"So what's this Santa Claus about?"
When I am hanging out with international friends around the holidays, especially those from a non-Christian background, the most difficult thing to explain is the relationship of Jesus and Santa Claus. Who is this Santa guy and what does he have to do with Jesus' birthday?
The short answer is that Santa was basically adapted from various traditions by retailers to create a demand for toys and other gifts around the holiday season. But his impact in the holiday traditions goes far beyond that. He is celebrated in art, film, stories, and song. He has become the spokesperson of a holiday in a society that is desperately trying to avoid anything religious or controversial.
But Santa is both deeply religious and controversial. The religion he represents is practiced throughout the year in America. The religion he symbolizes is also in conflict with the religion centered around Jesus. So we need to look at the two carefully and decide which religion we want to embrace. Or rather we need to decide which person to put at the center of our lives. This holiday season when you are deciding who to lift up in your graven images, religious stories and worshipful songs, consider these four reasons why you should pick Jesus over Santa.
1. Jesus Loves Bad Kids.
"...he knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake."
Santa is presented as a jolly guy watching over all the kids, determining who is good enough to get Christmas presents and who isn't. If you're on the "nice" list you get a new toy. If you're on the "naughty" list, you get a lump of coal, or so the tradition goes. Lately he's enlisted the help of the elf on the shelf to keep a close eye on everyone. Perhaps kids are sneakier than they used to be and Santa can't keep up with all that naughtiness. Santa represents a love that is conditional. Be good and you get blessed.
Jesus represents a love that is unconditional. It's not that Jesus doesn't see what's going on. It's not that Jesus doesn't care. "Go and leave your life of sin," he tells one "naughty" girl. But Jesus does not hinge his blessing on someone being good enough to deserve it. Jesus frees us from the elf on the shelf, or anyone else looking over our shoulder to judge. The gospel emphatically proclaims, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Rom 8:1)
2. Jesus Loves Poor Kids.
Each year Santa brings the rich kids big expensive presents like IPads and XBoxes and ponies. The poor kids of the world get little or nothing. If Santa does bring them a nice present, it often coincides with their mother's wedding ring disappearing and Dad trying to get it out of "hawk" wherever that is.
Jesus favors the poor. He loves everyone the same, but he knows the poor need a little something extra. So he came to heal their diseases, loosen their bonds and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, good news to the poor (Luke 4:11). Jesus said blessed are the poor and woe to the rich (Luke 6:20 & 24). Jesus knew the rich had everything they needed. They didn't need more toys and games and electronic devices. The poor needed his help, and he helped them every chance he got. Jesus followers still make helping the poor a focus to this day.
3. Jesus Encourages Generosity
Santa seems to have near infinite wealth. Out of that wealth he scatters presents to the good rich kids of the world. Santa teaches kids that there is no need to appreciate their parents who saved and sacrificed to bring them a gift. It's a jolly guy in a red suit with magical reindeer. Contrary to the popular notion that Santa brings out the innocence of children, Santa actually speeds their depravity. If it's just a guy with magical reindeer, ask for everything you want. Beg and plead. and whine when you don't get it all. Millions of kids write wish lists to Santa, but how many write him a thank you card? Santa has turned gift giving into a greed fest for kids.
Jesus leads people to be givers, not takers. Jesus' greatest gift cost him everything. Even though he gives it freely, he asks those who receive it to give just as freely (Matt 10:8). Jesus says to give to others as a way to give back to him. As a result, his followers become more and more generous, content with what they have, and using it to bless others.
4. Jesus Changes the World
Santa is a monotonous tradition. He comes back every year to do exactly what he did last year (except we hope he brings us a better gift this time). He never tackles the big issues. He just smiles, ho-ho-hos, and heads back up north for another year, leaving us to figure out our own mess. Jesus came to bring a kingdom that is filling the whole world. Nothing will be the same again.
Jesus' kingdom advances every time we forgive someone, every time we repay evil with good. The Kingdom comes nearer when the hungry are fed, the innocent are protected, and the naked are clothed. The Kingdom comes when people get a vision of the love of God shown to them and go out and spread that love to the world. Today Jesus works primarily through those who follow him all around the world, blessing rich and poor alike, healing diseases, pulling people out of desperate situations and showing them unconditional love. Jesus is still very much at work, changing the world one life at a time.
When I am hanging out with international friends around the holidays, especially those from a non-Christian background, the most difficult thing to explain is the relationship of Jesus and Santa Claus. Who is this Santa guy and what does he have to do with Jesus' birthday?
The short answer is that Santa was basically adapted from various traditions by retailers to create a demand for toys and other gifts around the holiday season. But his impact in the holiday traditions goes far beyond that. He is celebrated in art, film, stories, and song. He has become the spokesperson of a holiday in a society that is desperately trying to avoid anything religious or controversial.
But Santa is both deeply religious and controversial. The religion he represents is practiced throughout the year in America. The religion he symbolizes is also in conflict with the religion centered around Jesus. So we need to look at the two carefully and decide which religion we want to embrace. Or rather we need to decide which person to put at the center of our lives. This holiday season when you are deciding who to lift up in your graven images, religious stories and worshipful songs, consider these four reasons why you should pick Jesus over Santa.
1. Jesus Loves Bad Kids.
"...he knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake."
Santa is presented as a jolly guy watching over all the kids, determining who is good enough to get Christmas presents and who isn't. If you're on the "nice" list you get a new toy. If you're on the "naughty" list, you get a lump of coal, or so the tradition goes. Lately he's enlisted the help of the elf on the shelf to keep a close eye on everyone. Perhaps kids are sneakier than they used to be and Santa can't keep up with all that naughtiness. Santa represents a love that is conditional. Be good and you get blessed.
Jesus represents a love that is unconditional. It's not that Jesus doesn't see what's going on. It's not that Jesus doesn't care. "Go and leave your life of sin," he tells one "naughty" girl. But Jesus does not hinge his blessing on someone being good enough to deserve it. Jesus frees us from the elf on the shelf, or anyone else looking over our shoulder to judge. The gospel emphatically proclaims, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Rom 8:1)
2. Jesus Loves Poor Kids.
Each year Santa brings the rich kids big expensive presents like IPads and XBoxes and ponies. The poor kids of the world get little or nothing. If Santa does bring them a nice present, it often coincides with their mother's wedding ring disappearing and Dad trying to get it out of "hawk" wherever that is.
Jesus favors the poor. He loves everyone the same, but he knows the poor need a little something extra. So he came to heal their diseases, loosen their bonds and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, good news to the poor (Luke 4:11). Jesus said blessed are the poor and woe to the rich (Luke 6:20 & 24). Jesus knew the rich had everything they needed. They didn't need more toys and games and electronic devices. The poor needed his help, and he helped them every chance he got. Jesus followers still make helping the poor a focus to this day.
3. Jesus Encourages Generosity
Santa seems to have near infinite wealth. Out of that wealth he scatters presents to the good rich kids of the world. Santa teaches kids that there is no need to appreciate their parents who saved and sacrificed to bring them a gift. It's a jolly guy in a red suit with magical reindeer. Contrary to the popular notion that Santa brings out the innocence of children, Santa actually speeds their depravity. If it's just a guy with magical reindeer, ask for everything you want. Beg and plead. and whine when you don't get it all. Millions of kids write wish lists to Santa, but how many write him a thank you card? Santa has turned gift giving into a greed fest for kids.
Jesus leads people to be givers, not takers. Jesus' greatest gift cost him everything. Even though he gives it freely, he asks those who receive it to give just as freely (Matt 10:8). Jesus says to give to others as a way to give back to him. As a result, his followers become more and more generous, content with what they have, and using it to bless others.
4. Jesus Changes the World
Santa is a monotonous tradition. He comes back every year to do exactly what he did last year (except we hope he brings us a better gift this time). He never tackles the big issues. He just smiles, ho-ho-hos, and heads back up north for another year, leaving us to figure out our own mess. Jesus came to bring a kingdom that is filling the whole world. Nothing will be the same again.
Jesus' kingdom advances every time we forgive someone, every time we repay evil with good. The Kingdom comes nearer when the hungry are fed, the innocent are protected, and the naked are clothed. The Kingdom comes when people get a vision of the love of God shown to them and go out and spread that love to the world. Today Jesus works primarily through those who follow him all around the world, blessing rich and poor alike, healing diseases, pulling people out of desperate situations and showing them unconditional love. Jesus is still very much at work, changing the world one life at a time.
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