One of my favorite Christmas movies is Elf. It has everything that a person could want in a Christmas-themed movie: humor, Christmas spirit, Peter Billingsley (Ralphie from A Christmas Story), Santa, Claymation, and a storyline that pulls on the heartstrings. It is a masterpiece of laughter, awe, and tears.

But Elf is more than these, it’s also a movie that reminds us that we all don’t approach the Holiday Season in the same way or with the same expectations. Buddy the Elf, played by Will Ferrell, looks at Christmas through the eyes of joy and innocence. Buddy’s biological father Walter, played by James Caan, doesn’t see Christmas at all except maybe to exploit it for his own gain. Jovie, played by Zooey Deschanel, is just getting through the season in the midst of her own cynicism and maybe a level self-doubt. Buddy’s younger brother, Michael, played by Daniel Tay, is in that weird transitional period where is leaving one stage of life behind and awkwardly beginning a new one. Every character in the movie has their own unique approach to Christmas that is defined by who they are and where they have been in life.

As a pastor, how do you not only navigate these complex approaches, but also minister to people who are all approaching Christmas with their own baggage? What can Buddy the Elf teach us about ministry in the Christmas Season?

Lead with Presence, not Programs

Programs are great, and some of the greatest at my church revolve around the Christmas Season. Programs bring people within proximity of the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, but programs are not going to help people in their deepest struggles and hurt.

Buddy didn’t just talk about Christmas; he lived it with a joyful and contagious presence. Even though he was awkward at times, he unashamedly lived out what he spoke about, and people took notice. By the end of the movie, Buddy had transformed New York City into a Christmas-loving metropolis. He showed up fully in every moment, whether it was decorating the department store or singing for all to hear.

Your people don’t need polished programs. They need the warmth and presence of someone that genuinely believes in why they celebrate Christmas. They need someone that embodies the hope of Jesus Christ in a real way… because maybe this Christmas they are struggling to find hope in their own life.

Remember that Some have Unseen Hurt

Not everyone shared Buddy’s Christmas cheer. In the movie, we don’t get the backstory for Miles Finch, played by Peter Dinklage, but it is clear that his merciless pursuit of prestige is connected to some past hurt. Maybe he is the victim of some familial hurt, or oppression, or relational breakage. Whatever it is, the character comes across as heartless and only concerned with money and fame.

Every statistic reminds us that people are cynical, exhausted, hurt, mistreated, and lonely. All of the characters in the movie exemplify this. Buddy was the exception. His joy was so countercultural that it disarmed people’s cynicism, pain, and doubt. In this Christmas Season, you will meet people that match these various characters perfectly, and they are going to need someone that can counter their brokenness with joy and love.

Welcome Others Like Buddy

When my son was a toddler, everyone was his friend… he never met a stranger. In the movie, Buddy greeted every person he encountered like a friend. His friendliness and enthusiasm were extreme, but in a genuinely welcoming way. And here is his secret: he genuinely cared for every person that he encountered.

What if your church was welcoming in that way? What if they genuinely cared for every person that they encountered, not just on your church campus, but also at the grocery store and the gym and at their work or school? Truly seeing people, learning their names, and making everyone feel like they belong. This is not going to happen accidentally. You will have to train and equip your people to bring a relational warmth and welcoming culture to your church body.

Keep Jesus as the Reason for the Season

Buddy believed in something greater than him, and everyone that encountered him KNEW it! That belief changed the people around him and even changed an entire city. In the same way, our belief in Jesus Christ should bring hope and joy to those around us, not because of some shallow or outward displays, but because we truly believe with all of our being that Jesus, as God the Son, empathetically came as an infant to experience all of the struggles and temptations of man, dying on a cross to save everyone who would believe in Him as their Lord and Savior, resurrecting from the grave in victory over sin and death, so that we can live in new lives as His followers.

The decorations, gifts, and parties are all great, but they are not Christmas. Christmas is all about Jesus. Let every interaction, every conversation, and every handshake or hug point people back to Jesus. He is the reason for the season. This Christmas, people are looking for the hope that can only be found in Jesus. Whether they know it or not, they are looking for connection more than content.

One Last Word of Encouragement

One of the most heart-wrenching aspects of the movie lies in the rejection and pain that Buddy experiences as he lives out his radical belief in Christmas and passionately seeks to build relationships. The beauty of this part of the plotline is in Buddy’s resiliency that is anchored to his unwavering belief and hope. This Holiday Season may get messy. Sin may make relationships difficult. Circumstances may turn out to be less than desired or all out disastrous. In the midst of walking with people who are struggling through the Holiday Season, remember to whom you are anchored. Find your strength and provision in the only One who can truly take care of you and those you walk with.

And don’t forget to prioritize your own self, your own faith, and that of your family. They need you in this Christmas Season just as much if not more than those you minister to. Merry Christmas!