LETTER TO STARBUCKS

Here is a letter I recently sent to Starbucks:

Dear Starbucks,

I am finally getting around to writing, letting you know my wife and I have stopped spending money at your stores.  We used to spend about $100 per month, but feel that we cannot knowingly support a company which aggressively endorses and promotes sinful behavior.

I, myself, have sinned a lot in my day – but I do not expect anyone to endorse my lifestyle choice or push to have my behavior legally ratified.  Same-sex marriage is just one amongst many things condemned by the bible, so I do not think it deserves a pass any more than the other behaviors listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:  “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

I have been a thief, a drunkard, a reviler, greedy, sexually immoral, an adulterer, and an idolater – but I have turned away from those sins, not campaigned to try and make everyone accept those things as normal and good. 

Starbucks is taking a socially and morally irresponsible stand, and I will not spend my money to support your company while you continue to do so.

Thank you for your time.

Respectfully,

George Ganahl

CRUCIFY THE FLESH

Francis Chan on crucifying the flesh in his book Forgotten God:Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit…

“When you decide to put to death—to crucify—your flesh, you are by default choosing the way of the Spirit. You are leaving one path and joining another. The new path of walking with the Spirit will undoubtedly have its share of twists and turns. At forks in the trail, you will, at times, choose to follow the desires of your flesh, even though you left that path long ago.

The way of the Spirit is not a gentle downhill grade. Often, walking with the Spirit is an uphill trudge through all sorts of distractions and difficulties. But while the path is winding and difficult, you are constantly moving in a particular direction, and that direction is set by the leading of the Spirit. At some point along the way, you agreed with God that you were not meant to be ruled by your fleshly desires and passions (like anger, self-indulgence, immorality, etc.), and you removed the central role that these things once had in your life. Perhaps you have not yet made this decision. Understand that it is a decision everyone must make. It cannot be done mindlessly, not when we are talking about something as intense as crucifying. Each of us has to decide whether we are going to crucify the flesh, whether we will truly walk with the Spirit. It is a choice. And it is crucial.”

PAUL’S PRAYER

I was reading in the book of Colossians today, and was struck with the relevance of Paul’s prayer for them as it relates to walking in brokenness:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14 ESV)

The day-to-day walk of brokenness for a Christian includes knowing God’s will (we must be studying scripture), pleasing Him by our obedience to His will rather than our own, and bearing fruit. Consequently, we will be given the strength we need (that ongoing aspect of God’s grace) to endure throughout this life, not giving up but filled with joy to do His work.

I especially love the assurance that “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness” – we are set free from bondage to sin! We don’t have to live in darkness any longer, but can live open, broken, and free as recipients of God’s kingdom!

We are redeemed and forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!

To all those at the WIT! Singles conference this weekend, I’m praying for you!

Love in Christ,

George