Starbucks cups deny existence of God

I was enjoying my morning Starbucks coffee yesterday when I came across this comment on the side of the coffee cup:

"Why, in moments of crisis, do we ask God for strength and help? As cognitive beings, why would we ask something that may well be a figment of our imagination for guidance? Why not search inside ourselves for the power to overcome? After all, we are strong enough to cause most of the catastrophes we need to endure."

I was shocked that Starbucks would put a comment on their cups which denied the possible existence of God.

While I respect the fact that people can make their own choices and have their own feelings, Starbucks is a huge corporation and has a huge influence over many.

In line with me that morning were many young, impressionable people from the local middle and high schools. What if one person lost their faith in God from this comment?

As for me, I have written to their head office and stopped patronizing their stores. Now I only shop at businesses I have faith in.

Leah Clark, Coquitlam

BCCN arts coverage questionable

I have some concerns about some of BCCN's June arts and entertainment coverage.

The 'Summer Fun' section presented several films.

Is BCCN advocating these movies as a good source of summer fun for Christian families? The article does not suggest a negative or positive comment on each movie.

I'm not sure of the nature of all the movies listed. But I do not believe the Harry Potter series is in any way 'Christian' (for lack of a better word) or uplifting, or turning our thoughts toward our Saviour.

As for the movie Knocked Up: with such a title, it is most definitely not suitable material for Christians - nor for any younger family members.

Also, what's with 'The tragedy and triumph of Judee Sill'? Why such a huge article? Where is the triumph, as stated in the headline?

Does John Cody propose that Sill was a Christian singer? That her music and lyrics point the way to Jesus Christ and his salvation? That her relationship with Jesus helped her overcome her way of life and redeem her?

Was dying of an overdose the result of her becoming "a new creation" in Christ?

Is there anything in her music which would lead her listeners to a better understanding of God, or lead them in worship to their Lord, or inspire them to rejoice in their salvation, or help bring them into a closer relationship to God? I think not!

It's strange, the kind of items which get into a Christian publication.

Margaret Waine, Vancouver

Writer apologizes for inaccuracies

Regarding my testimony, which appeared in 'Two who renewed their faith on the street' (June): There are a few inaccuracies and unintended insinuations I would like to clear up.

First, I have not gotten married; but I do refer to my fiance and father of my twins as 'husband,' and he calls me his wife. Ours is a commitment 'till death do us part,' even before any public ceremony has taken place.

Secondly, my oldest child and I lived with my mom - from when he was born, until a few months before his fourth birthday. While I worked at Lordco, my mother babysat him until he was old enough for daycare.

He and I lived on our own in a basement suite in Delta for approximately 10 months. It was then that we had to move back to my mom's, when plans to move out with friends fell through.

The last thing I would like to clear up is that I truly appreciate my mother looking after my son, while I was in no shape to do so. Even though I missed him terribly every day, I did not have the added pain of worrying about his safety and well-being. I always knew he was being loved and cared for, and not suffering abuse of any sort. For this I am truly grateful, and have let my mother know this.

The gist of the testimony was accurate though. I was raised in a good home, and had a nervous breakdown due to life's curve-balls throwing me for a mental loop.

I was stuck in a rut, spinning my wheels for a few years - and have managed to rock my way out of that rut with a lot of credit due to the people at NightShift, and those helping on the street serving food.

The main credit due is to God for the strength he gives Mac and Bob, and everyone else at the dinners - who touched my heart and soul, and helped me grow two healthy angels to love and cherish!

Tanya Friesen, Surrey

Olympic outreach divides readers

Rich people are bad? The Olympic letter signed by multiple folks is symptomatic of those who stand for liberal 'Christian' orthodoxy.

What this orthodoxy means in basic terms is that anyone with money is against the gospel as the liberals understand it.

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Making absurd generalities about people with money, the letter writers claim "Christ drove lucrative businessmen out of the temple."

Scripture doesn't mention financial merits of the business being done. Christ was obviously saying that any such pursuits were contrary to the reverence toward God that the temple was built for.

The writers also say the gospel "overwhelmingly puts Jesus in the presence of the poor and in judgment of the wealthy."

The spiritual status of people in the New Testament is not determined by financial status, but rather by "whoseverr believeth" (or not believeth).

Scripture is clear that anyone who refuses to acknowledge Christ and his atoning sacrifice is doomed - not anyone who is rich.

Further, the letter castigates "sports, like the Olympics," because these activities have "much in common with the bloody spectacles conducted in the Roman Colosseum."

Us folk who simply enjoy such sports are therefore doing "the equivalent of handing bottled water to Colosseum spectators while Christians are martyred inside."

It is truly sad if these letter writers cannot see the difference between modern day Olympic athletic competition and the ancient killing of innocent humans for sport.

Maybe this type of 'orthodoxy' isn't orthodox at all.

Tim Spangler, Vancouver

'Olympic support is misguided' (June) demonstrates true spiritual discernment.

BCCN would do well to print the lyrics of the Olympic anthem - along with a few quotes by Baron de Coubertin, and the Olympic committee itself - proving that the modern Olympic festival was designed to proclaim the religion of one world government.

With knowledge of what Olympians vow as they sing the hymn praising Zeus, readers can then decide for themselves if a real Christian ought to have anything to do with this most blatantly pagan ritual.

How come we haven't heard a peep from those who are usually so vociferous about separation of church and state?

Even if most taxpayers are oblivious to the outrage of government promoting the pagan Greek pantheon, every Christian must answer for himself: where does one draw the line when tax is demanded, knowing that those funds underwrite services to false gods?

Gordon S. Watson, Burnaby

Questions for the church of Surrey

Re: 'Surrey problems underestimated' (June):

I was involved with youth ministry in Surrey for six years. I have experienced some of the frustrations of the letter's writer.

Some churches are not willing to think outside of the box. Some have confined themselves to a kind of North Americanized form of Christianity, which is very protective of capitalistic ideals and very concerned with self-preservation.

This is really detrimental to the sacrificial example Jesus gave us.

Personally, I have barely touched the amount of sacrifice some people have made in the name of Christ; so I do not want to be hypocritical.

But one problem we have in reaching the lost is that we are unwilling to risk experiencing the pain it could involve.

Exactly what is the mandate of the church? Is it really to transform society, as though God is concerned primarily with correct moral behaviour? Or is our purpose to bring people into a right relationship with God and the people around them?

Part of the problem is that we have not realized that our primary ministry is one of reconciliation.

Have we forgotten 1 Corinthians 13 - which says that, if we surrender all we have to the poor, yet do not have love, we are nothing?

Further, exactly what does it mean to make disciples? Is it to get them to obey the teachings of Jesus?

You cannot expect people to obey these teachings until they recognize their need for Christ; and they are not necessarily going to get the message until you risk embracing people despite the fact they aren't obeying Jesus' teachings.

The Church of Surrey - of the world - is never going to fully reach the lost until they totally embrace the message of the gospel.

I have seen some encouraging signs. I have seen the Church of Surrey step up more and more to embrace the people of Surrey - and demonstrate that they are somewhat willing to engage with unsaved sinners, and show them the way of reconciliation.

God has called us to be a part of the local church, with our warts and everybody else's warts, and to encourage and equip the church - in order to help it carry out the mandate of the Great Commission, which is the ministry of reconciliation.

Christians themselves, in some ways, also need to be reconciled to God and to each other - so that we may continue ever more strongly, with the power of the Holy Spirit, into the future.

Richard Williams, Vancouve

July 2007