about having no religious affiliations and even the “symbols of the season” removed from the cups were never religious in nature (unless snowflakes and reindeer compel you to worship).

This isn’t the first time the coffee giant has been in the limelight for non-Christian beliefs. A couple years back, it was in a firestorm for supporting gay marriage. Folks seemingly forgot about that one, as there was not a mass closing of locations.

So why is this a thing? Why do we feel the need to have our businesses align with our religious beliefs? How does this affect our quality of life? You rarely see this with any other issue.

“Hey, did you hear our local pizzeria favors using Excel to Quickbooks? Clearly we need to boycott.”

That never happens, and yet we are so quick to slam businesses for not spewing Christian doctrines. I feel as though there is a growing shift, especially in the South, to this extreme religious fervor and fear of anything “alternative.”

I should point out here that I am a baptized Christian myself before the torches and pitchforks come out. I am all for spreading the word of Christ, but how is all of this anger and hatred doing that?

How are we as a collective supposed to bring nonbelievers to know Jesus if most of what they see of us is so abhorrent?

Christians, especially those in the public eye, should be less concerned with coffee cups and more concerned with issues that actually matter and that show God’s love through us. Like helping feed the hungry and give them shelter, even more important with winter coming. Or perhaps showing understanding when a prominent business tries to be more inclusive in its holiday marketing.

We cannot continue to stick our heads in the sand and pretend nobody else exists. Other races and religions celebrate other holidays and traditions during this time. If we fail to acknowledge that and to be accommodating and decent to our fellow men, we are doomed to be a religion that stagnates in numbers.

We cannot expect to be shown the same respect we are not willing to freely give, especially to those different from ourselves.

Crystal Cole is editor of The Courier. She can be reached via email at crystal@gulfcoastmedia.com.