12-11-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
December 11, 2024
Don’t you love the classic claymation version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)? I feel pretty confident that I watched it every year on NBC as a kid. The evening it was scheduled to air felt like a holiday in itself. Of course, one of the major segments of the show was the Island of Misfit Toys, which included some other classic characters, including a Charlie-in-the-Box, a Spotted Elephant, a Bird that swims, and a Cowboy who rides an Ostrich. 

The other day, on a Christian radio station, they were discussing the beloved classic, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” However, the DJs decided to use the story of Rudolph as a vehicle to convey the Christian message. They talked of Jesus coming to the Earth so that he could die for all of us misfits. It sounds lovely, except why does someone need to die because some in the world have deemed others as misfits? There was nothing wrong with any of those toys. They weren’t flawed with some evil characteristic. The Cowboy hadn’t injured anyone in his pursuit of an ostrich. None of these toys had sinned. Their only issue was an attitude that rejected them because they didn’t conform to a specific definition of what was right, good, and proper. 

In my opinion, the story of Santa finding them homes where they would be loved unconditionally for who they were is the place where the story of Rudolph and the story of Jesus overlap. Too often, we fall into some truly flawed theology that may appear appealing on the surface. However, it’s important to recognize that many individuals are unjustly labeled as misfits and outsiders by certain individuals who prefer everything to conform to their narrow definition of normalcy. The story of Jesus’ birth is filled with all kinds of people, among them unwed parents, smelly shepherds, town folks, and a bit later, some astrologers from the east. Some might say, “What a bunch of misfits!” In the birth of Jesus, God was saying, “My beloved. You are amazing just the way you are.”

For every human being who has been labeled in such a way to distinguish them as deviant and lacking in certain qualities of goodness, I turn to you, God.  You are the One who took on flesh to give this world a rude awakening—not to condemn us, but to condemn an attitude of arrogance birthed out of insecurity. We are grateful for your efforts in bringing us all together in a place of complete inclusivity and boundless love. Thank you! Amen.