SANTA CLAUS vs CHRIST
‘Today we talk about a cultural debate over Santa Claus. … Of
course this is the season for Santa Claus questions here at RKM. We have over
50 questions on this topic. Now of course, friends, as you know, there’s a
fourth century Greek historical figure named Saint Nicholas. But most of the
questions (I think all the questions) that we have received are about the
mythical, white bearded, red suited, reindeer flying, Santa Claus — that one. Brother
during question submitting, writes in to ask: “ should parents allow their
children to believe Santa Claus is bringing them gifts on Christmas?” Cut it
straight, brother. What would you say about Santa?
After Easter, Christmas should be the happiest day of the year
in Christian worship. The reason I say “after Easter” is that Good Friday and
Easter is the goal of Christmas. The death and resurrection, the salvation of
sinners through the death and resurrection of Jesus, is the goal of Christmas.
Christmas is not the goal of Easter. Christmas is a means. The salvation of
sinners on Good Friday and Easter is the goal.
Jesus came
at Christmas to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus
came at Christmas to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Jesus
came at Christmas to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark
10:45). Jesus came at Christmas not to call the righteous, but
sinners (Matthew 9:13). Jesus came at Christmas to destroy the works of the devil (1 John
3:8).
Jesus came at Christmas that through death he might destroy the
one who has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14).
So the
birth of the Son of God, the very God, very man, is simply stunning and
glorious and infinitely serious — an overflow of the happy news. The angel
called it “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10) — great
joy, not small joy; not a little bit of joy, but great joy.
My question is this: How could we possibly even think of giving
our children a bowl of bland, sugarless porridge when they are offered the
greatest meal in the world? Why would we give them Santa Claus when they can
have the incarnation of the Son of God? It is just mind boggling to me that any
Christian would even contemplate such a trade — that we would divert attention
away from the incarnation of the God of the universe into this world to save us
and our children. I scarcely have words for it that people would contemplate
this. Not only is Santa Claus not true and Jesus is very truth himself, but
compared to Jesus, Santa is simply pitiful and our kids should be helped to see
this.
§
Santa Claus offers only earthly things, nothing lasting, nothing
eternal. Jesus offers eternal joy with the world thrown in. Yeah, the fire
engine is thrown in.
§
Santa Claus offers his ephemeral goodies only on the condition
of good works. He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you are awake. He
knows when you have been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake. That is a
pure works-religion. And Jesus offers himself all the gifts freely by grace
through faith.
§
Santa Claus is make-believe. Jesus is more real than the roof on
your house.
§ Santa
Claus only shows up once a year. Jesus promises, “I will be with you always” (Matthew 28:20). You say to your kid every night: He is
standing by your bed. He is with you when you get up in the morning. He is with
you when you go to school today. If mommy and daddy die, he will be right there
with you. Santa doesn’t hold a candle to this flame: Jesus.
§
Santa Claus cannot solve our worst problem, and Jesus did solve
our worst problem — our sin and our alienation from God. Santa Claus can put
some icing on the cake of the good life, but he cannot take a shattered life
and rebuild it with hope forever. And our kids need to know that about
Christmas.
§
Santa Claus is not relevant in many cultures of the world. And
Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords and all the peoples of the world.
§ Santa
Claus will be forgotten some day, and Jesus will be the same yesterday, today
and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
So friends, there is no contest here. I cannot see why a parent
— if they know and love Jesus, if they have found Jesus to be the greatest
treasure in the world — why they would bring Jesus out of the celebration and
Santa into the celebration at all. He is just irrelevant. He has nothing to do
with it. He is zero.
My counsel is to give all your efforts to making your children
as happy as they can possibly be with every kind of surprise that is rooted in
the true meaning of Christmas. Let your decorations point to Jesus. Let your
food point to Jesus. Let your games point to Jesus. Let your singing point to
Jesus. Out-rejoice the world. Out-give the world. Out-decorate the world, and
let it all point to Jesus. And if being Jesus-focused is a killjoy for your
Christmas, you don’t know him well.
In conclusion,
Santa Claus is not worth putting side by side with Jesus Christ.
