What's Really On The Bottom Of In-N-Out Cups?
While Chick-fil-A may catch a lot of flak for openly promoting their politics, including upholding a rather unpopular policy (at least to hungry customers) of staying closed on Sundays, there's another popular fast food franchise that is doing a little evangelizing of its own without drawing nearly so much attention to itself — in fact, some fans of cult favorite In-N-Out Burger may have never even noticed the subtle Bible verse references printed on the bottom of each soda cup (via Today).
The cup actually does not contain the Bible text itself, just the chapter and verse number John 3:16. Should you not happen to have won the Sunday School prize for Bible verse memorization, we'll refresh your memory: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
How did In-N-Out's Bible verse packaging thing start?
In-N-Out is a family-owned chain, and that family, in addition to being very business-savvy, is also quite devout. Company president Richard Snyder, who sadly passed away in a 1993 plane crash, was the first one to put Bible verses on some of the chain's packaging, and this tradition was carried on by his niece Lynsi Snyder, who is the current CEO. Snyder claims she came by her faith the hard way — after losing her father (as well as her uncle) early in life, she endured three failed marriages before finally finding her way (and perhaps her path to leadership) through her renewed relationship with the Lord.
It's not just In-N-Out soda cups that carry Bible verses
The soda cups aren't In-N-Out's only scripture-enhanced packaging. The milkshake cups also carry a verse of their own, Proverbs 3:5, which reads "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." The Double-Double wrappers are printed with Nahum 1:7: "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."
Regular burgers and cheeseburgers come wrapped up in Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
"In later years, I added verses to the fry boat, coffee and hot cocoa cups," said Snyder. "It's a family business and will always be, and that's a family touch."