The Unedited Charlie Brown Christmas

It's the king of all the classic TV Christmas specials: "A Charlie Brown Christmas." We know the familiar scenes of Charlie Brown sadly looking for the meaning of Christmas, Snoopy's Christmas decorations on his doghouse, Lucy's Christmas pageant, Charlie's pitiful little Christmas tree, and Linus' appearance on center stage to answer Charlie's question about what it all means. Linus quotes straight from Luke's account of Jesus' birth. Those are all things we know about that special. What I just learned recently is contained in an interview with one of the co-creators of that show. When Charlie Brown creator Charles Schulz first suggested including the mention of Jesus in the special, he met with some serious objections, from the network especially. They almost tubed the project because they feared they wouldn't be able to sell advertising on a show that talked about Jesus. Charles Schulz stood his ground and he simply said, "If we don't do it, who will? We're going to do it." The rest is history.

With his groundbreaking project on the line, Charles Schulz refused to edit out Jesus. That is an example of courage for every one of us who claims to belong to Jesus. Because the pressure's on, wherever you work or go to school, to leave out Jesus.

That's not something new. We read in Acts 4, beginning with verse 18, the orders given to Peter and John by the same Jewish leaders who arranged for the crucifixion of their Savior. "They called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help but speaking about what we have seen and heard." Notice: the authorities didn't care if they talked about morality, about the Bible, about God. But the line was clear - "Do not mention the Name!"

That has been the order from hell for 2,000 years, because Satan knows that the power to defeat him is in that name. It is, according to the Bible, "the only name under heaven by which we can be saved." (Acts 4:12) It is "the name at which every knee will bow, in heaven, in earth, and in hell." (Philippians 2:10) And it is that name we choke on when we're trying to talk to someone about spiritual things, isn't it? Who do you think makes you choke? Satan himself is screaming, "Do not mention the Name!"

We've been ashamed of that glorious name far too many times, haven't we? How can I be ashamed of Jesus when He was not ashamed of me when He hung dying on that cross? We've got to make Romans 1:16 our defiant battle cry: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation!" It's time that the people we work with and recreate with and live near know who we belong to. It's time that they know that your life is anchored to Jesus Christ. He's the only One who ever loved you enough to die for you; the only One powerful enough to walk out of His grave under His own power.

Those who have no respect for Jesus are totally unafraid to speak His name carelessly and recklessly. How can we who know who He is, who have been forgiven by His blood, be ashamed to speak His Name? It's not enough to just talk about your church, or your religion, or your values. The pressure may be on to edit out Jesus, but we will not disgrace Him again by being ashamed of His Name. Raise your Jesus-flag to the highest point on the mast and never lower your Jesus-colors again!

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!*

Dec 9, 2005 /By Kelly Boggs/ Baptist Press

McMINNVILLE, Ore. (BP)--It almost did not air. Network executives thought it moved too slowly for a Christmas special. They also were convinced that the absence of a laugh track, a staple of 1960 era comedies, would be the kiss of death.

To further complicate matters, the man behind the cast of animated characters insisted upon using real kids for the voice-overs. As a result, only a couple of the children who were cast had any acting experience.

However, what most concerned the suits at CBS was the religious content. The climax of the 30-minute program focused on a main character quoting Scripture. The executive producer even insisted that the Bible could not be read on network television.

However, the creator of what has become a Christmas classic refused to edit or otherwise water-down the content. In spite of network executives concerns, A Charlie Brown Christmas made its television debut on Thursday, Dec. 9, 1965. The result: More than 15 million homes tuned in and it captured nearly half of the possible audience. The week it aired, the show was No. 2 in the ratings. It went on to win critical acclaim as well as an Emmy Award for outstanding children's program and a Peabody Award for excellence in programming.

The executives at CBS were stunned at the program?s success. Lee Mendelson, executive producer of A Charlie Brown Christmas, told USA Today, When I started reading the reviews, I was shocked.... They actually liked it.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas, the animated classic that features the Peanuts characters created by Charles Schultz. The storyline not only exposes the crass commercialization that characterizes too much of American Christmas, but it also highlights the real reason for the season. And after four decades, it continues to be popular.

The so-called experts are still scratching their collective heads over the success of Charlie Brown. Explanations for the show?s longevity abound. Some suggest the popularity is due to the genius of Schultz and the popularity of the characters he created. Others insist that it is the craving for nostalgia of the baby-boom generation that fuels the seasonal success of?A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Contrary to expert speculation about Charlie Brown?s success, I believe the popularity of Charles Schultzs story about the round-headed boy?s search for the true meaning of Christmas runs deeper than superficial sentiment for characters or the desire to reminisce. The success of A Charlie Brown Christmas is anchored in truth. In a society that is on the verge of committing politically correct suicide, Charlie Brown dares to declare the simple truth that the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus Christ.

When Charlie Brown shouts in desperation, Isn't there anyone out there who can tell me what Christmas is all about?? Linus responds,Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you.?He then takes center stage and quotes verbatim the King James Version of Luke 2:8-14.

With simple eloquence, the blanket-clutching character unashamedly announces, ?For unto you this day is born in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.?

Linus? quotation stands in stark contrast to a popular culture that seeks to ban the Guest of Honor from His own celebration. The message of A Charlie Brown Christmas is the supernatural reality that God sent His only begotten son into the world so the world might through Him be saved.

In the 40 years since Charles Schultz first communicated the simple truth of Christmas through his beloved Peanuts characters, American culture has grown more secular and politically correct.

However, the hearts of individuals still yearn for truth and meaning. In the vast wasteland that characterizes much of the American Christmas experience, A Charlie Brown Christmas is an oasis of truth. Year after year, thirsty souls have taken time to drink deeply the profound truth that God became a man. Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!

--30-- Kelly Boggs is pastor of the Portland-area Valley Baptist Church in McMinnville, Ore. His column appears each Friday in Baptist Press.

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