Poke said:
Santa means Saint. And, Santa Clause was a real man, a bishop from Myra. Someone in God's service would be fighting to preserve Santa as a saint rather than helping to strip Santa of his religious origin.
I usually get blasted without mercy when I state my opinion on Santa Claus. I state my opinion anyway. Most people claim that he is just so cute and cuddly and promotes generosity and family togetherness. Right?
2Cr 11:13-15 For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
True, there once was a bishop refered to as Saint Nicholas. A generous man. His story was spread far and wide, so that anytime someone did a generous act, they were called Saint Nicholas. Or if you pronounce the name with a Dutch accent ~ Santa Claus.
From a Biblical standpoint, what is an idol? Idols are supernatural beings with godlike qualities. They hand out rewards and punishments based on works. And they distract people from the one true God. Idols are created by man, and therefore their characteristics are added to, created, and altered to fit what man wants it to fit.
What does Santa do? With the help of his reindeer, he has the ability to fly.
Not just to fly, but to stop at every house in a single night. He knows if you are sleeping he knows if you're awake. A bit omniscient? He gives you toys if you have been good. (Rewards for good works) He gives you a lump of coal if you have been bad. (Punishment for not living up to his standards)
He steps into the spotlight when our focus should be on the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Take a drive around your neighborhood. Take a scorecard with you. Count the number of shrines set up to St. Nick compared to the number of nativity scenes you see. Take a walk through an average retail outlet. Count the number of displays that focus on Santa. The number of decorations. The number of Christmas cards that focus on anything other than the one who's birthday we claim to be honoring.
You can find more snowmen, more reindeer, more elves, more snowflakes, more horse drawn carriages, more covered bridges, more redbirds and more mistletoe than you can find anything about Jesus.
Biblereader said:
Since Dec. 25th is a pagan holiday, and Jesus's birth was not on 12/25, that's another lie the political church of the day decided to use.
Tis better than nothing.
Biblereader said:
If you think Christmas is so great, why not celebrate it without Christmas trees, holly, yule logs, mistletoe, and without anything but a manger scene in your front yard or home?
I set a manger scene in my front yard during the Christmas season. That's it. I don't combine it with a tree in the window.
I did a bit of praying over the Christmas holiday. Asking the Lord what blesses Him and what does not. Years ago, I destroyed all of my Santa Claus decorations. While the man was a saint, I believe it grieves him as he watches from heaven at what we have done to his legend over the years.
As for the Christmas tree, the Lord showed me something very beautiful, based on the shepherds. As the shepherds were tending their sheep, they often played with bits of wool and twigs. Sometimes they would string things together. When they came in at the end of their shift, they would take the things they made, and hang them on the tree next to the sheepfold.
This same tree is the one that the angel stood on top of when announcing the birth of the Messiah to the shepherds.
When I asked the Lord about the Christmas tree, He told me; "Enjoy it."
