Paulette and I recently watched a movie entitled “The Man Who Invented Christmas.” It wasn’t about the original Christmas story; it was about Charles Dickens, his short novel “A Christmas Carol,” and how it (together with Queen Victoria’s beautifully decorated Christmas trees) influenced the way Christmas was celebrated.

When Dickens wrote his story in 1843, Christmas celebrations in England were minimal. On the religious side much of this was because of the continuing influence of Puritan rule two centuries before. The Puritans were opposed to the celebration of Christmas because they found no justification for it in scripture and felt it was an adoption of an earlier pagan festival. They had even passed a law outlawing its celebration, which was also passed in Puritan New England. The law was repealed in 1660, but Christmas did not become a legal holiday until 1856. Some schools continued to hold classes on Christmas Day until 1870. On the secular side much of the population was hard worked, poor, and lived under terrible social conditions. They had little opportunity or means to celebrate the holiday.

Dickens was a reformer, and part of his goal for the story was to draw attention to the horrible conditions of the poor and generate compassion for their plight. He also gave the story a strong religious message. The conversion of Scrooge shows that all can be redeemed, even him, and one of his acts on Christmas Day was to attend church. The Cratchit family thanks God before partaking of their meal inviting His presence at the table. Dickens strongly contrasts Scrooge’s love of gold with the golden hearts of the Cratchits. Dickens makes family, love, compassion, and charity central parts of celebrating Christmas. Indeed, there was a great increase in charitable giving the Christmas after the book appeared.

Part of the Puritan objection to Christmas was that the meaning of the Christmas story told in Matthew and Luke gains its meaning in the crucifixion and resurrection, and we would all agree. In addition Dickens’ story points out that Christ’s message of compassion and charity as told in Matthew 25:35-46 is a part of Christmas as well. This is re-expressed in 1 John 3:17 which says, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” Celebrating these three aspects of Christmas helps us remember God’s unconditional love for YOU and me. Merry Christmas!

Jim