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Recently one of the contributors to the site claimed that the UK Government “cancelled” Christmas. A link was provided with tabloid newspaper headers that shouted that Christmas was “wrecked”, “lost”, “stuffed” and, indeed, “cancelled” by the new high level lockdown regulations the UK government pronounced.
Can one actually “cancel” Christmas?, I wondered.
Christmas of course, can’t be cancelled or “stolen”, as those who celebrate the Real Reason for the Season know. And as even the far from perfect story of How the Grinch stole Christmas showed us. The movie title (spoiler alert) is a bit of a misnomer, as the “theft” by the Grinch is ultimately unsuccessful in achieving his goal: to steal and wreck Christmas for the townsfolk of Whoville.
After he has stolen Christmas presents, trees and food from the Whoville residents and is about to dump them in the abyss on Mount Crumpit, the Grinch discovers to his dismay that the townsfolk still joyously sing one of those darn Christmas songs he always hated. He rightfully reasons that there is perhaps more to Christmas than just the material side of things, grows (literally, apparently) a bigger heart and joins the Whos in their celebrations.
The movie does not mention the name or the birth of Jesus Christ explicitly, except in the song “Come Rest ye Merry Gentlemen” sung by the townsfolk. It does not zoom in on the real meaning of Christmas, the birth of the Saviour who has come to redeem us from our sins. As such, it is one of those Hollywood movies that have taken Christmas as a coat hanger for the warm and fuzzy feel good message of humanistic love, kindness and joy. At least it acknowledges that there are non-materialistic positives to Christmas, but it still does not link them up with Jesus Christ.
How much would be lost if all those festivities that have little if anything to do with the real Reason for the Season, would be cancelled, wrecked, lost or stuffed?, I wondered. As nice as the paraphernalia around Christmas are, should we be upset if they were to be lost due to a COVID 19 lockdown? Many secular and liberal Christian Britons would almost find this a rhetorical question in the sense that to answer this with a NO would be almost unthinkable.
In the eyes of Bible believing Christians, however, the question would also be almost a rhetorical one, but for exactly the opposite reason. If anything, they may find it a positive thing that we won’t be able to celebrate Christmas the way Hollywood and most of the world do it nowadays. Out of 10 “Christmas movies” you’d be lucky if in 1 of them any reference was made to the birth of Jesus Christ. Ditto for Christmas parties, or anything with the label “Christmas”. It is all about Father Christmas, Christmas trees, family get-togethers, knitted jerseys, eggnog, food and drinks, etc. But very little, if anything, about the miracle of the virgin birth and the good news that came into the world in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. Apart from those living in countries with Christian persecution like in China and in many Muslim countries, most western Christians will be able to celebrate Christmas uncancelled, unwrecked, unlost and unstuffed. Freely, and for the right reason, with or without a COVID 19 lockdown.
Perhaps this very unpleasant Worldwide Wuhan Wobble that we are going through gives us an opportunity to re-focus on the Real Reason for the Season.
Merry Christmas, CAC-ers and a blessed 2021!
