God's Ear

A Christmas Carol at Advent

Randy Adamson

    “He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas.” This humorous depiction of Ebenezer Scrooge's character reveals Dickens' ability to poke fun at people's foibles. You cannot read the story of A Christmas Carol without getting the feeling that there may be frightfully more of Scrooge in you than there is of his affable nephew, Fred. Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol to heighten British awareness to the social incongruities in Victorian England. The Carol keeps pace with the rhythms of the Christmas season, and, more directly, with the Christian notion of Advent and the anticipation of the coming of Christ. From the opening clause, “Marley was dead,” to Tiny Tim's final proclamation, “God bless Us, Every One!” there is this sense of joyous anticipation in the Carol that righteousness will prevail.

    Dickens divides his novella into five chapters which he calls staves. Staves refer to the musical notation of staffs which reinforces the idea of the story's title. What is even more interesting than the chapter titles' relation to music is the relation of the five staves to the five weeks of Advent. As the Church looks forward with growing anticipation to the coming of the baby Christ at Christmas, so A Christmas Carol builds the expectation of the reader until Scrooge finds redemption in the final pages.

    A Christmas Carol reveals each person's road to Jesus. We are more sinful than we can ever know. Each of us is so much more like Scrooge than we are willing to admit to ourselves. Our depravity is absolute, but our Savior is capable of erasing all of our guilt, filling us with the joy of a redeemed Ebenezer. Treat yourself to a spiritual treat this Christmas by turning off the television, putting away your electronic phones, stashing your game stations, and enjoy, once again, the story that has captured the hearts of millions of readers.

    A free copy of A Christmas Carol can be found on Literature.org, or get a cheap copy at any bookstore or Amazon.com.

    You might have to take two occasions a week to get through A Christmas Carol during advent. Obviously, you may change anything you want to make the time you spend with Dickens a thoroughly personal spiritual indulgence.

    The following themes may aid you as you read A Christmas Carol:

STAVE ONE = Recognition of our own sin

STAVE TWO = The effects of sin on us

STAVE THREE = The joy of not letting sin control our lives

STAVE FOUR = The consequences of our sin

STAVE FIVE = Transformation through repentance

Stave One

BEFORE READING:

1. Pick out Dickens' humor (e.g., door-nail and coffin-nail comparison.) See how many you can spot.
2. In the book of Matthew in the Bible, Jesus says, “And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (For context, read Matthew 25: 31-40.) Jesus, many times reaches out to us through others. Look for those who reach out to Scrooge in this stave (e.g., the carolers).
3. Read Stave One .

AFTER READING:

1. Spend a little time reviewing what you found of Dickens' humor, and people that may have been Jesus' emissaries to Scrooge.
2. What are sections that describe the depth of Scrooge's sinfulness?
3. Which of Scrooge's short-comings remind you of yourself?
4. If you're inclined, see if you can write a humorous anecdote of one of your sins.
5. Spend time in personal prayer, asking God to reveal sins you're not aware of that need to be confessed to Him, and ask His forgiveness.
6. Reflect (or if you're bold, sing) I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.
7. Pray as the Spirit leads.

Stave Two

BEFORE READING:

1. Look for events in Scrooge's life that helped to mold him into what he became.
2. Read Stave Two.

AFTER READING:

1. What events helped shape Scrooge's life?
2. Do we have to be fashioned by the negative influences in our lives?
3. What occurrences in your life has hurt you?
4. With whom do you need to seek reconciliation. Who has hurt you, or who have you knowingly hurt?
5. Reflect on or sing It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.
6. Read Psalm 139:23, 24.
7. Ask God to intercede in those areas of life that were hurtful to you.

Stave Three

BEFORE READING:

1. Think, as you read Stave Three, how the scenes in this stave are different from the previous one.
2. Read Stave Three.

AFTER READING:

1. Generally speaking, how are the scenes in this stave different from Stave Two?
2. What evidences are there that these scenes are having an effect on Scrooge?
3. Read Philippians 2:1-4.
4. Are there situations in your life where you tend to treat others as Scrooge would rather than with humility? Think of some examples.
5. Why is it important to consider the interests of others?
6. Reflect on or sing Joy to the World, and stop after the third verse.
7. Pray for those you may have hurt. When you're done, is there anyone you need to seek out for forgiveness?

Stave Four

BEFORE READING:

1. Look for the consequences to Scrooge's sin as you read.
2. Read Stave Four.

AFTER READING:

1. What were the consequences to Scrooge's sin in the story?
2. At the end of the stave, Scrooge says, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!” What does this statement tell us about Scrooge's frame of mind?
3. Read 1 John 1:8-10.
4. How are we made right with God?
5. What two things happen when we fail to admit to our sins?
6. What does God promise to us when we admit our sin to Him?
7. Reflect on or sing Good Christian Men, Rejoice.
8. What ways has God transformed you? Thank God for those transformations.

Stave Five

BEFORE READING:

1. Notice, as the stave is read, how people are continuing to be affected by Scrooge.
2. Read Stave Five.

AFTER READING:

1. How are people's reactions to Scrooge different now than in the first Stave? What is a situation where you noticed that the way you acted affected other people?
2. What is significant about Scrooge's awareness of the mundane objects connected with the Spirits' visits (eighth paragraph down from the beginning)?
3. What was your favorite scene in this stave?
4. How do memory, empathy, and the fear of death work to help change Scrooge?
5. Read Psalm 100.
6. Advent is a time to go back and reflect on the Christ child's coming, and look forward to the next coming of the Messiah. How is Christ's coming again a reason to celebrate?
7. Sing or reflect on O Come, All Ye Faithful.
8. The epistle, 1 John, teaches that it is the seeking of forgiveness of sin and seeking after Christ that are the practices of righteousness. Ask God to show you practical ways of incorporating His help and forgiveness into a changed life for Christ.