Tony Elder, Author/Pastor

Are you familiar with the term “mashup”? It refers to when something is created by blending elements from multiple sources. It is used in reference to songs but also in stories, TV shows, and even costumes – such as one of Yoda dressed up as Batman’s crime-fighting sidekick Robin. I did a little mashup with my Christmas decorations this year. I took the abominable snow monster from our Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer collection and placed it in the middle of our Bedford Falls village from the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. I even thought of a possible storyline for the scene. The monster terrorizes this quiet little town, but George Bailey saves the day when he wishes that the invader had never been born. On second thought, would the monster disappear or would it simply be that no one would recognize who it was? Mashups can get complicated.

I tried to think of some mashups related to the biblical account of Jesus’ birth. How about if the Grinch tried to steal the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus? Or what about if those Magi were guided by Rudolph and his shiny nose rather than the star over Bethlehem? What if the angel who brought the news to Mary about her conception was the bumbling, loveable Clarence? You might be able to create some interesting storylines from combining such narratives, but none of them could be better, more amazing, or more relevant than the one true story itself.

We may not intentionally add to the biblical account for entertainment purposes, but there are plenty of non-biblical elements and stories surrounding the Christmas season that can get blended in with the real meaning of the season. We can get focused on those other aspects of the holiday and lose sight of the primary cause for our celebration. We can enjoy the decorations, the food, the family gatherings, the songs, and our favorite Christmas movies. However, if we aren’t careful, we can end up like Charlie Brown – going through the motions of the season but confused about the meaning of it all. We need a Linus to come along and remind us of the simple, yet profound, story of the birth of Jesus. The truth needs no mashups in order to liven it up or to make it fit today’s world. It is wonderful just the way it is.

So let’s be sure in the midst of all our other activities and all the other storylines of the season that we stay focused on the real, unadulterated Christmas story. Every member of the human race was guilty of having sinned against a holy God, our Creator. We were facing the consequences of that fallen condition, including separation from God, and the certainties of death and hell. Nevertheless, this same God loved us so much that He made a way for us to be restored to a right relationship with Him. The great, invisible, infinite Spirit Himself, lowered Himself to take on flesh and blood and become like us. He was born into this world through a virgin girl’s miraculous conception. He came to be our Savior. He did it by living a sinless life, then allowing Himself to suffer and die as the unblemished sacrifice for our sins. He took our place and took our punishment on Himself. And then He was resurrected as proof that He truly was the Son of God. So through faith in Him, we can be delivered from sin, become children of God, and receive an eternal home in heaven.

Mashups can be fun and interesting, but nothing is better than the true story of Christmas about a loving God, a miracle birth, and the arrival of our Savior. Glory to God in the highest!