Where is the Christmas Story?

I just finished rereading all my Christmas posts so that I wouldn't totally repeat myself in this new offering. In case you are inclined, ALL of those posts are really good. IMHO. So have at it.

For some years now, I have been binge watching all those sappy Hallmark Christmas shows. And I have noticed a trend that has finally, this year, culminated in the total elimination of the presence of a creche and the mention of the name Jesus. Although there was a scene in ONE program where a family prayed over their meal, that's as close as we get. I have the feeling that this was a slow methodical process, purposely designed to remove the Savior, the Christ, from Christmas, for whatever reason: Inclusion (exclusion), religious correctness, indoctrination. Merry Xmas, y'all.

Now the focus is mostly about the "Magic" of Christmas, having faith in the day, rather than in Christ, and, of course, falling in love. Pretty much all of the Hallmark shows have a beautiful couple meeting just before Christmas and falling in love. At least programs like Christmas in Rome, Christmas in Paris, show us some great scenes of those cities, including restaurants and fountains. Curiously though, no churches. And if you have been to Europe, you know there is a plethora of Churches! And where there's a Christian church, there's a creche for Christmas. So . . . no churches, thank you very much.

So what's the story? I shouldn't be surprised, because this focus (or non-focus) is daily fare on all the weekly programs from ABC to WGN. For instance, your favorite series (NCIS, Hawaii 50, eg.) would have a special Christmas episode some time before December 25. But, if you're paying attention, I think you will notice that Christmas is now mostly just the background, not the focus for these episodes. Even our beloved Blue Bloods left something to be desired.

I needed something real, and thankfully, few days ago, I attended the Christmas program at St. Paschal's school in Thousand Oaks. As I approached the church property the spectacle of their creche on the corner made my heart leap. It was all there with big bright lights! Terrific.

My grandson, Frankie, was a shepherd early in the program as the kids portrayed the Christmas story and the principal read from the gospels of Luke and Matthew. The real thing. Right from the source.

The entire presentation from first graders to eighth sang a selection of Christmas Carols. Some, such as Away in a Manager, could truly be called hymns. This presentation truly kicked off my holiday elan. I needed that, because I was feeling sad. I know this is partly because I always miss my George at Christmastime. But I long for and miss the way it used to be. As I mentioned earlier, the drift from a Christ-centered Christmas has been slow but sure and depressing. And now, it would appear, the media's erosion of the coming of God in flesh to save us from our sins, is complete. Not even a mention in their mediocre fare.

The latest addition to the non-Christmas Christmas stories, alas, is a new version of A Christmas Carol. This one produced by FX in conjunction with the BBC, loosely based on the Dickens story is dark and gritty, the F bomb sprinkled in here and there. Because Guy Pearce stars, I thought I'd watch. And while it had its moments, overall I was disappointed. The original theme of redemption through God's forgiveness is replaced with Scrooge's own rejection of forgiveness, "I don't want forgiveness. I'll just be better," which replaces Christ's entrance into his life with him deciding he can overcome his past with strength of will to "do better." We've all tried to "do better," haven't we?

If you're looking for A Christmas Carol worth watching, look for Alistair Sims 1951 version. He played Scrooge better even than Patrick Stewart, and rather than F bombs, there's scripture sprinkled liberally throughout. What a concept! The darkness is achieved by the movie being filmed in black & white. But the ending, his dancing for joy, his humility, underscores how man can be changed by the love and forgiveness of the Lord.

And if you're looking for the true meaning of Christmas, that Christ came, left heaven to condescend to be a human and be born a helpless baby so that He could ultimately die for us, then don't look for it on television. Show it in your house, and let the truth be on your lips.

Christ is born in Bethlehem!