I recently watched the classic movie Miracle on 34th Street again with my wife, kids, and my wife’s family. It is tradition in their family to watch a series of old movies together this time of year, and this one always comes first, since it starts at Thanksgiving and ends on Christmas. They figure it is a good transition from Pilgrims, turkey, and football to presents, turkey, and football. I agree. I have come to really enjoy this movie. I have also grown in my appreciation for these family traditions that began long before I was around, and hopefully continue long after I am gone. Especially during the holidays, there is something wonderfully comforting about doing the same things with the same people year after year. With that in mind, may I suggest adding Miracle on 34th Street to your Christmas list?
A Few Quibbles
Before moving on, I will confess this movie is “not the Gospel.” I will also confess that it does not bother me. I do not think we need to find the Gospel everywhere, nor do I much care for the “Gospel-centered” everything (insert word of your choice) movement. There are flaws in this one-hour and forty-one-minute production. After all, there is only one perfect man. There is one perfect book. There are no perfect movies. Yet there are very good ones, the kind you did not realize how much you wanted to see until you are watching them. Then, touch you profoundly once you do. Miracle on 34th Street is one of those movies.
Still, I am a Christian, and since we seem contractually obligated to point out imperfections, I will quibble just a little. By far the biggest issue with this movie is its definition of faith. On two separate occasions, one character says to another, “Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.” You may have cringed a bit while reading that. I do too.
As Bible believing Christians (Is there any other kind?), we understand that it is a terrible definition of faith. Not to mention, stupid. The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). I like to say faith is simply taking God at His Word – reading, believing, and obeying it. Christian faith is not blind at all. It makes more sense than we ever could. It is not against reason. It is far more reasonable than anything else. At this point, we realize Hollywood is still Hollywood, even in 1947.
Beyond this glaring flaw, I suppose I could do without a career-driven woman as a major department store executive. But the character fits the story, and Maureen O’Hara is a legend. One final quibble: Some may have a problem with the exalted status of Santa Claus in the film. I will not get into all the reasons why I disagree, though I do. My kids and I believe in Santa Claus the same way we believe in Mickey Mouse – for fun and fancifulness. It is our Christian liberty to do so, as it is yours not to.
The Good Stuff
So what makes this movie so good? Beyond the quality characters, excellent acting, and heartwarming plot (which I will not spoil here), I will summarize it with a single word: magic. No, there are no witches or wizards. Nor was it written by Lewis or Tolkien. Yet this story is about magic in the best sense of the word.
In the film, both Maureen O’Hara’s character, Doris, and her young daughter, Susan (Natalie Wood), find it nearly impossible to see beyond the 1’s and 0’s of how they view life. In one telling scene, young Susan does not even know how to use her imagination. Lewis might call them “men without chests,” hearkening back to The Abolition of Man. He would certainly say they read the wrong books. Much like Eustace Clarence Scrubb in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, who:
“Had read only the wrong books. They had a lot to say about exports and imports and governments and drains, but they were weak on dragons.”
I will not tell you the fate of Eustace or Susan. I would rather you read and watch for yourself. I will, however, say this world is in grave need of the magic they lacked. The magic of round and stone tables, and castles with dragons and princes and princesses. The magic of talking animals and flying reindeer. Of fantastical realms and faraway places, and hobbits and dwarves, and elves on shelves and nice old men with real whiskers who think they are Santa Claus (I still don’t know if he is or not).
To put it another way, this world needs the right books. Those who teach such things. It also needs the right students. Those willing to learn from them.
Christmas Magic and Holy Scripture
Miracle on 34th Street encourages us to be the right students. To love magic. And Christmas. Through a nice old man with real whiskers, we are reminded that the best things are not only free, but unseen. Love, hope, joy, courage, friendship, faith. The things that make life worth living, and Christmas, are the most wonderful time of the year.
And Christmas is definitely the most wonderful time of the year. A time of family and church, songs and excitement. A time for new snow and old lights, when strangers smile a bit more, and most things come with a side of Christianity. Not only the most wonderful, but the most magical too. And why not? For at Christmas we celebrate the greatest magic of all:
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:11
Libraries could be filled with sermons on this, and rightly so. To think that THE LORD came to earth as the SAVIOR is unfathomable. It is unexplainable. It is magic. And to think He would die for His people, cleanse their sin, and make them His bride. Oh, and He would literally rise from the dead.
Pure magic.
Lewis might call it the deepest magic. A magic so real and true and good and beautiful, that whether they know it or not, men crave it – even while running and hiding, naked and depraved.
We know this from the Bible – the most right book. Also, the most magical. Inspired and preserved by God. Written and copied by men. The true story of man’s total depravity and God’s sovereign grace. The best history and science, and logic (Those 1’s and 0’s). Also, the most thrilling and imaginative. It is the greatest story ever told – through hundreds and hundreds of smaller stories. Each true. Each pressing upon us, demanding our attention and allegiance. Compelling us to make Christ and His religion the main course, rather than just another side. And creating magic if we do.
This is why faith and reason are not enemies. Faith in the Triune God of Scripture, His saving work, and perfect Word is the most common-sense thing of all. This is also why students of Scripture should have the biggest imaginations, tell the best stories, and by far have the most fun. We live in a magical world, created from nothing by the King of all magic. While this is true for everyone, we actually know it. We get to enjoy it. We tell our children about it, and together celebrate the “deep magic” of Christmas.
Miracle on 34th Street and More
Though a Hollywood production, Miracle on 34th Street gets magic right. Not perfectly, but enough. If you have not seen it, you should. Maybe it will become a tradition in your family, as it is in ours. Perhaps, like Susan and Doris, you too will believe more. Like Kris Kringle, may you help others to also.
There are many other old movies you can and should watch this time of year. Movies that touch and teach, challenge and inspire. The Bells of St. Mary’s and Holiday Inn. The Bishop’s Wife and Meet Me in St. Louis. A Christmas Carol, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas – to name a few. Then there is my personal favorite, It’s a Wonderful Life. Maybe you will write about one of these. I should very much like to read it if you do.
Above all, honor the founder of our Christmas feast – the Lord Jesus Christ. Submit always to His Lordship. Adore His Church. Read His Word. Hold fast to the traditions you have been taught. Start new ones that your children’s children will love and cherish. Embrace the good and beautiful, and cling to the magic of Christmas. It truly is the most wonderful (and magical) time of year. In other words, it is the most Christian.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
