Peppi and I have already checked off one of our most favorite holiday traditions this time of year. The other night we watched “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” This holiday favorite came out in 1966 and we have been watching it for as long as we can remember. It’s become even more special now that we can watch it together.
You would be surprised at how many writers — both Christian and non-Christian — who have dissected this animated television special and commented on what it says about faith in God.
For those who have never watched it (although I cannot imagine such a person exists), Linus Van Pelt, brother of Lucy Van Pelt and good friend of Charlie Brown, tells all his friends that he is excited about the upcoming Halloween holiday because it is on Halloween that the Great Pumpkin rises from the pumpkin patch and gives toys to all the “sincere” boys and girls who believe in him. Linus is met with eye-rolling and outright ridicule.
“Oh, brother!” Charlie Brown exclaims.
But Linus is undaunted and undeterred in his belief in the Great Pumpkin — despite the fact that he has never actually seen him and never received a toy from him on Halloween. Linus believes it is because he has not been “sincere enough” in his beliefs.
Halloween night comes and Linus and Charlie Brown’s little sister, Sally, wait together in the pumpkin patch. And they wait. And wait. And wait.
The rest of the gang goes out trick or treating and finishes the night at a Halloween party when they share some laughs and bob for apples.
Linus and Sally wait all night in the pumpkin patch. Nothing happens. Once again the Great Pumpkin has failed to make an appearance. Linus blames himself.
At the end of the holiday special, Linus and Charlie Brown are standing by a wall and talking about what happened the night before. Charlie Brown went trick or treating and all he got was a bag of rocks. Good grief! Whereas Linus sat in the pumpkin patch all night and missed out, too. Another Halloween come and gone! Charlie Brown tries to comfort Linus, saying, “It’s okay. I’ve done stupid things in my life.” At this point, Linus gets defensive and proclaims that it was NOT “stupid” to wait all night for the Great Pumpkin and as the program closes says, “Just you wait until next year, Charlie Brown! You’ll see! I’ll find the most sincere pumpkin patch ever!”
Again, there are many non-believers who dive into this and view Linus’ belief in the Great Pumpkin as a critique on people of faith. They say, “Just as Linus believed in a fictitious supernatural being and refused to consider any evidence to the contrary, the world is full of people who believe in God and refuse to accept any evidence to the contrary.” Their implication is that belief in God is just as ridiculous as Linus’ belief in the Great Pumpkin.
On the other hand, a good number of Christian writers have looked at Linus’ persistence in his beliefs — despite the ridicule and disappointment he endured — and found a message of encouragement for those of us who believe in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. They say, “Linus continued to believe even when those closest to him mocked his faith. This reflects the situation endured by many Christians today as we dwell in post-Christian American society.”
Still others have a problem with Linus’ “faith” itself. They say, “When Linus feels disappointed by the Great Pumpkin, he blames himself. The Great Pumpkin doesn’t show and Linus thinks it’s because he didn’t believe enough or hadn’t yet found the most ‘sincere’ pumpkin patch. Translated: he’s saying he didn’t believe hard enough or work hard enough. That kind of faith is dangerous and unhealthy.”
I imagine many of us wonder if Peanuts creator, Charles Shultz, even intended to communicate a message about faith at all.
I believe he did.
One thing we know about Charles Shultz is that he believed in God and wasn’t afraid to acknowledge his faith!
Don’t believe me? Watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and listen to Linus’ recitation of the story of Christ’s birth from Luke 2. That scene is so full of faith in Christ that back in 2016 a school system in Texas and the attorney general of the State of Texas debated over whether a school nurse could display that quote along with a picture of Linus on her office door. Eventually the poster was taken down. Other school systems have refrained from even showing “A Charlie Brown Christmas” to its students during the holidays for fear of reprisals from angry, non-believing parents.
By the way, it’s said that when Charles Shultz presented the idea of his Christmas special to TV network executives and told them it would include the recitation of a passage of Scripture, network executives “balked”. I’m glad Shultz got his way.
But what of Linus’ faith?
I guess I see both sides.
Sometimes I feel like Linus in that I find myself holding to beliefs in God, Jesus, heaven, hell and the Bible that many have discarded and/or ridiculed.
And sometimes I have to acknowledge the unhealthy dynamics present in my own faith, including the “transactional” way in which I can view my relationship with God. I mean, there are times when I am tempted to think, “If I do this, then I’m owed this.” Or if something negative happens in my life, I’m tempted to think it’s because I haven’t worked hard enough or maybe I’m not good enough.
So I understand that sort of criticism about Linus’ faith. And maybe Shultz was commenting on both aspects of faith.
Sadly, Shultz moved away from the strength of some of his Christian beliefs later in life. Over the course of my ministry I’ve seen many Christians do the same.
I hope you never do. I hope your faith in God and His Son remains strong until the end of your days. For as the writer of Hebrews declared in Hebrews 11:6:
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
Amen.