Bah Humbug! is a famous line made so by Ebenezer Scrooge. I did an Ebenezer portrayal at our Traveler's Christmas Eve service the other day and will share his story again on Christmas Eve. But I learned some very fascinating elements to this story that I would like to share with you. I hope it will make the story even more relevant to you now.
During the time of Puritan Rule in England, the 1600's, they outlawed the celebration of Christmas. It had been a combination of old english winter festivals and Christ's birth mixed together, but in the eyes of the Puritans a horrible experience. In the early 1700's the Monarchy was restored. In the early 1800's Queen Victoria married a german Prince Albert and he brought some German Christmas celebrations with him, like the Christmas Tree that Martin Luther had initiated in Germany.
in 1833 a Christmas Carol songbook was first published in England, and it gained immense popularity so that Caroling became a very big deal. But they were still wrestling with what to do at Christmas. Enter Charles Dickens. He wrote the a Christmas Carol in six weeks and it was first published on Dec. 19, 1843, one hundred and seventy years ago last night. I felt the spirit of Scrooge doing his portrayal.
Charles Dickens was an active supporter of making life for the poor in England much better. His story of the stinginess of Scrooge played well with his view of why the poor were so looked down upon. His conversion to joyful celebration of Christmas as a result of the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and the ghost of Christmas Yet to Be made him realize that anyone, no mater how miserly and unconcerned, could be influenced by the message of love at Christmas and become one who shared and helped those less fortunate. He increased Bob Cratchitt's salary, helped with the medical expenses for Tiny Tim and was generally recognized at the end of his life as one who truly understood the Christmas spirit by his generosity to others.
This is a story, but it reflects the power of the love of God. We can be transformed by God's mercy and grace, made so clear to us in the Jesus story, that we, no matter how awful, or disinterested in God, can be changed to truly reflect the spirit that God so Loved the World, that he sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes this, will have eternal life. A relationship to the Creator restored!
Some other interesting trivia, Dickens was very near sighted and when he was wandering through a graveyard saw a tombstone for Ebenezer Scroogie, a meal man, for he sold cornmeal. But in Dickens poor eyesight it became mean man. There are some other famous british men who were extremely wealthily and totally adverse to helping people other than themselves.
The book changed lives, his descriptions of Christmas parties at Fezziwig's and at his Nephew Fred's house became common practice for others. Singing Christmas carols out on the street gained even more popularity and some of the harsh poor house laws were reformed as a result of this book.
I hope you watch one of the hundreds of versions of A Christmas Carol and recognize that as a story it speaks of redemption, renewal, care for others, joyous celebration of the coming of Jesus into our world and appreciate the story of Charles Dickens even more. As Tiny Tim would say, "God Bless Us Everyone!" For some, the Muppets version is really great. I like the one with Patrick Stewart of Star Trek fame, as Ebenezer. But there are many others, Albert Finney, even Bill Murray did one. There are also versions with women playing the key part.
Have a Merry Christmas, a Happy and Healthy New Year and blessings on your families and friends as you practice the joy of the season and love for one another. Even forgive and love the old Scrooge you know.
Pastor Jeff
