Oh God! - First Thoughts

Quote from a Starbucks 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 imaginations 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 have already heard some of my Christian brothers and sisters calling for a boycott of Starbucks. My feelings on that are mixed. If I truly believed this to be a Starbucks corporate attack on God, I would probably stop going there. But, if it is indeed not necessarily the opinion of Starbucks, as the disclaimer indicates, and it is an honest question from a seeker, then why not engage in that conversation? Why not, as the Bible says, be always ready to answer any man who asks? Why not be engaged in day to day life and seek out those kinds of conversations as opportunities to be salt and light?

Have we as Christians become too isolationist? Have we become too intellectually lazy to join the battle and engage in the debate? Are too many of us Christians just not sure enough of what we believe or why we believe it? Are we too timid to enter the fray?

If I stopped going every place where some person might question the existence of God, I would have to join a monastery. Then I would even have to avoid my own thought life. I have been a believer for as long as I can remember. But, even so, there are still occasions when I question God's love or God's justice or even God's very existence. Hello? Any one else out there want to 'fess up?

Maybe we avoid those conversations because they bring out our own hidden doubts. That speaks to our condition, not to God's ability to defend Himself. He is more than able to stand up to our scrutiny.

If I stop frequenting Starbucks it will be because other places have coffee that I like just as well or better, or because I find their beverages overpriced, or because of their silly size naming scheme (maybe it's a tad petty, but I just refuse to play their little game – small is small – tall is tall - small is not tall – and don't get me started on that pretentious Venti business). As it now stands, I will probably frequent their establishment about as often as before, partly because I like the ambiance there and partly just hoping for the opportunity to have that conversation with an honest seeker.