Poor Old Ebenezer Scrooge

“Scrooge”. Isn’t that what we call people who don’t seem to have the Christmas spirit? Of course with all the activities this time of year it is difficult to be cheerful all the time but why “Scrooge”? Why do we call people “Scrooge” when they don’t enjoy Christmas?

I am not asking where the name originated. I am familiar with Ebenezer Scrooge. He was the Dickens’s character who wanted to make as much money as he could while spending as little as he could. He didn’t even want to let his workers off on Christmas Day. At Christmas season he wandered around his shop mumbling “Bah, Humbug.”

However, the story doesn’t end there. Do you remember what happened? After being visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future he became a changed man. He got up early on Christmas Day to buy turkeys and gifts. He became a gracious old man. Charles Dickens wrote “He knew how to keep Christmas well”.

So why do we call people “Scrooge” when they don’t have the Christmas spirit? Why don’t we use that name for people who enjoy Christmas?

Let’s try that this year. When you see someone who is really enjoying this wonderful time of year walk up and say, “Hello, Scrooge.” Try it with your spouse or your boss. (If they get angry blame it on me.)

Even though I think that name is appropriate I don’t think it will go over too well. You will be misunderstood. Take a few minutes to explain. Remind your boss or spouse of the happy ending and how Scrooge turned out to be a wonderful old man. It probably won’t help. Why?

For one thing traditions die slowly. For over 165 years the name Scrooge has suggested a miserable person. It would be difficult to change the meaning now. Although according to the OED the first use of the word Scrooge as a miserable person appeared in the 1940's it is still firmly planted in our minds and will not be quickly changed to a positive concept.

More significantly though we tend to judge a person by the way he lives most of his life rather than on the basis of one act of kindness. A person can’t be a grinch 364 days of the year and expect to change all that on Christmas Day with a few gifts.

And aren’t most of us skeptical about the possibility of change? “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” “Once a Scrooge always a Scrooge.”

But the true message of Christmas is that change is possible. That baby born in a manger 2000 years ago came to change the world and he does— one Scrooge at a time.

If you walk up to a friend and call him or her a Scrooge it probably won’t be appreciated. Maybe you shouldn’t try it this year. Or you can practice on me. I will know what you mean.

Not only do I enjoy Christmas but I believe people can change. I have seen it. I have seen drunks become deacons. I have seen losers become leaders. I have seen grinches become givers. That is what Christmas is all about.

For the Son of man came to find and restore the lost.

Luke 19:10 The Message