You may have come across the term “cognitive dissonance”. It is defined as “the mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time… or is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas or values”. To be a Christian in contemporary American culture is to deal with cognitive dissonance frequently. Although we can find many things in our culture that are praiseworthy from a Gospel perspective, there are other values and practices that contradict the life and teachings of Jesus. Many Christians believe that this is even more true of our society today than ever before, though others would dispute this.
One area that definitely generates some cognitive dissonance is in the celebration of Christmas. Christians who follow the liturgical calendar celebrate Advent in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Advent is a time that challenges us to stop and listen – to hear Isaiah proclaim that the Lord is going to bring about a new world; to hear John the Baptist challenge us to repent so that we can be ready for that new world; to follow Mary who says “yes” to the fulfillment of all these promises through the Son she is to bear. The world as we have known it is passing away; only the world that Jesus Christ brings about will endure.
Then, when Christians step outside of their churches, they run into the other Christmas – the one that says, “Get out there and BUY!”. Yes, the time is short, because there are only so many shopping days left, and there are all those loved ones who expect gifts from you. This is the Christmas that begins with Black Friday and ends when the last gifts are bought on the 24th. This is the Christmas where Jesus is rarely mentioned. In fact, some are more comfortable speaking in terms of “Happy Holidays!” than “Merry Christmas!” Things can seem pretty tough for Christians who want to not only maintain their own faith but pass it on to their children.
How should we as Christians respond?
Some may rail against the secularization of Christmas, or the commercialization. Others may worry that Christ is being forced out of Christmas deliberately. But the situation might not be as bad as it might feel at times. Many of the traditions of the secular Christmas contain little doors, little opportunities, that Christians can notice and use. Almost unconsciously, the Gospel of Christmas shows up in some unlikely places. These places can be especially useful for parents who seek to teach their children about Christ, but they can be helpful for any of us. There are plenty of places where we can look. I will focus on some “classic” TV specials that have aired at Christmastime for many years.
Let’s start with Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town. It offers us a “biography” of Santa. His beginnings are quite humble: as a baby, he is left at the door of Tanta Kringle and the toy-making elves. He grows up, tries to be generous to the children in the nearby town, and gets in trouble with the authorities. (Sound familiar yet?) Eventually his faithfulness to his mission wins over the hearts of many. Jesus may never be mentioned explicitly, but elements of the story are here: the humble birth, the generous spirit, the trouble with the authorities, the eventual triumph of generosity and love.
How about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? It doesn’t start off well for poor Rudolph. His red nose causes him to be mocked and rejected by the males around him (but not the females, interestingly). He goes off and soon befriends other misfits, Herbie the Elf (who wants to be a dentist) and Yukon Cornelius. They are always in danger from the Snow Monster (or Bumble, as Yukon calls him). They come upon the Island of Misfit Toys, a home for rejected toys from everywhere. They can’t stay there, but by the end of the story, there is a kind of reconciliation. Others come to value Rudolph’s unusual gift, and Herbie’s as well. The Misfit Toys find homes. Everyone else learns a bit more about what Christmas is all about. Even the Bumble is reformed and ready to be helpful. All this because a few misfits chose to be faithful to who they were. “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”, as the Psalms remind us – a line that Jesus applies to Himself.
Then there’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas. (I’m thinking of the animated version with Boris Karloff narrating.) That mean old Grinch, who hates the Whos and their Christmas celebration, is determined to find a way to stop it. He decides to steal all their Christmas presents and food for the Christmas feast. Of course, when Christmas morning comes, the Whos start singing “Welcome Christmas” anyway. The Grinch is astonished. Then we are told, a peculiar thought came into his mind: “What if Christmas doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas is just a little bit more?” What a great opening for parents to leap in and do a little evangelization with their kids!
Finally, there’s A Charlie Brown Christmas. We are told that CBS was reluctant to air this show when it was first put together, fearing that it would be too “dark” for the season. But who can’t identify with Charlie Brown, cognitive dissonance personified? Charlie Brown was able to put into words a kind of discomfort, a disillusionment, with the merely secular celebration of Christmas that many of us feel at times. We see him feeling sad and more confused as he sees the commercialization all around him. Something isn’t right, and he knows it. But he can’t say what it is. Then comes Linus, who is often the theologian or prophet in Peanuts. When Charlie Brown finally cries out “Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?”, Linus steps up and does so, in no uncertain terms. That’s the turning point of the episode, like Jesus’ question “Who do you say that I am?” is the turning point of Mark’s Gospel.
Here is where we all come in. Like Linus, we know what Christmas is all about. There are many Charlie Browns out there who may have a sense that something isn’t quite right about the Christmas they know, even if they can’t name it. We can help them name it. We help others see signs and traces of the true Christmas that are still out there, and connect them to the Christmas stories in the Gospels.
How? By the witness of our lives. We keep Christ in Christmas – and not only in Christmas, but in every day of the year. We strive to live our lives according to the example of amazing humility and love that Jesus showed in being born for us – a very humble birth at that. Just as Jesus showed compassion to the marginalized of His time – and was Himself rejected for it – so we, too, show compassion to the marginalized of our time, whatever the result. Even more – if God could empty Himself this much for us, then we can, by God’s help, abandon our pride and also be faithful servants.
There is more – so much more – that can be said about Christmas. Perhaps these few words can help put some things in a more hopeful perspective. May all of you have a blessed Christmas season and New Year!