FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Communion Meditation by Dr. George Bryant Wirth

The First Sunday in Advent

November 30, 2008

CHRIST AT THE CENTER: THE FAMILY OF FAITH

JESUS CHRIST AND SANTA CLAUS

Scripture: Matthew 1

INTRODUCTION

In the month of December during the early 1990’s, reading through the religious announcement section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, I saw a local church advertisement which was disturbing to me. It showed two pictures side by side – one of a smiling Santa Claus and the other of a far more serious Jesus, and the caption asked the question: “Who’s Birthday Is It Anyway?”

The text went on to say

“We believe the important news at Christmas is not who comes down the chimney, but who came down from heaven. We invite you to come and join us at we celebrate the birth of Jesus” (From The Atlanta Journal-Atlanta Constitution, Saturday, December 19, 1993, Religious Announcements, E9).

To my surprise, on the other side of the page, I found a very different article entitled “Prominent Preacher Stands Up For Santa,” and the jist of it said this:

“Jack Hayford, pastor of the 8,000 member Church of the Way in San Fernando Valley, California, has long preached that (so-called) secular symbols and the fun associated with Christmas need not be seen as diminishing the holiday’s religious significance.

The nationally known pastor took his case for Santa to a broader audience via the December issue of Charisma, a magazine aimed at the Charismatic and Pentecostal Christians in America.

Noting that, at worst, some Christians equate Santa Claus with Satan and some churches turn a cold shoulder to December 25 gift-giving and frivolity, Hayford wrote, ‘Whatever arguments are mustered against a commercialized Christmas centered in a secular Santa, I still like the old guy.’” (Ibid, Page E-10)

Now Hayford, who is a familiar evangelical preacher on television, received a lot of criticism for that statement from Christians who believe that Jesus Christ and Santa Claus are not only incompatible - they are in direct conflict and opposition to one another.

But for most of us, it doesn’t have to be that way. And if we are willing to listen and to learn from the Bible and church tradition, I think we might discover and discern that Jesus Christ and Santa Claus are not adversaries, but actually “old friends.”

I

So let’s begin this Advent Season with the genealogy of Jesus’ birth as it was written in the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. It’s not the same lineage as recorded in Luke’s version (chapter 3), tracing through the fathers and sons of Israel all the way back to Adam.

Instead, Matthew begins with King David and the patriarch Abraham before him, then concludes with “Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah” – coming from the Hebrew name “Mashiah,” whom the early church, in the Greek language, called “Christos – the Christ,” which means “the anointed one.”

Having established in his genealogy the humanity of Jesus’ birth, Matthew goes on to describe His divinity. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. And the gospel says that this fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 7:14) about the virgin who shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:20-23).

So what Christians believe about Jesus’ birth is gift-wrapped in Biblical prophecy, announced in the gospel stories (Matthew, Luke and John), and was proclaimed by the early church as they affirmed both His humanity – You shall call His name Jesus – and His divinity – Conceived by the Holy Spirit, He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One, God’s only begotten Son (John 3:16), and They shall name Him Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Which is a great mystery that has been revealed to us through the birth of Jesus – the Christ!

C.S. Lewis once wrote that “The central miracle asserted by Christians is the incarnation. We believe that God became man. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this.” And that, my friends, is the heart and soul of Christmas.

II

So, what about Santa Claus? If Jesus Christ is “the reason for this season,” named after Him – “Christ-mass” – Christmas – then how do we fit Santa Claus into the picture?

Most of you may already know the story, but if you don’t, here is the abbreviated “Cliff Notes” version.

A child named Nicholas was born during the late third century A.D. in the village of Patara in Asia Minor which is now on the southern coast of Turkey. Nicholas’ wealthy parents raised him in the Christian faith, but they died at a young age, and left their son with a legacy. In the words of Jesus, who said Sell what you have and give your money to the poor, Nicholas began to use his inheritance to help people who were sick and suffering and in need. Eventually he became a pastor and was named Bishop of Myra, a seaport city on the Mediterranean Sea.

Bishop Nicholas paid special attention to the sailors of that town, also to the poor, destitute and oppressed people of the region…and he had a deep love for children – so much so, that he often visited their homes at night, disguised in a red and white hooded robe, leaving gifts of money, food and clothing at their windows or by the fireplaces.

Then, under the Roman Emperor Diocletian (284 – 305 A.D.), as Christians were persecuted for their faith, Bishop Nicholas was exiled and imprisoned. Following Diocletian’s death, Nicholas was released in 313 during the reign of Constantine, who led the empire to embrace Christianity. Bishop Nicholas’ ministry flourished again in Myra, and when he attended the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D., his reputation as a generous and compassionate Christian had already spread far and wide.

After Bishop Nicholas died on December 6, 343 A.D., the anniversary of his death became a celebration called St. Nicholas’ Day. He was sainted by the Church and was named Patron saint of children, and sailors and the poor, as well as Russia and many other cities, including some in the Netherlands and Germany.

Finally, when the Dutch and German people arrived on these shores, they brought a deep appreciation for the tradition of the one they called “Sint Nikolass” and “Sankt Niklaus,” which in America gradually evolved into the name “Santa Claus.”

III

And all it took was the children’s poem written in 1822 by Clement Moore, beginning with the words “Twas the night before Christmas,” and the illustrations by Thomas Nast a generation later, depicting a rotund figure with a flowing beard, fur garments and a clay pipe…and the recognition and the tradition of Santa Claus in America was born. And just to be certain that Atlanta’s role in the story is not forgotten, by 1931, Haddon Sundbloom had begun thirty-five years of Coca-Cola Santa advertisements that popularized Old Saint Nick as an icon of our contemporary Christmas celebration.

You say, “Preacher, what about the crass commercialization of Christmas that is synonymous with Santa Claus?” Well, I wouldn’t argue with you, because it’s true. And sad to say, that reality has infiltrated even the lives of our children. (Brief History of Santa Claus from St. Nicholas Center, www.Stnicholascenter.org – “God Issues” by Dr. James Denison, Sr. Pastor, Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas – 11/14/05 – Pulpit Resource, Volume 12, Number 4, December 1984)

A mother and father took their daughter on a shopping trip to the mall. After watching them choose and buy gifts all morning, the little girl was taken for her promised visit to see Santa Claus. She sat on his knee, handed him her list, and as she started to leave, the jolly gentleman gave her a large candy cane.

“What do you say to Santa?” prompted the parents. The child thought for a moment, then looked him in the eye and replied “Charge it”!

Well, in the midst of this recession, there will probably be less of that kind of “knee-jerk” reaction as we make our way toward Christmas. In fact, a lot of us may “keep Christmas” in a different way this year, paying more attention than ever before to those whom we love and to people in need of help and hope.

CONCLUSION

That’s what Henry Van Dyke envisioned when he wrote these familiar and profound words a long time ago:

“Are you willing…

To stoop down and consider the needs and desires of little children;

To remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old;

To stop asking how much your friends love you and to ask yourself whether you love them enough;

To bear in mind the things that other people have to bear in their hearts;

To trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke and

To carry it so that your shadow will fall behind you?

Are you willing to do these things for a day?

Then you are ready to keep Christmas.”

Christian people: that is the Spirit of Jesus Christ, who for nearly two thousand years has been alive and at work in this world.

And according to church tradition, that is also the spirit of St. Nicholas, the Patron Saint of Children and the Poor, who as Santa Claus at his best, invites and encourages us to share more with others and keep less for ourselves.

Are you willing to keep Christmas with Jesus Christ and His old friend St. Nicholas? To tell you the truth, I believe that both of them can and will lead us in the right direction during this Advent Season as we make our way to the Manger.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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