I've posted several things this past month about Christmas movies and such. I really do love most of the classics that air this time of year but this one tops them all.
It debuted in 1965 and, thanks to Linus Van Pelt, just might be the only time that some people hear about Jesus all year. But there's a sad side to this.
Charles M. Schulz was a member of the Church of God for most of his life. He belonged to the same fellowship as Bill and Gloria Gaither. But late in his life, he converted to, or at least embraced, secular humanism. Just to familiarize you with it, here's one of the tenets of secular humanism:
Reason, evidence, scientific method - A commitment to the use of critical reason, factual evidence and scientific methods of inquiry, rather than faith, in seeking solutions to human problems and answers to important human questions.
Sounds intelligent, huh? Well, sure. Just take a look at our world and you can obviously see that we humans are perfectly able to solve all our problems using our amazing intellect and scientific reason. There's heavy sarcasm there y'all. But it does remind me of one of my favorite quotes. "Science isn't."
The idea that humans are god-like enough to have the capacity to solve the problems of the human race is completely absurd to me. If that were the case, then why is there a Christmas? Why would God, should you believe He's there, feel the need to be born among us and provide us a way to Him if we have all we need without Him? He wouldn't. Hence the point.
More and more these days you'll hear those really, really smart and intellectual types telling you that science and art and philosophy are all proving that there is no God, no Son of God, no heaven and hell. We, as humans, are becoming more and more enlightened and gaining in knowledge of the universe and our place in it. Our ever-expanding universe stands as its own proof that God and Christianity are ancient myths devised to provide comfort and purpose to those poor, misguided, ignorant people of past centuries. The facts to support this are all around us and in us, they say. "They" being the really, really smart and intellectual types.
I say they are absolutely correct. Our world does indeed stand as proof. But I don't think it proves what they think it proves. I see a world that mankind has ruined. I see a world that human reason, scientific method, philosophy, and humanism have left in chaos. This is the final step in mankind's rebellion against its Creator. For thousands of years, humans made idols of gods to worship. Now, man himself has become his own idol.
During the first successful years of writing Peanuts, Schulz said that he was thankful for what he had been given, and believed that Chuck Brown and the gang would far outlive him. But just prior to his death, while battling colon cancer and failing eyesight, he was very bitter about having to retire due to health reasons. He said, "I never dreamed this would happen to me. I did not take it away. This has been taken from me." Needless to say, a human god's own fragile body is sure to disappoint.
Other notable secular humanists include Albert Einstein, John Lennon, Carl Sagan, Jon Stewart, Kurt Vonnegut, and Frank Zappa.
It's truly a sad thing when someone turns their back on God. Maybe it starts with a simple desire to find more. Maybe someone is pulled away by distractions or misplaced affections or busyness. Maybe they just simply decide to walk away. Who knows? But no matter what the reason, it's all Satan's original deception to make us believe we don't need God because we are capable enough without Him.
So pay a little more attention to the words of Linus. Make sure that you really, really know what it's all about. Make sure that this wonderful holiday is spent focused on the One whose name it bears.
