Shock and Wonder Series – Christmas 2012 @ Life Church
Christmas Day.
The legend of jolly old St. Nick, or Santa Claus, began with a real person: St. Nicholas, a Christian who lived many centuries ago.
Very little is known about St. Nicholas with great certainty, except that during the early part of the 4th Century he was the bishop of the church of Myra, a city on the southern coast of Asia Minor.
Myra is the seaport in Acts 27:5 where a centurion placed Paul on board an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and eventually wrecked near the Island of Malta. Myra was part of what is now modern day Turkey.
Tradition says that St. Nicholas was put in prison because of his faith during the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor, Diocletian. He was later released when Constantine the Great became emperor and proclaimed Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire and accepting this faith for himself.
Because of his reputation for generosity and compassion St. Nicholas has come to exemplify the spirit of giving at Christmas time.
His transformation into Santa Claus began in Germany among Protestant churches where he was called Kriss Kringle, derived from Christ-kindle, which means Christ child.
Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam introduced the legend to America. They knew of him as Sint Nikolaas or Sinter Klaas, which soon became known as Santa Claus.
If Santa Claus were here with us today, what might he tell us about how to celebrate Christmas?
He might tell us to examine a few things:
1. Take A Look At Our Focus
There are really two holidays that are celebrated on December 25: Christmas and X-mas.
Nearly everyone in the UK celebrates X-mas. Christmas is difficult to keep holy because X-mas is so distracting.
And because both holidays fall on the same date, people often confuse them.
Remember the holiday classic by Dr. Suess, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas?” In his story, a nasty creature called the Grinch steals all the presents, decorations and food in the little town of Whoville on Christmas Eve. By doing this he thought he could prevent Christmas from coming.
But sitting alone with all the things he stole up on top of a hill overlooking the town, a strange thing happened. Christmas still came. Christmas still came without the presents, the decorations and the food. Just like many other people, the Grinch was confused. He didn’t steal Christmas, he stole X-mas.
It takes a conscientious and disciplined effort by Christians at this time of year to keep the focus on the primary event of history – the coming of our Saviour into the world.
The focus of the season that we see most obviously is something that would probably grieve the Santa of old – the historical Saint Nicholas.
If he were here today Santa might point us to Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.
Santa might also say to us:
2. Take A Look At Our Giving
A substantial portion of gift-giving occurs as an exchange. We give presents to others that also give presents to us.
A truly sacrificial gift is something given to someone who cannot give back anything in return.
There is a legend about St. Nicholas that says he learned of a poor man who had 3 daughters, and didn’t have enough money for food.
So Nicholas prayed for God to guide him on how he could help this family. Then he remembered the treasures of 3 bags of gold he had inherited from his parents. Late at night, Nicholas went to the home of the poor family, found the window slightly open, and slipped a bag of gold inside.
The family had so much wealth from the one bag of gold that they were able to save enough for the oldest daughter to have a dowry, ensuring an honourable marriage.
When Nicholas learned this, he also put his other 2 bags of gold through the family’s window at night so that they too could be happily married.
Some of the best gifts are the ones that no one knows you gave except you yourself. Some of the best gifts are ones given to people who have nothing at all.
Maybe there’s someone you could give to anonymously this year that’s in need. Maybe you could give to some children that have nothing to give you.
I think if he were here Santa might point us to Acts 20:35: In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Santa Might also tell us:
3. Take A Look At Our Love
Santa might tell us, “When you love me, your love costs you nothing. You’ve turned me into someone who can give you anything, yet asks you for nothing in return.”
That’s one of the reason’s Santa’s so popular; and also angels, and maybe even grandparents. People view them as great helpers who really demand nothing from us.
Love is costly. The Bible reveals a link between love and obedience.
We learned earlier that St. Nicholas is said to have been imprisoned for his faith during the persecution of Diocletian. Through that he came to have something in common with a much more recent Christian named Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Bonhoeffer was a German minister who was put in prison by the Nazi regime during World War II. In one of his most famous books, “The Cost of Discipleship,” Bonhoeffer contrasts his famous concepts, “cheap grace” and “costly grace.”
“Cheap grace” is the type of religion that believes salvation comes easily – just by believing a set of doctrines.
In his own words Bonhoeffer said, “Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without contrition.”
“Costly grace,” in contrast, declares that salvation is costly. It cost God his only Son, and it demands obedience, that is a life of discipleship – becoming a follower of Christ who takes up his cross and follows.
It’s hard to imagine Santa Claus in prison, but that’s what Diocletian did to the great saint. What was St. Nicholas to say? “Hey, I’m the worldwide symbol of peace, joy and philanthropic activity. I’m just a harmless figure that makes Christmas a great holiday for everyone to enjoy. I’m here to soften the exclusively Christian nature of the birth of Jesus Christ by making the celebration more acceptable to people of all persuasions. Why are you so angry with me?”
Diocletian found St. Nicholas a threat precisely because he was exclusively Christian. Because Santa Claus saw, like it is:
Acts 4:12: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
If he were here today Santa might point us to 1 John 5:3-4: This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.
What would Santa say to us about the way we celebrate Christmas? Would he even recognise it?
Wrapping it up:
The Santa of history would have pointed us to Jesus Christ:
- The Jesus who promised life.
- The Jesus who died for us.
- The Jesus who was worth being imprisoned for.
- The Jesus who gives us the greatest gift, salvation.
- The Jesus of the manger, cross and empty tomb.
- The Jesus who makes Christmas merry.
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