“Spirit!” he cried, tight clutching at its robe, “hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope…? Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!”
“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.”
He left the cemetery a changed man, and we applaud all the lessons contained in this story.
"There is, however, a fatal flaw in A Christmas Carol." So says Dr. David Jeremiah. He goes on to say,
"The person of Jesus Christ is strangely absent. Dickens himself believed in a benevolent God and felt the Bible contained good maxims. But he had no creed and didn't profess evangelical beliefs. Like our modern holiday celebrations, he managed to capture the mood of Christmas while forgetting the manger. Ebenezer Scrooge had a change of heart--but not by Christ. He was transformed from a miserable miser into a warm, kindhearted philanthropist by the power of imagination alone. The Christmas spirit--not the Holy Spirit--got hold of him."
"...A Christmas Carol warms the heart, but only Christ can change the soul.
It isn't just
realization we need, but redemption.
Not just sentiment, but a Savior."
Not just sentiment, but a Savior."
In our quest to create the atmosphere and sentiment of Christmas in our hearts and homes, let's beware of stopping short of Jesus. Advent is NOT about family (one advent calendar I saw yesterday said "'Tis the Season for Family"). Advent is the season for Jesus! Christmas is NOT for children! Christmas is for Jesus! Christmas is not even "about" Jesus. Christmas IS Jesus! And not a primitive chalk figure in a nativity set, but a Living and Active Savior and Friend.
May HE bless us everyone!
That is good Rebecca!
ReplyDeleteI understood your point and yet, I do agree, Christmas is Christ!
What a wonderful gift....
Deanna
well said and I never thought about the christmas carol and no mention of Jesus. That's right. Thanks for showing that.
ReplyDeleteAh Rebecca, another thought provoking blog! Dr. Jeremiah is so 'right on' and doesn't mince words.
ReplyDeleteThis is great...I am sharing your link on facebook.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I agree that we always need to include Jesus in the story of Christmas, I like the fact that Dickens shows a repentant heart leads to joy. This message far outweighs some of the modern so-called Christmas stories that are out there!
ReplyDeleteChristmas IS Jesus!!!
ReplyDeleteAMEN Rebecca! I'm so thankful He came.
Holykisses xoxo
Beautiful post! I loved what you said about being aware of stopping short of Jesus. This is a wonderful reminder. Thank you! Bless you!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you, Rebecca, for being such a good friend, and for sharing your Faith, and for sharing the Holy Spirit.
Love to you,
Eileen
Very thought provoking! I'll give Dickens a pass on this one. I think in his lifetime, faith in Christ was more the norm than the exception. I think he chose not to be preachy, but to imply conversion. In any case, I must agree that Christmas without Jesus is an empty proposition indeed!
ReplyDeleteVery good post Rebecca!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I know the world has made Christmas all about children and their gifts, I've always felt the same way, Chistrmas is not children, cookies, cards, etc. It is Jesus!
Well, at least Dickens character said "Merry CHRISTmas"... LOL! I like the story but your point is well taken that we need more than sentiment, we need a savior...the whole POINT of Christmas!
ReplyDelete