Friday, December 6, 2013

Mickey's Christmas Carol - A Story of Redemption

Mickey’s Christmas Carol – A Story of Redemption


 If you read my PixiePranks blog the first part of this post is the same review of the movie. I do that for those that don’t know the story. At the end is the Biblical application.

 If you are looking for a good version Dickens’ Christmas Carol to introduce your children to the classic story, in a not too scary way Mickey’s Christmas Carol is one of two I’d highly recommend. (The other being Muppet Christmas Carol. Both are Disney. Muppet’s is a little more scary and closer to the actual story.)

Being a Dickens’ Carol fan I am rather picky about my Carol movies. On a scale of 1-10 I’d say this gets a 5 for keeping the “spirit” of the original. The idea and message of the story are clearly conveyed but it loses something in the translation. The loss has nothing to do with the fact it is animated or that classic Disney characters acting out the parts. I just feel it does not capture the spirit of the story as well as other versions. Muppet’s Christmas Carol is in my top 5 best at capturing the spirit and intent of this classic and important story. I believe Mickey’s Carol goes off track by going for the gags/laughs a little too much. The is humor in Christmas Carol just not this much.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol is loosely based on Dickens’ Christmas Carol. The general plot points are there. Scrooge, Scrooge McDuck is a penny pinching miser who is miserable. Bob Cratchit, Mickey Mouse is his poor clerk. Tiny Tim is Bob’s sickly little boy and Minnie Mouse plays Bob’s Wife. Daisy plays Scrooge’s lost love. Donald Duck is Fred, Scrooge’s nephew.

Scrooge is visited by his old partner, Jacob Marley, Goofy who warns him that he needs to change. The scene is funny and does not put the scare in you that other versions or the original story does. In many versions of Christmas Carol I consider this the 2nd scariest part. Here it is more funny than scary. He calls out to Scrooge to change.

Jiminy is the Ghost of Christmas Past, who shows Scrooge events in his past that caused hurt to himself and others.

Willie the Giant is the Ghost of Christmas Present. Christmas Present shows Scrooge the joy of loving and giving. This is when Scrooge is introduced to Tiny Tim and truly begins to open to seeing that he has missed out on relationships.

Pete (Black Pete/Pegleg Pete) is the ghost of Christmas Future. He is dark and foreboding but this part of the story is quickly gone over. I believe this is because it is so dark and scary.

In the end Scrooge finds redemption. He does not want to die living the way he has. He helps save Tiny Tim, treats Bob Cratchit better and reconnects with his nephew Fred. He goes from living a life of sorrow, pain and emptiness, living only for money to living with joy, happiness and living to reach out and connect with people.

Here is a link to what WikiPedia has to say about the movie:

Biblical application:

Christmas Carol is a story of redemption. A man full of sin, hurt, hate and pain is visited by 4 ghosts that show him he needs to make a change in his life.

The ghost of his past business partner shows him that his greed (sin), hurt, hate and pain have put chains on him that have an eternal cost. When we sin satan binds us. We don’t see the chains but they keep us from God.

Proverbs 1:24-31 says:
24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have starched out my hand, and no man has regarded; 25 but you have not followed my counsel, and would not listen to my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at the time of your calamity; I will mock when you are afraid; 27 whey your fear comes as a storm, and your calamity comes as quick as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will nto answer; they will look for me diligently, but not find me: 29 because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of God: 30 they would take none of my advice; they despised my reproof. 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their actions, and be filled with their own ways.

Jesus, like Jacob Marley has and does come to each of us warning and reproving us. How many times have you felt/known an action is wrong yet still done it? That is Jesus/Holy Spirit talking to you. Will you listen or let your chains grow longer and heaver? This is not God hating you or picking on you. It is God saying this behavior is wrong and hurts yourself and others, time to stop now. The choice is yours just as Scrooge had the choice to listen or not.

Jesus does come to us many times just as the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future came to Scrooge. The Ghost of Christmas Past is the memories of Scrooges past. It showed him where he was wronged and where he had the chances to go right and chose not to.

The Ghost of Christmas Present encourages us to remember the gift that God gave us that we remember at Christmas, Christ. Christmas Present in the original has as many elder brothers as there are years from the birth of Christ. Today that would be 2013 elder brothers. This Ghost reminds Scrooge to live in the moment and take part of what is going on in the here and now.

The Ghost of Christmas Future is the scariest in the original story and that is most likely why it was glossed over in this version. This Ghost shows Scrooge where he could end up if his life is not changed. This is a true turning point in the movie where Scrooge has to make a decision. Accept redemption and change or live as he always has.

What is redemption? Here is a dictionary definition:
1.     An act of redeeming or atoning for a fault or mistake, or the state of being redeemed.
2.    Deliverance; rescue.
3.    Theology, deliverance from sin; salvation
4.    Atonement for guilt.
5.   Repurchase, as of something sold.

All of the above definitions fit! God says He has rescued, repurchased us, redeemed us from our sinful nature. He has rescued us from the traps of the devil, who has a hold on earth.

How can we be “redeemed”? By believing on Jesus Christ and allowing Him to change our lives as the experience with the Ghosts of Christmas changed Scrooge.

God sent His Son to pay our price:

Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, having come into being out of a woman, having come under the Law, 5 that He might redeem the ones under Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have our redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses (sins), according to the riches of His grace . . .

Col 1:19-23 For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in Him should all the fullness dwell; 20 and through Him reconcile all things unto Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens. 21 And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, 22 yet now has He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: 23 if you continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the good news that you have heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven . . .

How does accepting Christ change us? Knowing Jesus Christ on a personal level you want to change to please Him. Just as you change your behavior for those you love in your life. You might eat better, drink less exercise more all because a person you love asks it of you and you love them and want to make them happy.

As a child imitates their parents to please them we should imitate God/Jesus.

Eph 5:1-2 Be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, even as Christ also love you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God. . .

How we are called to live:
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us, to intend to, deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should ive soberly and righteously and godly in this present world; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people for His own possession, zealous of good works.

Simply put God wants to be in a relationship with us. He, being a righteous God can’t have sinfulness around Him. He has given us a way to clean up and change. He has repaid our debit for the wrongs we have done and put them behind. He does not care about the past after that!

Once we accept His gift we are changed. We should live a life full of hope, love and kindness. Does that mean we always will? NO!! We are human, not perfect and God knows we will fail at times and He forgives us all over again.



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