Christmas is the Beginning of the End of Fighting
Christmas movies tend to be about family dysfunction. Have you ever noticed this?
• In Die Hard, the most Christmas-y movie, John McClane is trying to resolve relationship issues with his wife (while also stopping a terrorist attack).
• In Home Alone, Kevin has fractured relationships with his siblings, his cousins, and his parents. And the parents seem to have plenty of issues with the in-laws as well. This is why he wishes for his whole family to disappear.
• In a Christmas story, there’s too much dysfunction to mention.
• In Christmas vacation, Clark Griswald’s holiday spirit combined with his incompetence drive everyone crazy. And, he ends up having to deal with an unexpected visit from his brother who is struggling to care for himself and his family. Plus the brother doesn’t really know how to fit in or have a mutual relationship with another person.
• In Jingle All the Way, Arnold Schwarnegger’s character is a "workaholic" father who keeps breaking his promises to his son. (Same thing is true in The Santa Clause).
• The list goes on. (Four Christmases is another notable on this front...I'll let you watch it for yourself...with no spoilers).
It comes as no surprise to most of us, I’m guessing, that family drama might be the centerpiece of a holiday movie when, year after year, we spend time with our families at the holidays and it feels like we spend all our energy just trying to fend off attacks or uncomfortable conversations and all the rest of it. Now, it’s funny to think about these movies and the various scenes that stick in our minds and they make us laugh and so on and so forth…but what does all this have to do with a Christmas message?
Well. Let’s just Zoom out for a second. What is it that God is trying to do in the world? What are his plans? What are his purposes? What is his will?
These questions sometimes plague us- but they don’t need to. God’s plan is simple: He’s going to put an end to conflict. He’s creating a new reality where there is no need for conflict because this new reality perfectly embodies God’s highest values: forgiveness, mercy, grace, peace, and love. This is the kingdom that is promised to us. This is what is coming.
And some places in the New Testament describe the kingdom as being already here. This is because, ideally, we get to experience the benefits of this new reality right here, right now, today, when we live as part of God’s people. We experience mercy, grace, forgiveness, love, and so on and so forth. In this sense, we don’t have to wait. It’s already here.
Jesus’ birth, God’s entry into the world, is what brought this kingdom. The kingdom that will end all conflict. Conflict great and small, from the various wars that are taking place across the globe, to the conflict we spend so much energy trying to avoid at the holidays. Conflict comes in many shapes and sizes, and Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection are all reminders that we don’t need it because there’s another way to be.
Jesus’ birth, then, is not just a cute story of some poor family that couldn’t make it to the hospital in time. It’s an invitation and a challenge. The invitation is this: If you want to be, you can join the family that puts mercy and forgiveness first. The people of God. The challenge is similar, except that it asks something of us, Can you be a peacemaker? Can you extend forgiveness where isn’t earned? Can you offer grace where someone might deserve punishment? These are all very nice gifts to receive. They aren’t a hell of a lot of fun to give.
Ultimately, it’s completely up to you what you do with this. As for me- I’m asking myself a question: Who do I want to be, what traits do I want to practice, at Christmas this year?
I hope you find a similar thought, or idea, or question, that offers you some guidance, in a season that can, at times, be a challenge.
Hang in there this holiday season, and I hope to see you soon,
Scott
PS- If you’re missing some NSC music on Christmas Eve (or Christmas Day)- check out the 3 videos below. Hopefully this will scratch an itch. And put you in a worship-ful frame of mind.
