The Redemption of Scrooge

I serve as the Music Director of a United Methodist church. There are several things the United Methodists believe which I believe to be unbiblical, but I can, for the most part, look past them and generally enjoy leading worship there and playing the keys.

However, now the pastor wants to do this advent study called "The Redemption of Scrooge." As you can imagine, the study makes a parallel between Scrooge's change of heart in Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and our own salvation/redemption. I'm having a real problem with this. Nowhere in Dickens' tale is there any mention of Christ. There is no biblical salvation message. And although Scrooge does change his ways (repents), there is no indication that God has done any work in Scrooge's life, nor does Scrooge turn his life over to God.

In short, I'm having a difficult time with this parallel, and I think it teaches the wrong message: that we can save ourselves.

What say you? Any suggestions on how to deal with this craziness?

While I'm sure many here will believe they can give a valid answer to this, it really is not fully answerable in its current state.
On the surface your argument is valid, but without seeing how they approached this idea it's difficult to fully dismiss it as worthless in its entirety.
For example, as a teen, my first true understanding of the battle between an individuals flesh and spirit came from watching a batman movie. And I have used that, at times, to help others understand. This parallel did not involve God, yet I was able to increase my understanding of legitimate spiritual concepts by finding something I can relate to.

So, for example, I can see how this story could be used to bring a person to understanding of owning up to your actions, recognizing the harm you have done to self and others through them, then acknowledging a need to change from within and turn from your past deeds. To use this as a parallel to show the need for recognizing a need for change from our natural inclinations and then bringing God into the message may help people have a more fleshed out understanding of these concepts. One better than typically religious words that people may not grasp or relate to, such as repentance.

I don't think that it is the wrong message but rather an incomplete one. I do believe that the story has certain redemptive qualities. Scrooge's change of heart is a result of fear and guilt. Yes, it is only the shed blood of Jesus that allows for the remission of sins. Perhaps that was inferred in the tale albeit to subtle to readily grasp.

Charles Dickens was a Christian. He wrote a children's book about Jesus and started a number of women's refuges. Most of his novels have a strong moral content. He wrote for the general public many of his readers were not committed Christians. His aim was to help morally reform society through his writing.

Thanks everyone for your comments -- very helpful!

Ugly, I was going to leave you rep, but I have to pass more around to others first!!!

some good posts...but, we must always give our Saviour the credit for anything that is truly
good and truthful...and with the point that nothing can truly be Holy achieved
without the knowledge of the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ...

I could write stories with morals all day long, just about what goes on in the barnyard...BUT,
without the Love of Jesus in the mix, it's just another story, morals or not...

just our share and opinion...at this stage of our lives, we have come to realize and know,
that Christ must always be the CENTER of all that is Godly and Holy...else, the world will just
pull one right back into its deceptions...