“A Christmas Carol”
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
“It’s a Wonderful Life”
“A Charlie Brown Christmas”
We have looked at several common elements that are threaded through most Christmas movies. The presence of a “scrooge” or “grinch” and a transformation that is brought on by a defining moment. The “spirit” of Christmas moves our antagonist from unbeliever to believer and restoration of relationships begins…and everyone lives happily ever after : )
There is something else that is essential to this formula that we do not always see but has to be present for this happy ending to work…forgiveness.
When Scrooge shows up at the Crachit house on Christmas day he is not immediately well received. After all, he has treated Bob Crachit horrible for years! He is pretty much the reason that the Crachit family has been struggling. So, it is no wonder that Bob is a little skeptical of the old man’s sudden transformation. But, due to movie time constraints it is implied and even demonstrated to us that forgiveness has taken place. Yes, believe it or not, Bob forgives Scrooge for his years of abuse and selfishness in a moment.
When the Grinch brings Christmas back to the Who’s down in Whoville…they forgive him and accept him into the community the same day…”and he, he himself, the Grinch, carved the roast beast!”
In “It’s a Wonderful Life”, George Bailey’s family and friends had to forgive him for his rude and downright hateful way that he treated him when he thought his dreams would be lost due to his disappointing life.
When the Peanuts gang finally got the message and went after Charlie Brown, he had to forgive his friends for their cruel treatment the public humiliation they had just handed him!
On and on the story goes…the part that is implied…even essential to the “happy ending”. Forgiveness. Whether it comes from the Whos, the Crachits or the Charlie Browns of our movies…it seems to flow from our yuletide victims so easily. Not that I’m bitter…but…come on Charlie Brown! “How ’bout a little 21st century grudge holding?” “Maybe a just a few more sleepless nights for Mr Scrooge?” “Hey Whoville, a two year sentence of shoveling snow sounds resonable!”
Maybe this seldom mentioned element to our “Christmas” movies is the most distinguishing characteristic of all? In a day when most movies satisfy the inner thirst for vengence and revenge, our holiday films offer something not so natural…even divine…forgiveness. It doesn’t make sense to us. It is not natural. We want the bad guy to get what he deserves. We tend to resist forgiveness and harbor anger. It’s our way.
Christmas has a different message. The Scripture tells us that we had rejected God and His design for us. We were his “enemies” by choice. What we deserved is a death sentence. Yet, God did not walk away. He came to us. He burst into our world that first Christmas because He loved us so much that He could not let us go. He did what we would never do…He forgave us. He did not give us what we deserved but…He gave us what we needed…forgiveness. It’s almost unbelievable! But, it’s the Truth!
Believe it today and have a Merry Christmas!