Adventures in Student Ministry

Last week we began our series on the Gospel According to A Christmas Carol.

We covered how we are not defined by the things people have done to us in our past, our mistakes, or even our good memories. Our identity is solely based on Christ.

Today, we pick up with the next Christmas Ghost.

In A Christmas Carol, shortly after the first ghost leaves, Scrooge is visited by a jolly, majestic giant, the Ghost of Christmas Present. Throughout their time together, Scrooge sees people celebrating Christmas with generosity and joy, regardless of their social status. He’s faced with the reality of the situation his employee, Bob Cratchit, lives in and is in awe of the joy his family shares despite it.

Earlier in his story, he made cruel statements about those who were poor and sick.

“If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.” – Suggesting it’s better for sick people who can’t see a doctor to just die.

“Are there no prisons? No Workhouses?” – Suggesting that poor people should either go to jail or go into a type of slavery rather than bother him and others.

But when he sees the terrible circumstances of the Cratchit family (specifically the illness of Tiny Tim) and two poor children (who represent Ignorance and Want), the ghost quotes back his own cruel words, prompting him to reflect on his own ignorance.

He’s also shown his nephew Fred’s joy at a Christmas party. Fred cares about him greatly despite his reputation. He even defends Scrooge when his friends at the Christmas party mock Scrooge. Amid it, he expresses his pity for Scrooge for his miserable, self-imposed isolation.

This ghost presents 3 distinct situations. 

1. People Finding Joy despite their situation – Being content with the provision of our Lord
2. People having grace and mercy for those who don’t deserve it – Love each other
3. People who are suffering due to neglect.

Like last week, when we discussed how the only witness to warn us and guide us is not ghosts but the voices of the prophets and writers of the scriptures, let’s break these down biblically.

1. You can find Joy despite your situation.
   1. Oftentimes, when we are in situations that are less than ideal, we tend to focus on what’s wrong.
      1. Focus on people who aggravate us
      2. Focus on what we don’t have
   2. Doing this causes depression, anxiety, and creates a habit where you actually begin to not find joy in anything. You find yourself complaining in every situation.
   3. Apostle Paul was a prisoner for the Gospel, yet he wrote this: Philippians 4:11-13
      1. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little, for I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
      2. Last week, we talked about how our past doesn’t define us, this week, I’m telling you that your present situation doesn’t either. Joy and contentment are found in us realizing Christ is going to take care of us regardless.
      3. You have to make the effort to choose joy.
         
2. We are called to love people, even when it’s easy not to.
   1. In the story, Scrooge is taken aback by the kindness of his Nephew Fred. Fred is living out a powerful aspect of what it means to be a Christian, and that is to have grace.
   2. Last week, we talked about how we are called to be ambassadors or representatives of Christ. A big part of that is understanding that the amount of grace given to us should be extended to others. Paul puts it this way: Colossians 3:13
      1. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
   3. The harsh reality is that we didn’t deserve Salvation, yet God extended grace to us. For us not to have grace for others is to say that our feelings are more important than the creator of heaven and earth. We need to be willing to show grace to people. When faced with a situation where many are just complaining, we need to be willing to shut it down and speak grace.
      
3. We are called to help meet people’s needs and help them become better.
   1. In the story, ignorance and want represent those who have been neglected. But the ghost warns Scrooge specifically of Ignorance. The idea is that ignorance causes want to grow even more.
   2. In Acts 3, we see a man in need. He’s begging for money because he can’t walk. Peter sees beyond the initial need to the deeper issue and brings healing to the situation by healing his legs. This allows this man to work and care for himself.
   3. We need to have compassion for people, but also have to see past the initial physical need to what will actually help them. If someone is hungry, yes, feed them. But help them find a way to make it so that they can feed themselves.