The story of the Grinch, like many other Dr. Seuss stories, is actually a helpful parable that shines light on a deeper topic. Recently like good Netflix watching Americans during the holidays we just watched the Jim Carrey adapted version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas...
Total side note, but have you ever noticed how many bizarre green characters that Jim Carrey has acted as? Think about it!
In Whoville we get a closer look at the life of one young girl, Cindy Lou Who. Who in the film is undergoing an inner struggle about the true meaning of Christmas... because it's just not "doing it" for her like it used to... There must be something more than wrapped boxes full of needs and wants...
Then in the story, of course the Grinch "steals" Christmas only to uncover something real down in the hearts of the people in Whoville... and in his own heart aswell.
They say it grew three sizes that day.
The part I find most interesting in the movie is that the Grinch figure, the one who seems the most distant from Christmas... is actually the one who discloses the heart of it.
"That's what it's all about, isn't it? That's what it's always been about. Gifts, gifts... gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts! You wanna know what happens to your gifts? They all come to me. In your garbage. You see what I'm saying? In your garbage. I could hang myself with all the bad Christmas neckties I found at the dump. And the avarice never ends! "I want golf clubs. I want diamonds. I want a pony so I can ride it twice, get bored and sell it to make glue." Look, I don't wanna make waves, but this whole Christmas season is...stupid, stupid, stupid!" - The Grinch
Sometimes prophets are called Grinches.
(Also, I can't help but briefly point out the similarity in the Grinch and one the best Sesame Street characters Oscar the Grouch! I mean come on!)
I've been called a Grinch.
For years now Emily and I have decided we aren't going to do Christmas gifts. I believe gifts have a way of separating us from Christmas rather than bringing us into it. To divert our worship rather than build it up. To ironically make us greedy or needy or consumeristic rather than thankful. And let me tell you as someone who makes their living in the trash industry and works to prevent things from the landfill... it all does end up there.... and unfortunately there is no Grinch on the other side making use of your old crap. Your old crap is currently destroying the ozone layer, Merry Christmas! (go ahead... say it... "Grinch!"... wait, maybe I am a ... Grinch...)
To get a little honest, I don't think there is a single theologically legitimate argument for giving presents during Christmas. Please stop with the "but the wise men gave gifts"... If the Messiah was born and you were there you probably would have bowed down in worship giving gifts as-well. But your spouse is not the Messiah and they probably don't need new perfume to bring them into the nativity.
If there is a precedence for presents during the Christmas season, it must be out of a place of worship... Worship always has to do with Gratitude, and true Gratitude always finds itself in some form of reciprocation... and sometimes that's with gifts. Gifts ought to be an outflow of our Worship. And if it is, it probably ought to look more like food for the hungry, a bed for the homeless, rather than a new toaster for Uncle Tom.
If Advent teaches us anything its that the Kingdom of God is coming... and if we know anything about being Ready for it... its that Matthew 25 type of giving. Which just so happens to be the exact opposite of consumerism.
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