What’s your favorite Christmas movie? All of us have one that we are particularly fond of be it Elf, A Christmas Story, Christmas With the Kranks, or The Grinch. My lifetime favorite remains It’s A Wonderful Life. I still remember the first time I saw it and how it brought me to tears as the community rallied to find and save George Bailey. This drama, so convincingly portrayed by all the actors, still moves me deeply as I watch it each year.
One of the aspects that dates this powerful cinematic production, however, is the scene where George (what a great name) is stunned in disbelief to see what Bedford Falls has become. Strip joints, night clubs, bars, gambling establishments and other such businesses have taken over. His eyes bug out and his jaw drops as he viscerally reacts to what he perceives as the massive moral degradation of his hometown.
Today such establishments characterize many American towns and there is no such reaction. Although the shift has come gradually over many years, the transformation of our communities has been marked nonetheless. Many young people watching this movie today for the first time would find nothing unusual or objectionable about the Bedford Falls that would have developed in Bailey’s absence.
A commercial for a popular air freshener reminds us that our senses of smell can become “nose-blind” to odors that we get used to in our homes and cars. While individuals first encountering these smells are repulsed by them, we have become so accustomed that we never notice them anymore.
So too, many Americans, and sadly even many Christians, have become soul-blind to the multitude of evil influences in our culture. What disgusted our parents and grandparents and perhaps even us years ago no longer registers even a mild bump on our moral Richter scale. Like rats living in a landfill, we have gotten used to the horrific smells around us.
Several years ago, Christian musicians, The McKameys, released a song describing this phenomena entitled, Getting Used To The Dark. It bemoans the fact that instead of shining the light of Jesus in our communities and making a holy difference for Him, we are either complacent or even participatory in the gradual, and sometimes swift, sinful transformation of our culture.
Although Christians cannot prevent every evil, Jesus did command us to be salt and light. Each of us is called to shine for our Savior and His righteousness wherever we are and in whatever situation we find ourselves. And we are certainly not to help usher in any darkness.
Although Frank Capra’s movie might exaggerate the impact of one life, on the other hand it might not. Each of us plays a vital role in our families, schools, churches, workplaces, and communities. Never underestimate your influence and don’t fall for the Devil’s lie that your impact is insignificant. Each godly example matters.
Even more powerful are the combined efforts of many Christians working together. When we unite our individual wattages, the resulting brilliance can match that of a powerful lighthouse illuminating entire communities and cultures. I’m thankful for all those who worked together several years ago to oppose and eventually remove the sex shows at our county fair.
As we enjoy our Christmas movies again this month, and if perhaps, George Bailey appears in one of them, may his impact in Bedford Falls inspire us to do what we can in our own communities. May God retrain and sharpen our sensibilities that we might perceive our world as does He.
Blessings, George