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Grinch: The Whole Story

Christmas is in the rear-view mirror, but I have something that's been bugging me for a couple of months. It's our use of the word Grinch. When we call someone a Grinch, we are not normally handing out a compliment. In fact, we even have the song all worked out. You're a mean on, Mr. Grinch. We rhyme and wax poetical about just how insufferable he is.

I may stand alone here, but I think this view of Grinch is short-sighted. And as Christians, I think we should re-think this name-calling.

First of all, name-calling is just not nice. So let's not be so stupid. Secondly, we are ignoring the whole story of Grinch. Do you remember the end of the story? His heart grew 3 times as large as I recall. He became Dr. Seuss's version of Zacchaeus.

Do you remember that guy? He's not just an avid tree-climber that Jesus spotted. He was a tax collector that apparently had a Napolean complex and took care of things by cheating people on their taxes. But after a visit with Jesus, good ol' Zac was paying people back 4 times what he cheated them. We don't normally think of Zacchaeus as the cheat he was before he met Jesus. We think of him as the success story.

How would you like it if you were remembered for the sins you committed before you were saved? 'Hey, there's Greg, the fornicator!' It just doesn't sound right, does it?

From now on, if I call someone a Grinch, it will be because of the great change and growth of heart that I see in them. Perhaps we should all be striving to be a Grinch.

Your turn. How do you see the Grinch?
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