I trust you have had a very Merry Christmas and have taken some time to reflect upon the nature and teachings of Jesus. The coming into the world of such an individual is ultimately what Christmas is all about.
This Christmas, I have done so in part because I was following the advice of C. S. Lewis (if I am not mistaken), who recommended reading a few classic instead of all contemporary works. Recently, I have read Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom has a negative connotation in today’s society and Webster’s gives a definition of an Uncle Tom as “a member of a low status group who is overly subservient to or cooperative with authority”. However, in reading the book it is very evident that Uncle Tom was a Christ figure who actually implemented the teachings of Christ in his life. Uncle Tom did what he could to ease the suffering of his fellow slaves even at risk to himself. When faced with the cruelty of his master did not respond in like manner but with kindness.
Uncle Tom did obey his master in all areas except where his master’s orders conflicted with the teachings of Jesus. He did not cooperate with authority when the master told him to whip other slaves. Uncle Tom was essentially whipped to death for refusing to divulge the escape plans of two slaves. He also had the opportunity to kill his master but refused.
How would Jesus, if he was again born into our world, be received? Would we call him an “Uncle Tom”?
