Comments on: Movie Review: Disney’s “A Christmas Carol”

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:11:53 +0000

My husband and I also enjoyed the movie. But I would actually suggest that it’s a particularly Christian movie, in the sense that it gives a strong reminder to Christians. James tells us that pure religion is visiting widows and orphans, and Scripture often commands us to defend the poor and the helpless. And in the parable of the last judgement, what separates believers from nonbelievers is whether they fed the poor and clothed the naked – and in doing so, cared for Christ himself.

Throughout Scripture, God hears the cry of the poor and the oppressed. And at Christmas, we can remember that when Christ came, he communed with the poor and suffering, the underprivileged. He has come to make all wrongs right – to heal broken and sinful hearts, to save us from sin, but also to relieve the oppressed and downtrodden. And Christians can be a part of that mercy. I think Scrooge is a great example of Christ’s warning, that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a man who clings to wealth and oppresses the poor to enter the Kingdom.

By: Kathy Heisleman

Kathy Heisleman — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:18:36 +0000

I’m glad you told us the movie was too intense for kids! Who da thunk it? I agree with Rick in that there wasn’t a ‘Christian” message in the movie or in the original book.

But, I think it’s neat how you look at everything through the lens of the gospel, Chris!!

It is really a worldview kind of thing I think, and you are really good at holding up all things for examination against the Scripture, and you’re really good at seeing the similarities and differences!

I think it’s a great example of how to consider the ‘world’ analytically as a believer; it helps us not get sucked into side trails that derail us from out primary purpose of preaching and living out the gospel.

Thanks for the good lesson Chris!

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:41:41 +0000

Dickens was not a Christian, so I am not surpised that you did not find a reference to Christ in “A Christmas Carol”; it wasn’t there. Dickens was a typical 19th Century humanist, who lived in a “Christian Society” but believed in the perfectibility of man. He was anti-capitalist in a sense and wanted to right the wrongs caused by what he saw as inequities caused by capitalism, like the Progressives in the United States during the same period.

During that era, many “Christians” engaged in the “social gospel” that was primarily devoted to solving the problems of poverty, alcoholism, etc., ignoring that Christ was about solving problems of the heart. Much of what is now recognized as “liberal theology” draws its origin from this period and source.

Dickens was the most important and popular novelist of his day. I enjoy “A Christmas Carol” as much as the next guy, but I wouldn’t try to read Christ into it, as I am fairly certain that He isn’t there.