It's a Wonderful Life is not only the greatest Christmas movie ever made, but one of the best movies ever made. It's warm, funny, and delightful. My family and I have made it a Christmas tradition to watch it each year, and every time I feel uplifted, and get more than a little misty eyed at many different parts. It's a Wonderful Life is the story of George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), a small town man that continually puts others in front of himself. When he is discouraged to the point of contemplating ending his life, and angel named Clarence visits him and shows him what life would be like without him being born. George realizes his impact he has had, and "no man is a failure who has friends."
I watched this movie for years and years and walked away feeling uplifted by the ending, and without much thought for the rest of the film. But a couple of views ago I started picking up on an interesting dichotomy of economic philosophies. George, president of the Bailey Building & Loan, and Henry Potter, president of the bank and just about everything else, are constantly at odds. George's philosophy is that people should be able to live in a decent home even if they need a few extra days to pay their bills. Potter's philosophy is that people get what they deserve (his other philosophies involve being a cantankerous old man), and that a home is earned and not given.
It's easy to draw a communism vs. capitalism view of these two philosophies. George famously reminds the panicked Bedford Falls town-folk that "the money isn't here, it's in Joe's house... and in the Kennedy house, and Mrs. Macklin's house, and a hundred others. Why, you're lending them the money to build, and then, they're going to pay it back to you as best they can." (Side note. The Simpsons absolutely killed it with their parody of this scene). A community that puts in money so that all may have the same is a socialist dream and a conservative nightmare. However, after my most recent viewing of the film, I don't think that's what's going on here. The ethic of It's a Wonderful Life, isn't communism, it's authentic Christian community.
The early church in the book of Acts were instructed to live together in unity. "And all who believed were together had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need" (Acts 2:45-46). This is the way George lives for his town of Bedford Falls, and the way town lives for each other. Director Frank Capra consistently highlights the true servant nature of the town. Cab driver Ernie and policeman Bert sing to George and his wife Mary for their impromptu honeymoon. George and Mary help to christen a new home for local barkeep Mr. Martini. Sam Wainwright promises to put people back to work by bringing industry back to town. But the climax of the film is when the town raises money to help George after his Uncle Billy misplaces $8,000 (a deed for which George takes the blame). This scene is incredibly heartwarming, but it's easy to forget what takes place just moments before in the movie's timeline. The film opens with George's family and friends praying to God that they help George in his time of need. And after their prayers, God sends and angel to help George, and the impetus to help their friend. And isn't this what the Bible calls believers to do? To pray for one another and give in time of need?
It's always bothered me that in George's desperation prayer he says "dear Father in Heaven... I'm not a praying man, but if you're up there, show me the way." I always hated that he questioned whether or not that God was there. But I don't think this indicates that George doesn't have faith. He's in a time of doubt and needs prayer and encouragement. And not only does God answer his prayer, he answers prayers of so many others that care for him. It's a Wonderful Life is a distinctly Christian film, and I think that it is even more powerful to watch it as such.
PS- the film would be much less Christian with the SNL alternate ending, although it would be much funnier.
