A friend on facebook sent me a message about the movie Elf:
She was reading John 8, and it hit her that Buddy was like Jesus...there's more. I'll edit this if she gives permission.
For now, I'll say that I admit I'd never thought of Buddy the Elf as a Christ type, but I was thinking about it, and one of his qualities stood out clearly: He's loving. He's ingenuously, unconditionally, completely loving. The way he responds to a father who abandoned him, a boss and coworkers who are mean to him, and everyone who doesn't understand him -- it's always love.
It reminded me of my first pastor and his wife, who recommended Forrest Gump for the same reason. Jenny couldn't handle that kind of love (maybe she didn't think she deserved it?), but even after she abandons him and comes back, he accepts her fully. Love. My first pastor's wife, Sue, said that maybe the only way a film could get away with showing that kind of radical love was to house it in a mentally challenged person...(or maybe a naive elf?)
A friend of a friend was dying from cancer, and was a bitter person because of things that had happened in a church she belonged to. She told my friend, "I hate God!! Jesus, well -- Jesus is good. But I can't stand God."
I think people always kneejerk respond to this kind of statement with a lesson on the trinity -- I probably did when I heard this story. But I never will again. A person very close to me said this same idea recently. Because I know more about this person, I have more understanding:
They feel like certain things that they've had to endure were allowed by God (they're correct..he had the power to stop all of them, and he didn't). So God allowed her to be hurt.
And Jesus is the one who feels our pain fully...hurts when we do...he can, because he actually knows what it means to be human. So he's the one whose comfort is meaningful.
This person understands the concept of the trinity (as the dying woman probably did)....She's not having a lapse in theology. She's in pain. And one member of the Godhead didn't prevent this pain, and another is trying to comfort her through it. So her statement makes sense to me.
So for right now, I'm trying to think, in addition to the conventional WWJD wisdom: What would Forrest do? What would Buddy do?
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I think your friend is totally correct about the Elf reference :) Actually, your friend thinks that maybe it would be more accurate/parallel if Buddy represented a Christian rather than Christ himself. After all, he was adopted into the family... And he had this human nature that was totally out of place in the North Pole. And like you said, he shows love like no one has seen before. He transforms the people around him, at least the people that try to get to know him. Others, like the angry elf, just reject him and go away more angry.
I love the "fake" Santa. While there are characteristics that are similar to the real Santa, Buddy knows the real thing and can tell he's a fake. Fake Santa trips Buddy up a little with the Happy Birthday song, but it doesn't last. When you know the real thing you can pick out counterfeits. Fake Santa "is a liar. He sits on the throne of lies". For sure!!!
Oh, and the names written on the nice list?? What does that remind you of? And there are two lists... the nice list and the naughty list. Of course, that shows a bit of secularism where the differentiator is your behavior, but it still works.
I love how Buddy knows true joy. And how Michael rejects him at first, but once Buddy shows him power (with the snowballs) and shows that he's on his side and against his enemies, he wins him over. Then after that Buddy goes on to show Michael a good time. Jumping on beds in the store, spending time with him, truly caring about him...
And it's all about relationships. Big theme. Walter thought Buddy was after his money, but all Buddy really wanted is to get to know each other, spend time with each other, have a relationship...
Not to mention that Christmas Spirit gives the sleigh power... That the power comes from belief...
So anyway, I totally agree with your friend. :)
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