Did you ever play the game "gossip"? Do you recall how very different the ending was from the beginning? The story of Saint Nicholas is like that. No one really knows much about him except a collection of varied stories, a few of which are quite similar. I read a few of these on various web sites and they confirmed what I have heard for many years. The few things these accounts of Saint Nicholas' life have in common are: Nicholas of Bari was probably the Bishop of Myra, after being the pastor of Lycia, both near Asia Minor near Finike, Turkey. He lived in the 300's,(4th Century) and when Maximian took power, he was imprisoned for his faith. When Constantine took over, he let him go free to preach again. He was born to wealthy parents who died while he was young. He gave the money away. One fairly consistent story was that he rescued three daughters of one man by giving him the three bags of gold. Exactly when he was considered the "Patron Saint of children," is not clear, either.
Over the two hundred years before Martin Luther came on the scene, many stories had developed about this much loved Catholic pastor, varying from nation to nation. December 6th was the date celebrated as a Catholic feast day for sainted Nicholas of Bari by giving of gifts in his name. When Martin Luther began preaching, he tried turning people's hearts toward Christ by emphasizing that the Christ Child gave gifts. So on it went through the centuries.
In 1882, Clement Clarke Moore wrote the poem, "A Visit From St. Nicholas" later named for its first line, "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Before this poem, there were no mention of snow, reindeer, flying, and such; so this poem changed the fantasy surrounding the traditions. However the tradition of Nick giving gifts was central to the poem.
In New York City in 1934, two songwriters, Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, got together and wrote a musical fantasy about the familiar Christmas fantasy visitor, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." This added the attributes of knowing what you think and do in secret to the powers of Santa Claus. This is where my theological spirit bristles. This is heresy plain and simple.
Another event came in 1949. The song, "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" which was written by an advertising executive, Robert May the year before, was recorded in song form by Gene Autry, adding more details to the fantasy of Santa Claus as he was called by this time.
All of this was probably well intended to bring about good behavior in children, and give them good dreams of anticipation as well. This is where I have more scruples with this fantasy. People have forgotten to make a difference between fantasy and reality. This tradition started out beautiful. The fantasy was cute, even heartwarming. However, fantasy is just fantasy. Good fantasy in small measure is healthy for children. It is essential, however, that they know the difference, and enjoy or use the fantasy for what it is, not confusing it with truth.
Truth is truth. Truth is not fantasy. Fantasy is not truth. When one fails to keep them separate, and promotes what is fantasy as truth, it becomes a lie. Lies are not nice. Lies displease most people. Lies destroy careers and relationships. When lies are found out, it breaks hearts. Most folks correct their children when they lie while knowing the truth. People in a court of law take truth seriously. God takes truth seriously. Now if you, Dear Reader, are not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, having repented of your sins, and having received Jesus by faith into your life, you will probably not have any scruples about lying nor about dishonoring our holy God. Therefore, my arguments, and Biblical evidence will not impress you even a little. So, I address the rest of my little article to affirmed Christians.
For me to go with this, is proving not only my boldness, but my sincerity and passion for my Lord. I have been criticized, mocked, shunned, and publicly humiliated, because of my stand on this subject. I love my Lord. He is the Creator of all things. He is God, and there is no other. He is Lord of all, and He will carry into eternity with Himself those who believe in Him and receive Him into their lives. God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was promised in Genesis and many of the prophets to come as the Savior of sinners, the sacrificial Lamb whose blood would cleanse and propitiate the sins of God's people. When God convicted me of my sins, and saved me and I prayed the sinners prayer, He came into my life and made me a new person. I think this is very special. He forgave me, because Jesus took my punishment. I want to honor God with everything I do, say, and write, and all that I am. Therefore, I set forth this little article as one small means of refuting lies, for the sake of the honor of my precious Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps this will open the eyes of at least one Christian, thus bringing honor to God.
First of all, I would like to look at a few of the Scriptural attributes of God, the ones that people attribute to Satan Claus. Yes, anything substituting as God disguising itself as God is of Satan, and no other name is appropriate.
God is omnipresent. This means that God is personally present everywhere at the same time. Omnipresence is essential to the Godhead as Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. He is a Spirit who fills Heaven and Earth. Jeremiah 23:23-24. King David spoke of His omnipresence in Psalm 139:7-12. How sad for the children who believe a fairy tale is true, that the character is omnipresent. How else could he deliver all those toys to millions in one night?
God is omniscient. This means that He knows all things, both actual and possible; past, present, and future; completely, perfectly, simultaneously and eternally.
Psalm 147:4,5, Job 37:16, and Proverbs 15:3 show us examples of God's omniscience. Although I've never heard anyone apply this complete description to the santa Fantasy, one song promotes the idea of omniscience: "he sees you when you are sleeping, he knows when you are awake, he knows when you've been bad or good . ." I know this has been a very strong influence on the traditional Santa's attributes. The children are told and believe all this about their Santa Claus. How sad that their most moldable years are wasted on believing in the wrong person. How it must hurt the Savior when His little ones' hearts anticipate the wrong "deity!" I fail to understand how Christian parents can dishonor the Lord Jesus in this manner!
God is omnipotent. God is able to do whatever He wills in harmony with His nature or perfection. Job 42:12 tells us that God's power is unlimited. Jeremiah shows us that nothing is too hard for God. Jeremiah 32:17,27 God can do what seems impossible to us. Matthew 19:26 When children believe santa can fly, grant them their requests, know all about them, they prove their faith in him by asking him to bring them things, change family situations, bring daddies home, etc.. It would be far better to show them they can ask God anything and He is able to give them what they need. It would be far better for them to be amazed at God and His power. James 1:17 tells us that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. Would it not be better for children to be grateful to God, thus increasing their love for Him while they are very young by telling them the truth? "This gift is from Mother and Daddy. We are able to buy good things for you because God loves us and helps us work."
God is Truth. God's knowledge, declaration (His Word, the Bible) and representations eternally conform to all things as they really are and will really be. Psalm 33:4 tells us that God's Word is true. Hebrews 6:18, and Titus 1:2 says God cannot lie. God's truth is eternal Psalm 117:2. Jesus is Truth. John 14:6. God is Truth. John 17:3. The Holy Spirit is Truth. John 16:13. We are commanded to not lie. Colossians 3:9-11 "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." Would you like godly children? Be truthful with them. Turn their hearts to Him who loves them eternally and is real. Teach them to love the lover of their souls; and not a fantasy, a vapor of nothing that cannot love them back. When your children love God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, their love can grow and grow, and along with their love, their faith. But if you destroy their faith by lying to them and cause them to love a nothing, and then they find out it was nothing, what have you accomplished in your child?
Now, back to Nicholas of Bari, the giver of all his wealth. This is a beautiful story, and much of it is probably true. Wouldn't it be good to tell children of many people even in our day who do this same thing when you tell them the true story of Nicholas? From what we know about Nicholas, we can be fairly certain that he would certainly not want children requesting gifts from him in a greedy manner (similar to praying to a saint?) and in an idolatrous manner as the tradition of Santa Claus promotes. If he truly loved God, he would correct this idolatrous practice and teach the children to pray to God. But first of all learn to love and give - not covet. Could you not tell them of their wonderful Creator God Who loves them, provides for them, and wants them to live with Him for eternity and paid the price for them to be able to do so if they will but receive Him? Could you not relate to them the reason for giving gifts is to show how much you care for someone, and encourage them to be givers, sharers? (like Nicholas) Could you not enjoy the story of the REAL Nicholas and enjoy the fantasy as fantasy of how the world wants very much to keep his kind of story alive so we can keep giving gifts?
Lying is sin. Truth promotes righteousness, and pleases God. Dear Christian, will you not consider the things I have written and pray about turning your children's thoughts and hearts toward Jesus at Christmas rather than encouraging them to cling to an idolatrous fairy tale?
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