Kirk
Cameron's 'Saving Christmas' movie script and quotes, with some notes
My team and I worked together
for quite a few hours, pulling as much of Kirk's film script and quotes as we
possibly could. Most of it is in script form and (to the bst
of our memory and notes), it's as accurate as remember. If you see a typo or
can help update this, we will be most appreciative. Look up FEDBP on Facebook
or email me. I'm sorry that I do not have the exact transcript for this, but I
hope this helps. And maybe we can analyze this together - as a team, comparing
it with Scripture and seeing the correct teachings and the gaps and errors. ~
Thankyou for caring and praying. Sowing and Reaping Resources team.
[This movie is not really a movie. It's a
monologue or long speech with visuals, a few myths/stories and plenty of
entertaining music. You'll also notice that the only 'enemies' of Christmas
that Kirk focuses on are those who are inside the parties saying that the Bible
is true and God's Word is against idols and pagan traditions.]
[The scene starts with a light upbeat Christmas tune in the background,
a fire crackling next to Kirk in the fireplace. Kirk is holding a red mug of
steaming, hot chocolate, and Kirk begins]
"I love Christmas. I love the cookies. I love the crackling fire. I love the
presents. I love the stockings. I love the Christmas tree. I love the
gathering. I love the family and friends. I love the characters. I love the
smells. I love the food. I love the deserts. I love the fudge. I love the
lights... And I love hot chocolate... [sort
of: Christmas time is for warmth of gathering family and friends...] And, it’s even a great time for growing out
the winter beard!”
“But, have you ever noticed people
who would love to put a big wet blanket on all of this, they don’t want us to
love Christmas so much and celebrate it the way we do…maybe we need a word from
the outside, a voice, someone who can remind us of the true meaning of
Christmas. That help comes from an unlikely source. Maybe, just maybe someone
like Santa Claus is actually on our team…?”
[The next scene is a young lady comes
to the door and says to an older rugged-looking man telling him about the
arrival of someone.]
[young lady to St. Nick] Sir.
[rugged-man replies] Go away.
[young lady replies] He's
here', sir.
[rugged-man looks up]
Where is he?
[The
scene changes to the rugged man walking slowly in the snow somewhere, while
Kirk is talking. Kirk describes that stories are important part of teaching our
kids, and teaching them truths because we learn best through stories. But Kirk
notes that stories can also be tricky (dark/evil and unacceptable) because of their
original format. Then says.
Kirk: As kids we
absolutely beg for the same stories to be told and repeated again and again, indefinitely.
But, as we grew older, we got bored of the same old stories, and wanted to hear
something more exciting... We want new stories that aren't predictable and have
new elements that we haven't thought of before. And we'd roll our eyes if
things get too predictable. But when we have kids, we still go back to the old
reliable or acceptable stories. There are so many problems though, with, the
old stories.... [missing some of
this quote] We start to think that we need to change the stories, and some
of the characters, so that they're a little less scary. We begin to worry that
the wolf or witch might give them nightmares. So we tend to change the stories
for our kids, and we cut out the bad guys all together or we make them less
intense and more jolly.
But you see, stories aren't just when we kids. You and I - are living
out a story, right now.
[Then
the intro credits, while in the background is shown, with an upbeat version of
'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' ~ 'Retooning
the Nativity' www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-4y5mK_o9E ~ a quasi-helpful cartooning
of the story of the birth of Christ. It's a conversation piece for sure and
conversation starter.]
[The camera switches to the party at
Kirk's sister's house, with Santa on the couch, taking pictures with the kids. It's
clear everyone is having a lot of fun. The camera pauses to notice Kirk at the
party. -- [Kirk says] "That's me - enjoying the party."
Then camera moves to his sister and pauses, and [Kirk says]
"And that's my sister - she's the
one throwing the party." Then Kirk goes in the kitchen to talk
with his sister, tells her how great the party is.]
Kirk - As always -
amazing! You really outdid yourself this year. You even got santa. Where did
you find him? How much do you have to pay a guy to do that?
Bridgette - It's Uncle Bill.
Kirk - Oh. I... with
that beard and all.. I didn't recognize him. Yeah. By the way, does he have a
job?
Bridgette - No, that's why we hired him.
Kirk - [nods]
So, uh - where's Christian? How's he doing? Is he okay?
Bridgette - He's fine. Really.... Oh, I don't know."
Kirk - Woah, woah,
woah. Do I need to break some lights? Is he treating you all right? 'Cause if
not, I can take him out back right now...
Bridgette - No, it's not
that. He's treating me fine. He's just... He's just not into Christmas this
year. That's all [walks out of the kitchen].
Kirk - [has this confused look on his face, then
snaps back to host-mode] Hey everybody - who wants hot chocolate? Come on and
get some hot chocolate.
[camera
focuses on 'Christian' as he is seemingly made uncomfortable by thoughts that
are war-ing within him...]
Kirk: You see what
makes our story different is that we can choose how we write our own story. We
can choose what character we want to be. We can choose to be - the hero or the
villain; the wise man or the fool; tiny Tim or Uncle Scrooge... And we also
don't what others are going through or why they act a certain way. Maybe that
someone is tired or depressed. Maybe someone lost their job, or maybe they
didn't get their Christmas bonus this year. Maybe they're just not feeling
well. Or maybe, just maybe, they don't like Christmas under any circumstances.
That is 'Christian'. ['Christian White' character in this
movie.] Where some see merriment and
enjoyment, others see fake smiles and bratty kids. Where some see pretty
packages and a giving spirit, others see pretense and obligations. Where some
see decorations, others see pagan symbols and hidden meanings. Where some see happy
families, others see needless spending and bad stewardship. Some people are
determined to see the worst in even the best of things.
[breaks from Kirk's painting of psychology on
'Christian' to Deandre]
Deandre -- Hey there's my
main man, Christian. How you doin'?
Christian - What up
Deandre? How are you?
Deandre -- You know me:
blessed and highly favored.
Christian - And?
Deandre -- Sanctified,
and filled by the Holy Ghost - and that with a burning fire.
Christian - And?
Deandre -- ... [forgotten this last line of his. Sorry, I didn't get it written down.]
Christian - You people and
your verses. You need to get your exegesis right.
Deandre - My
extra-Jesus? I've had that since I got baptized for the second time.
Christian - [just smiles
and lightly shook his head]
Deandre -- You got that
memo right?
Christian - What memo?
Deandre -- You know the
one that I'm talking about.
Christian - From whom?
Deandre -- From the big
guy - you know the big chief. They cannot take away our 'Crazy Shirt Fridays'.
They already have every other day... [goes
through days of the week, and why they don't work] What other day do we
got? Crazy Shirt Fridays. We can't let them take this from us man. You and me.
Straight power. My people have been through enough. We're going to march. We're
going to do whatever we have to do...
[Deandre then continues this rant about how
he doesn't want to lose crazy shirt Fridays and how many crazy shirts his wife
has gotten him for Christmas for that day, and how he doesn't want any more
changes, because soon enough they're going to move that office from floor 4 to
floor 2. And he doesn't want to give up anymore rights... and at a certain
point, Christian is lost in through, smiles and nods and the music in the movie
drowns out whatever Deandre is saying... until]
Deandre -- Hey are you
still listening to what I'm saying?
Christian - [dazed] What?
Deandre -- I'm going to
go get some more hot-chocolate. I'll catch you back in the email.
Christian - [nods]
[Deandre leaves the room, and Christian is
still in his daze about the holiday festivities.]
The
focus of the lens goes back to Kirk who goes to find Christian who had been
sitting there listening, and then also left the room when Deandre left. So, Kirk
comes in and just finds another guy sitting on the couch, enjoying watching the
party.
Kirk
then explains from a psychological stand-point of positive thinking versus a
form of mental instability - as though all the pressure has piled up on and
invisibly buried 'Christian' and he's 'lost his mind'. (Now, though Kirk is using
psychology - not the Bible on this, Kirk never uses those terms.) –
[Kirk's
speech continue]
Kirk: He then
explains that when someone is in this state of mind and questioning the party
and the elements of the holiday, they can usually be found hiding by themselves
in a dark corner away, in another room. And when they go missing, they can
typically be found in an even more quiet place. For instance - the car parked
in the driveway. And, if we were writing this story, that's exactly where we
would expect them to be. And that's where Kirk finds 'Christian'. And Kirk's says
that (according to him), someone like this needs an intervention (again a
psychological term). So Kirk goes to the passenger side and opens it and gets
in the car with him.
Kirk: You okay? You
feeling all right?
Christian -- Yeah. I'm fine. Just, wanted to get away for a
minute. Needed a break. It just gets noisy. [hummed a few notes of a Christmas tune... then gets quiet. Then speaks
again]
I was driving home tonight from work - on main street. And I saw
this girl and her Mom at the mall. And the girl is all crying and making a
fuss. And the Mom is like it's okay, and trying to calm her down. And the Mom's
hands are full of bags - she's obviously been shopping the whole day. And the
little girl is still crying, because she's obviously not going to get what she
really wants. It's all about stuff. Everybody just wants stuff. And then I come
home, and there's this. [points to the
gathering in his house]
Please don't misunderstand... I love your sister. I love her to
death. And, she loves Christmas, and decorating and... And then, all the kids are
all gathered around santa. And later, everybody will all gather around and tear
into their presents... and all the selfishness. And yet, a few weeks from now, where
will those toys be? Those toys will be left somewhere un-played with. And I
think to myself - Wow. Wouldn't that money be better spent on the poor? Do you
realize how many hungry we could feed with this? Or how many wells we could dig
in Africa? This cannot be what God wants for His celebration. And then, then
there's the gigantic Christmas tree - like 'Oh
look at me? I'm the Christmas tree. I get to be right in the center of the
whole thing.' And then, in the corner, tucked away - almost out of sight,
is our nativity scene snow-globe. There, out of the way, is the baby Jesus. And
he's behind a glass. And, you can pick it up and turn it over and snow is
falling on baby Jesus and the manger... Santa and the Christmas tree get all
the focus. And, the little nativity is just off to the side... it's like a
trinket. This is not what Christmas is all about.
Kirk: I'm with you. I get it... But, it's all wrong.
Christian - My man. [fist bump]
Kirk: I mean, I get
what you're saying - I get all of it. But, it's all wrong.
Christian - [puzzled]
Kirk: You're all
wrong.
Christian -- On what? I
just said a lot.
Kirk: I know. And
you're wrong on all of it. Everything you just said is all wrong.
Christian -- Are we seeing
the same party in there?
Kirk: Yes. Everything
you see in there - It's all about Christmas. It's all about Jesus. You drank
the kool-aid. You took the lie - hook, line, and sinker and swallowed it whole.
And you're spoiling the entire party for everyone. Your wife. Your kids.
Everyone who came, wanting to just enjoy themselves. You've been listening to
the wrong people.
Christian -- Well, you're
going to have to help me see it, cause I'm not seeing it yet.
Kirk: Let me help you
out with this....
[So
Christian asks how anything in there is glorifying to Jesus, and since Kirk is
such a strong, assertive, and confident leader, Christian decides he needs to
see things Kirk's way and asks Kirk to explain his view-point of the whole
party, so that he can feel good about it like Kirk does.]
Kirk then tells 'Christian' to close his eyes and visualize
his nativity scene in his house - the water/snow globe one. Kirk then works
people to rethink the Nativity scene to be a story. Kirk begins with Jesus
being valuable to us because of the story He enters into. Kirk says that to
believe the story is only valuable
because baby Jesus is in, is to miss the bigger picture.
Kirk: Let's look beyond what we usually see, beyond white skin
and clean clothes, beyond the safe and soft. Let's look at the nativity scene. Now
visualize a cave. Dark, cold. Now, think of what Jesus was placed in - a
manger. Think feeding trough for animals. What else do we have? We have Joseph.
We have Mary. We have the baby Jesus. And where are they? In a cave. Cave –
food for animals on the rock. Now, think about the setting. Soldiers who are surround
the nativity, because they are trying to find baby Jesus but instead just kill
all of the other children in reference to Ramah weeping.
Kirk: Now, look at
that scene again. For a moment, let's take away Joseph. Now, we have a young
woman with a baby. Now, let's take away Mary. Now we have a baby. Now, let's
take away baby Jesus - for just a minute. Now don't panic. We're going to bring
them back in, but I want to look at something else that's in the text of the
Christmas story that often gets overlooked. Swaddling cloth. Scripture shows us
that the swaddling cloth comes back in once more into the story - at Jesus'
burial. Think of what the two wise men gave - frankincense and myrrh. Those are
not gifts to give to a baby. Those are things used to bury someone. [Kirk notes that these are things that were
just a reminder at the coming of Christ as a baby, that reminds us of His
coming death And Jesus' death is where He conquered sin - where He died in the
place of the guilty. Kirk notes that the death of Jesus was not the tragic end
of the story - it was only the beginning. Yet we see the nuances of the cross
at the birth of Christ. He was born to die.]
'Christian' [after hearing this] Wow, It's been there all along.
I've never seen it. See that's what I'm saying. I love seeing more from
Scriptures - things like the soldiers around the nativity. I love that.
>>>
[The camera then moves from Kirk and
'Christian' talking in the car, to inside, where a conversation with Deandre
and Raphi about to start.]
Deandre -- So, did you
get the memo?
Raphi - You bet I got that memo. You
know what this is about right?
Deandre -- Yeah... Uh,
no. What?
Raphi - Three words. War. On.
Christmas.
Deandre -- Yeah.
Raphi - If you stay ready, you don't
have to get ready. You feeling me?
[Raphi's
rant]
Raphi has
decided that this is just part of a much larger conspiracy which he doesn't
explain to us, but he does explain some (sort of) in a rant. Raphi first notes
that they don't know who could be spying on them. Raphi leads them to hide
their faces with their mugs so as to be covert about the conversation. Raphi then
goes on a rant in a rap style about all of the evil troubles of our day:
Raphi >> war on Christmas, war
on freedom of speech, area 51, what about area 52, that's where they bury all
the ten commandments and nativity scenes they take down. Raphi continues to
lies and woes of the popes, why'd the pope step down? davinci code? no, Picasso
code (Raphi says he's still working on
that one). Man, they're already putting fluoride in our water, that causes aspergers,
speaking of burgers, you look you haven't had one in years. What you're eating
isn't really beef, it's pink slime, HAARP, GMO foods, killing our bees, colony collapse
disorder which sounds like New World Order, coincidence? I think not... I know
what's going on, I saw loose change, CIA, Cheney, Koch brothers, Halliburton, ENRON,
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, You can find this all on YouTube, I heard it on Fox
News, so you know that it's true... [abruptly stops]
[Lady off-screen] Do you guys need more coffee?
Both guys - No, we're good thanks.
Raphi - Delicious (smiles) ... I
think we're good now. Cups down... So you know what we got to do, right?
Deandre - No. What?
Raphi - The only thing we can do.
[Camera
looks away before we hear whatever Raphi's solution is...]
[Back
to Kirk and 'Christian in the car]
Christian - Christmas trees. News flash.
Christmas tree - not in the Bible. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Deuteronomy - did
I miss it... I miss Leviticus sometimes. But, I'm pretty sure it's not in
there. And that's the big thing I've got sitting in my house right now. It's a
big Christmas tree. That's a pagan idol symbol worshiping thingy. You know that
right? That's what they would worship their gods with. You know the gods.
Kirk: What gods?
Christian - The gods.
Kirk: Which gods?
Christian - Thorsis... Thorsiris... It's
always Norweigan... that's what they would do. It was the winter... 'Winter
Solstice'. News flash - it's December. Jesus was not born in December, and
we're celebrating His birthday in December... Hello?
Kirk: When was He born?
Christian - Probably.. He was... Probably..
Spri... Probably... I don't know. But He wasn't born in December. Everyone
knows that. So we celebrate that...
Kirk: Right... and the trees. It's like the evergreen represents
eternal life, and fertility gods.
Christian - Wikipedia.... yeah.
Kirk: And people will worship these symbols. And they believe that
if they worship these symbols, and they down their offerings and their gifts,
they would inherit eternal life.
Christian - ... you know this...
Kirk: that this is... this is all idolatry.
Christian - Yes, it's idolatry in my house.
How do your kids react on every morning on Christmas? What do they do? Tell
me... What do they do?
Kirk: I make my kids wait at the top of the staircase. I don't let
them come down the stairs, until my wife and I get everything ready at the
tree. And the anticipation builds. And they run down the stairs when I tell
them they can. And they run down to the tree and they just blown away by all
the presents, sitting at the base of the tree.
Christian - That's exactly what the Druids
did.
Kirk: Right...
Christian - Druids. You look this up. This is
all history. So, where - I ask again, where are 'Christmas trees' in the Bible?
Kirk: I'm glad you asked.
Christian - I'll close my eyes again - here I go.
I'm waiting. Okay. What's the chapter? What's the verse? You have a weird
obscure verse in Numbers? Where... Where am I going?
Kirk: *just laughs softly*
Christian - Where do I start in the Bible?
Christmas trees. I'm waiting. Where do I go?
Kirk: I'm glad my sister married you. This is awesome.
* 'Christian' is now humming a tune, acting childish, with his eyes
closed while waiting for 'Kirk-character' to tell him where in the Bible and
Kirk-character is just looking at him with a mocking smile and chuckling.*
I'm waiting. Where in the Bible? Flip, flip, flip, flip. Red letter. Red
letter. Red letter. Doot. Doot. Doot. Where in the Bible? *hums again*
Kirk: Bro. Bro, look at me.
Christian - Where are we going in the Bible?
Kirk: Genesis.
[Kirk speaking]
The whole biblical story
starting in Genesis, starts in a tree lot. The Garden of Eden was full of
trees. Adam and Eve were given the fruit of these trees to eat. And then the
story calls our attention to two of these trees in particular - the Tree of
Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. [Visuals shown: Adam is shaved bald, and staring at a red
glitter-covered, crystallized apple ornament.] And then later, we hear that
one of these trees is off limits, because by eating it - man would surely die.
And the other was off limits, because by eating it man would live forever...
I'm sorry that was not off limits - man would live forever [if he ate of it]
But the 'tree of the knowledge of good and been evil' was off limits because he
would die. But Adam ate from the 'tree of the knowledge of good and evil' and
was thrown out in the garden, so that he couldn't eat from the 'tree of
life'. Mankind would have to wait until
that path to that other tree was reopened by someone else. But, I'm getting
ahead of myself. We'll get back to that part later.
Right now, I want to
talk to you about that evergreen tree - that's decorated with stylized fruit
and lights, that's making you so nervous. You're anxious because you can't find
it in the Bible. I'm going to help you. When God created the world, He filled it
with trees. He hung fruit on the trees and when it was time to build His house
and make it beautiful, God brought trees inside His House [Jewish Temple] the walls of His Temple were frescoed with the
images of trees. The lamp stand, a key piece of furniture in His House, His
Tabernacle - was an almond tree. And guess what he placed on the branches of
the tree in His House? Lights. Beautiful trees decorated with fruit shimmering
with lights inside a house - that's God's idea, not the Druids. And the early
church had plenty of good reasons to celebrate the birth of Jesus on December
25th, and it had nothing to do with the 'Winter Solstice'. By the way, last
time I checked - it was God who made the Winter Solstice, when He set the
planets on their path around the sun. And actually it's actually quite fitting
that we celebrate the birth of Jesus in the Bleak Midwinter, when the world
appears to be sleeping and dying and dark. The darkest and coldest time of
year. Right then, at that time, we are proclaiming the turn of history from
darkness to light, from coldness to warmth, and from death to life. So, enough with
what pagans want us to see. Let's look at what God wants us to see. All right -
let's go back to the story.
As I was saying, Adam stole the fruit from God's tree and then
Adam ate it. Now when you steal something, you are required to put it back. But
how could Adam put it back? He had already eaten it. It had already gone down
inside and become part of him. The only way Adam could put the fruit back is -
this sounds crazy, but he'd have to put himself up on a tree. Now think. What
did Jesus do? He was the last Adam. Jesus was able to do Adam could not do.
Jesus was God's blessed fruit - hung on His blessed tree, making us right with
God.
Kirk: So, the next time you see hundreds of Christmas trees, I want
you to see hundreds of crosses that never have to be used, because Christ died
on a cross - once for all.
[There's a brief pause]
Christian - I.. I didn't see it. I... Uh. I guess I just wasn't looking
closely enough at...
Kirk: It's okay, I didn't see it either.
Christian - Santa Claus. In the Bible. Unless I missed something, somewhere
in the Bible... where God sends His only begotten...?
Kirk: Elf? *light-mocking chuckles*
Christian - Elf. Santa-dude. Like...
Kirk: Reindeer pulling a sleigh.
Christian - Just tell me right now you're not
gonna pull like...
Kirk: ... Sliding down a chimney.
Christian - Zephaniah 4. Or are like 3rd
Corinthians 15. *with Kirk-character just
laughing* ... Like there's Santa Claus. I didn't even see it right there.
Just tell me right now... Okay we're good, right. That's not going to happen.
Right?
Kirk: No. But...
Christian - Now, hold on. Hold on. Hold on. So,
I'm safe in saying that there is no Santa Claus in the Bible.
Kirk: No, there is no Santa Claus in the Bible. But...
Christian - Okay. Hold on... Hey - Hey - Hey.
Kirk: No, no, no. Just let...
Christian - Hold on. Just, think about it -
think about it for one minute. That's the guy - Santa, that's obliterated
Jesus. Jesus is gone. The reason for the season is Santa Claus. What the kids
are saying all across the world, is not - I'm so excited to celebrate the birth
of Jesus. No, they're saying, I'm so excited to get my picture taken with
Santa. And, oh, they're going to give me presents. S A N T A - rearrange the
letters - SATAN. Santa - Satan. Same letters.
Kirk: Right.
Christian - Right. Coincidence? Yeah. Okay,
and who's completely gotten rid of Jesus? Satan. Santa. 'Ho-Ho-Ho' - where's
'Ho-Ho-Ho' in the Bible? 'Ho-Ho-Ho' - Bible.
Kirk: * they sing together*
You better watch out, You better not pout, You better not cry, and I'm telling
you why, Santa Claus is coming to town.
Christian - That's precisely... [interrupted
by Kirk-character]
Kirk: He knows when you are sleeping, He knows when you are awake...
Christian - Right. Omniscience.
Kirk: *still singing* He
knows if you've been good or bad, so be good for goodness sake. Oh, you
better...
Christian - Omniscience. Omnipresence.
Kirk: See, he rewards the good and punishes the bad.
Christian - Last time I checked, that was God.
And, by the way, this is works-based. Last I checked - saved by grace. This is
a complete hijacking. This is a hijacking - high-handed hijacking - handedness,
jacking... It's like a car-jacking, but of our religion. And guess what? Santa
got in the car, kicked Jesus out, and then was like 'Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'.
And took it. Gone. Christmas is gone. It's all about Santa. So, I ask again -
Where in the Bible? Where in the Bible? flip-flip-flip-flip-flip-flip - Red
letter, Red letter, Red letter - Where is it? So, hold on. Okay - I can't wait
for this one. Here we go - Here we go. I'm ready - eyes are closed. I'm looking
it - I see them - hold on - I see his face. Oh... I see his face.
Kirk: What do you see? Do you see a little elf?
Christian - yep.
Kirk: And he's in a sleigh.
Christian - yep.
Kirk: And he's in a little red cap.
Christian - yep.
Kirk: With a little red outfit on.
Christian - yep.
Kirk: He's got a sack over his back.
Christian - yep.
Kirk: And he's being pulled by a team of reindeer.
Christian - right. Not in the Bible.
Kirk: And he's gonna land on the roof, and he's going to slide down a
chimney, and he's going to fill stockings, and put presents around the base of
the tree.
Christian - Right.
Kirk: Right?
Christian - right. *deep breath*
Kirk: Let me tell you about the real Santa Claus.
Christian - Oh, I'm ready.
[The next scene is a young lady comes
to the door and says to an older rugged looking man telling him about the
arrival of someone.]
[young lady to St. Nick]
Sir.
[rugged-man replies] Go
away.
[young lady replies] He's
here', sir.
[The rugged-man replies]
- Where?
[young lady replies] Here
at the tavern.
[rugged-man replies] Get
my coat.
Kirk: The real santa was a bad, bad dude. When I say bad, I mean 'bad'
in a good way. If I were to show you this as it happened in real history, it'd
be all confusing with careful dialogue with men in long robes swinging incense
everywhere. It'd be a real mess. Instead, let me show you it -
Lord-of-the-Ringsy style. If you're thinking you're fighting the good fight by
scowling at santa, and mocking Christmas trees, let me show you how a real defender
of the faith would handle it. The real Santa Claus - his name was Nicholas. He
was a devout Christian, and he was the bishop of a church in Myra - a city in
modern-day Turkey. And he inherited a large sum of money from his parents who
passed away, and he became famous for his generosity toward others, the poor,
and the downcast and giving of gifts to poor children. And he was a leader in
the church during the time of the Council of Nicaea. You've heard of the Nicene
Creed. That was a critical council of the church, where key doctrines were
established. Not the least of which is that Jesus is God and the doctrine of
the Trinity. But, the council didn't go down without Nicholas and a fight. Nicholas
did not take kindly to people reducing Jesus to a mere man. He was a real man
who fought for real truth, against a real enemy of the faith.
[Nicholas-character walks
in behind Arias and just scowls, then abruptly sits down]
Leading the charge of heresy was a man name Arias. Arias was spreading
his heresy like a plague, convincing people with his smooth charismatic speech.
And it was Nicholas who opposed him. Nicholas was the good shepherd who would
protect his sheep from wolves.
[Nicholas says to Arias]
"In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
Kirk: Nicholas put the heretic to shame. As the record says, at a
crucial moment, Nicholas stood up in the council and opposed Arias both in word
and in deed, smiting him on the face.
[then the scenes show
Nicholas hit and drag this Arias guy out of the Tavern and beat him... it would
seem, to death. Kirk is talking as the scene unfolds in slow-motion with
dramatic style]
The church council was not very happy with some of Nicholas'
last than jolly actions, so they defrocked him and he lost his position as bishop.
But, Nicholas was so loved by the people - because of who he was, and the
genuine nature of his faith and character, that they gave it back to him. And
then they even 'sainted' him. That's why we call him Saint Nicholas. He became a
hero of his time, of mythic proportions. In France, he was called 'Pere Noel'. In Sweden, he was called
'Thomton' [spelling on this one?]. In
Norway, he was known as 'yulenisse'
And in the Netherlands, he was called 'sinterklaas'.
[young lady to Nicholas] Oh look who it is. Feel better? Got
that out of your system? Come on. We've got some real work to do. [points to the outfit and sleigh]
[rugged man, who is Nicholas stands there quietly]
[young lady to Nicholas] Come on, let's go. It'll be fun. [pointing to a red outfit and red cap, on a
sleigh]
[rugged-man, Nicholas, pauses, then says] Yes, let's go bless
some kids tonight. Ho, Ho, Ho [this whole
scene is kind of haunting... just oddly done]
Kirk: You see? Nicholas is the defender of the faith that you want
to be.
Christian - Wow... Santa... is the man!
Kirk: Yeah he is.
Christian - Wow...
Kirk: Bro, I know you love my sister. I know you love Christmas as
much as I do. And, all of that in there - is good. You just need to see it
through new eyes.
Christian - I missed it. I'm the guy in the
story. I'm the jerk.... I feel so horrible. Oh dude, I'm staying in this car
all night... I need you to go in there and tell them I'm not feeling well. Tell
my wife - tell them that I had.. I got a rash or something... that I had a
reaction to the egg-nog
Kirk: Spiked the egg-nog [chuckles]
Christian: .. and that I had to get a shot
for.. what's that called? An egg-nog shot. A nogshot.
Kirk: Bro, there's a better way to end this story. You need to be
the guy who walks back into the house, walks up to your wife and tells her I
was wrong.
Christian - Why don't you do that? No... she's
my wife. But, she's your sister - you could...
Kirk: She's your wife.
Christian - Yeah. Right. She's my wife.
Kirk: The best ending to this story is you being that guy that
everyone wants to be. You being the life of the party.
Christian - Yeah, that's it. I want to be that
guy. I'm gonna be that guy. [repeats ad-nauseum and builds self-confidence]
[Next, both of them get
out of the car, and Christian walks to the front door and opens them both
dramatically - and just looks in wonder, with his new-found fantasy view on the
trappings of the holiday.]
Deandre -- Woah. It looks like someone's having a moment.
[Kirk in the
background talking to all of us, while we watch Christian] This year, take
in all the glory of Christmas. See Christmas through new eyes.
[Christian now takes a running leap and slides belly-first on
the floor and crashes into the pile of gifts below the decorated tree]
Deandre -- Woah. Work Holy Spirit. Mm. Glory. Can I get an amen? Mmm!
Glory - ah glory!
[Kirk talking to all of us again] Sometimes we need to be
brought low and humble like a little child to see things. Look at those
packages. Now, see them as a city skyline. Now imagine that city skyline is the
New Jerusalem, with its precious stones and pearl gates. Now see what's in the
middle? A tree - the Tree of Life. A tree with healing fruit and leaves for
curing the nations right in the heart of the city.
Now see the brighter light on the top of the tree - the bright
star over Bethlehem - announcing the world that Jesus has come. See the lesser
lights like us shining His light in this dark world. Now, look at those
presents again - waiting to be opened. That's what God does - God has always been giving His
children gifts at the base of trees. Abraham was given a gift to his son at the oaks of Mamre. And, we were
given the gift of salvation at the base of the tree on which Jesus hung in our
place.
Our Christmas traditions are so rich. They're so full of fiber.
They're so full of truth. If only we had the eyes to see them. So, this year,
step out of the car, out of the hidden quiet areas, and join the party -
remembering that every inch of this world belongs to Jesus.
So, now that you're out of the car. Are your eyes open? What do
you see? A soldier?...
We need to make new traditions of our
own. We need to infuse old symbols with new meaning. We need to rearrange our
lives and our homes so that every single thing points to Jesus. So, when you
see a toy soldier - bring them close to the nativity, so that every soldier is
a reminder of the whole story. How a baby was saved from soldiers in His
infancy, so that He could become the Warrior that would make sure that death
was killed once and for all. Every character in God's story has a place.
So guys, if you've
been If you've been the
one who has in the past terrorized your family and friends, scowling at Santa,
frustrating people - it's time to make it right. Because after all, Christmas
is about making all things right. So tell your parents, tell your family to
pull out the best linens that they have in the cupboard. Pull out your finest
dishes and your crystal - your nicest silverware, the biggest ham, and the most
amazing side-dishes you can possibly imagine, and the richest butter. It's time
to feast at Christmas. Invite your friends, your coworkers, your family - invite
them all in. Make the most of Christmas. Fill your table with laughter and
stories and songs. Don't miss one opportunity to share the joy of the season
this year.
And don't buy into the complaint about commercialism this
Christmas. Sure, don't max out your credit cards. And, don't use gifts to buy
friends. But remember this is a celebration of the eternal God taking on a
material body. So it's right that our holiday is marked with material things -
things we can see with our eyes, and touch with our hands and look upon.
Ribbons and decorations. Hot chocolate. Lights. Presents. Giant hams. Stuffing.
Fudge. Trees. Christmas cards. And more hot chocolate, piled high with whipped
cream.
[Christian
talking to his wife]
Bridgette - So, what's up?
Christian -- So, I've been
a bit of a jerk this Christmas season.
Bridgette - Well, yes you have.
Christian -- You deserve so
much better than this. So, I decided that I want to give you something that
I've been wanting to give you for a really long time.
[camera
freezes]
Kirk: [talking to us] Now, what usually happens at this point? What
would you have want to have happen? The cliché kiss, right? Well, always
remember that sometimes our heroes do the unexpected.
Christian -- I just went
ahead and organized an impromptu break-dancing session and choir because me
alone just couldn't express all of the love and joy that I feel in my heart right
at this moment. Hit it Deandre!
Deandre - All right. And I got the perfect song for this from Family
Force 5! Angels We Have Heard on High! Come
on everybody!...
[long
segment of everyone dancing or singing or just enjoying the rest of the dancing
etc. After that, the movie actors all applaud and chit-chat, then Kirk says to
the crowd of family and friends.]
Kirk: Come on everybody - let's feast! [Everyone hurries to the
kitchen.]
[The last
segment is Kirk talking to all of us, while we watch the party and food and
conversations - celebration.]
Kirk to all of us:
How can we possibly capture all that is Christmas? We can eat
until our sides split. We could smile until our cheeks hurt. And laugh until
our bellies ache. We could sing until our voices grew hoarse. And we would not
have even scratched the surface of this glorious day. This is our city. Our
tree. Our story. Our lights. Our presents. Our songs. Our saint nick. It's our
hope. Our future. Our Savior. And, once your eyes have been opened, you can't
go back.
Merry Christmas everyone. All the best to you and your family.
****
That's
all of the script my team and I could put together, and there's plenty enough
to discuss. All of this script stuff is fair use. I claim no copyright or
ownership of it. I'm merely sharing it for conversations about the topics Kirk
raised, so we can all work together to see it clearly from God's Word. ~
~ This was collected and published by
the Sowing and Reaping Resources team. praying for our country. Let's stay in
God's Word, keep taking it literally, and growing more and more daily, closer
to Him and walking in Jesus' ways. ~