Good Evening Brothers and Sisters,

I'll continue my rant and rave on secular Christmas for one more day, then we'll address some of the myths surrounding the real Christmas.  For the actual Christmas story, read Matthew 1:18-2:23 and Luke 1-2.  Keep in mind that Luke interviewed Mary for his story.

The real St. Nicholas was a man who lived in the third century in Turkey.  It's hard to determine what is legend and what is fact concerning him.  The crowning glory of his life is that he took Christ words seriously by selling all he had in order to give to the poor.  His literal interpretation of God's word has set an example for Christians through the ages, but it has been distorted into a legendary creature with limitless power.  I found an excellent website regarding him addressing both legend and fact check it out, by the way the information is worth a read. http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38

Regarding the legendary Santa, he bothers me to a great degree.  I can't describe the dislike that has developed over the years.  I must admit though, going against the flow on this has created issues in my life.  I knuckled under and "played the game" for the sake of family peace over the years.  It irked me to do so, but in some situations it seemed better to conform than to transform the thinking of my family.  I regret this decision.  It would have been better to research the real St. Nicholas and educate my kids right from the start. 

In order to explain my stand, I am going to do a little compare and contrast.  By the way, scriptures will be included so this will be the study for today.

Revelation 19:13 (NASB95)
¹³ He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

Acts 1:5 (NASB95)
⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Isaiah 44:3-5 (NASB95)
³ ‘For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants; ⁴ And they will spring up among the grass Like poplars by streams of water.’ ⁵ “This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; And that one will call on the name of Jacob; And another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the Lord,’ And will name Israel’s name with honor.^[1]

Let's start with the red coat that he wears.  Jesus wears a robe dipped in blood.  The significance of this robe is that Jesus is a warring God coming to take control of his army and to lead them in war. The meaning of the word dipped is rather interesting because it come from the Greek word that we draw the idea of baptism from.  It literally means immersed in blood.  That's pretty red.  When you extend the meaning to a deeper understanding, Jesus died, due to the blood shed on the cross, He redeemed his people from bondage to sin.  However, I do not believe that that is the intention in this passage.  The intention here is more toward God being prepared to wage war against His enemies.  The two cross references in Acts and Isaiah develop our understanding of the way that God baptizes His people through His blood.  God poured out His Spirit on His people literally immersing them in the Spirit.  This guarantees His people that He will not only guide them, but to rename them as His personal possession.  What a promise!

Santa is omnipresent.  The line that is often quoted this time of year, "he knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you are awake so be good for goodness sake!"  Santa hides off in the bushes somewhere spying on and judging every child in the world regardless whether they believe in him or not.  The implication of judgment that this carries is tremendous.  Each child is rewarded or not rewarded due to the way that their behavior conforms to some relative good that exist in society.  Gifts then are not freely given, they are distributed according to merit.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NASB95)
¹⁰ According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. ¹⁴ If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

This is a classic verse that demonstrates the way that God evaluates believers works in their lives.  Even though we are not saved through works, they  do count for jewels in eternity.  Gifts in this sort are figuratively earned through good works.  It is interesting because our lives are evaluated by God comparing the good things that we did as well as the bad that we did.  When all the bad is discarded, what are we left with?  These gifts are given on merit. In reality they are not gifts at all, rather they are all that is left of our mortal lives.

Matthew 7:11-12 (NASB95)
¹¹ “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! ¹² “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Romans 5:8-10 (NASB95)
⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Romans 8:32 (NASB95)
³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

1 John 3:1-3 (NASB95)
¹ See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. ² Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

The truly good gifts that are given to man from God are not earned.  These verses demonstrate that God is willing to bless each one of us with His fantastic gifts.  Are we willing to receive them?  What value is there in material gifts when compared to the incredible gift of salvation?  Look particularly at the gift that we receive in 1 John.  We will be like God, in that we are God's kids.  I won't belabor the point on this.  Gift giving is an example of God's generosity to His children.  It is also a normal way that parents have related to their children through the centuries.  Gift giving is not a Christian idea; it is a part of being human.  People are unable to give anything that lasts.  Only the heavenly Father can do this.

Santa is supposed to live in some fictitious secret hide-a-way on the North Pole.  On a pre-determined day, he mounts up on his sleigh and visits every child in the world on a single night.  He rides through the sky doling out gifts by entering each house secretly, as a thief in the night.

 Acts 1:11 (NASB95)
¹¹ They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Luke 12:39-40 (NASB95)
³⁹ “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰ “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

John 10:7-10 (NASB95)
⁷ So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Jesus was taken up into the clouds and will return again in the clouds to His people.  Although Christ promises to come again like a thief in the night, He does not promise to come on a day when everyone will be prepared for His coming.  It is our job to stay constantly ready for His return.  There are several scriptures on this giving us the idea that God knows when He will return, even though we hold it as a mystery.  I like the idea behind what John wrote regarding Jesus being the good shepherd.  He does not invade our houses by stealth, but rather protects His children as a shepherd protects his sheep.

John 14:1-6 (NASB95)
¹ “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. ² “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. ³ “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ “And you know the way where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Jesus left earth physically speaking in order to prepare a place for his bride.  The idea of this is that He will prepare heaven to be ready for His people.  Contrast this with the idea that Santa prepares suitable gifts for children.  Jesus teaches that if we follow Him, we will certainly know the truth and will experience abundant life through Him.

Finally, Santa carries with him an attitude of judgment.  No matter how you look at it, he stands as a sole judge, jury, and executor of judgment.  If a person is good, he is to get good gifts, if he is bad, he will get bad things (coal in the stocking).  Funny, to a man freezing, coal would be a blessing!  The attitude of omnipotence is almost scary.  I don't know why this doesn't raise incredible red flags to all believers.  In truth, Santa is seen as being able to dole out any good thing with inexhaustible resources.

I've rambled on long enough.  I hope that you are able to see the thinking behind my irritation with Santa.  I encourage you that when you play the "Santa" game, that you will teach your kids about the original St. Nicholas who was putting Christ' words into literal action.  Few would be willing to sell their riches in order to feed the poor. 

Father, as we consider the various scriptures that we focused on today, turn our thoughts to the gift that You gave us, eternal life.

In Him,

Joe Turner.