SANTA CLAUS
The spirit of Christmas

The printed edition (© 1978) of this message has THIS photograph of me taken on December 24th, 1974, at a time when I was walking as a fool! I really believed that pretending to be someone that I was not, was all right. The picture was taken of me coming out of a fireplace.

I had hidden myself in there, with a chair in front of it, before everyone came into the room. Then I made a noise like something coming down the chimney and pushed the chair away and started ho-ho-ho-ing. I came out and passed presents around to all the children and then went back into the fireplace and pulled the chair back across it.

My [assistant] then said something to the effect of: "Let's go outside and watch him fly away." And they all went out on the front porch. He said, "There he goes.....Did you see him?", and I heard the children agree that they saw him fly away even though they did NOT!

While they were out on the porch I quickly went into one of the back rooms and changed. The deception was complete. They really believed! But I was the one that was really deceived.

I was saved by the grace of God, a month before then on Thanksgiving when I trusted the Lord Jesus as my Saviour and had not yet read the many passages in the word of God that condemn this sort of thing. I am thankful to the Lord Jesus for opening my eyes to the truth.

"And this is the condemnation, that  light  is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19)

"God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1John 1:5p-7)

I truly hope that your eyes will be opened and that you will receive God's word as it is in truth: the word of God, not the word of man.

FIRST let us observe that the teachings of Santa Claus are primarily aimed at Children.

The Bible says: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

Is Santa Claus one of the things that children should be taught? Let's examine some of the things about Santa that are being taught to children before we answer that question, since these same children will grow up and not depart from it.

CHILDREN are taught that Santa is Omniscient (All-knowing). He knows how children behave throughout the year. The familiar song says, "He knows if you've been good or bad." Also, he knows perfectly what children want for Christmas, even if the child does not have an opportunity to tell him in person. Is that the truth?

The Bible says: "The LORD is a God of knowledge..." (1Sam.2:3p) and again, "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." (1Cor.3:20) And it also says: "Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matt.6:8)

Children are taught that Santa knows things that are known only to God Almighty.

CHILDREN are taught that Santa is Omnipotent (All-powerful). No storm is too great to hinder Santa from performing his annual "miracle" of delivering gifts throughout the world. He also defies the laws of nature by flying and by coming down the most narrow (and hottest) of chimneys. Nor should one forget his amazing ability to produce millions of gifts throughout the year. Is anything too hard for Santa?

The Bible says: "...they shall see the Son of man [Jesus] coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." (Mat.24:30) and in Daniel 3:25p we read: "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

YES, the Son of God has power to be unhurt by fire like you find in fireplaces. The Bible also says: "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." (John 20:19)

Children are taught that Santa can do what the Bible says of Jesus.

How about Santa's amazing ability to produce so many gifts?

The Bible says that Jesus "took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude, And they did all eat, and were filled: and they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children."

Now, according to the world, MORE than four thousand children around the world supposedly receive gifts from Santa in the same night. Do children think that Santa is more powerful than the Lord Jesus? God forbid! The Lord Jesus Christ said: "All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth." (Mat.28:18) Who do you believe?

CHILDREN are taught that Santa is Omnipresent (Everywhere Present). To visit so many homes in one evening requires nothing less than omnipresence. Children in many lands can wake up in the morning and say, "Santa has been here. Santa was present in my home."

Prior to X-mass, Santa also appears at hundreds of street corners and shopping centers at the same time. Is anything too hard for Santa?

But the Bible says: "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" (Gen.18:14p) Which one can do it? It is also written: "The eyes of the LORD [are] in every place, beholding the evil and the good." (Prov.15:3)

Yes, HE sees all of the Santas. But children are taught that Santa can do this, as they say, "He knows if you've been good or bad, so be good for goodness sake" (as the song goes).

But God's eyes: "[are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. [There is] no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves." (Job.34:21,22)

 WHAT SHOULD WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN?

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." (Deut.6:6,7)

Try and find the name of Santa mentioned in the Bible. But most children know more about Santa than they know about the LORD. Why?

CHILDREN are also taught that Santa is faithful. One can always count on Santa. Santa never fails, and he never breaks his word. When Santa makes a promise, he keeps it. When he promises a child a gift, that child will never be disappointed. Children are fully persuaded that what Santa has promised he is able also to perform. The child that believes in Santa will not be put to shame. Santa is totally dependable and trustworthy. But is that the truth?

Those statements are true only of God. "God is faithful" (1Cor.1:9p & 1Cor.10:13p) "Faithful is he" (1Thes.5:24p) "for he [is] faithful that promised;" (Heb.10:23p) "he is faithful and just" (1John.1:9p) "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True ... KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Rev.19:11a,16p)

"And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." (Rom.4:21)

"For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." (Rom.10:11)

So Children are taught that things that are true only of God himself, are true of Santa and when they grow up and find out that Santa is not real, How shall they believe on the true God?

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him];"? (Heb.2:3)

CHILDREN are taught that Santa is Righteous. All that Santa does is right. He makes no mistakes. Every child's stocking contains exactly the right thing. But only the LORD GOD is righteous. Santa is a false god. Why are children being taught to disobey the commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3)? And why are you disobeying the commandment which says, "Do not bear false witness" (Luke.18:20p), by telling the Lie that Santa is real?

NOW we know from the scriptures that there is only one true GOD and that other gods are not gods at all, but a child, with the faith of a child, what do they know?

We know that children's faith is to be our example, because the Lord Jesus said: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Mat.18:3)

The faith of a Child! And they grow up and find out that the god that they have been taught about called Santa is FALSE and what happens to them then?

AND children worship Santa. He is worshipped and loved by thousands of children the world around. Children love him so much that all through the year they seek to please him so that when they see him, they will not be ashamed. ("O come let us adore him."?)

And some children even leave food or cookies or milk for Santa when he comes. And of course Santa's servants, the parents, remove the food, and gifts, so that the child will firmly believe their LIES.

But are these same children taught that the word of God says: "Fear God, and give glory to him" and "worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Rev.14:7p) and "worship God." (Rev.22:9p) are they?

And when the Lord Jesus was tempted of //Santa// [typo-correction: Satan] in the wilderness, Jesus replied: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Mat.4:10)

And what about Love? "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Mat.22:37)

That's a pretty tall order if most of your love goes to Santa. Children are taught that Santa is Love, so why shouldn't they love him? "Santa loves boys and girls all over the world", they're told.

AND SANTA is no respecter of persons. He loves them all -- black and yellow and white. However the Scripture says: "God is Love" (1Jn.4:16p) And it is also written: "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" — "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (Rom 5:8p & John 3:16) and "there is no respect of persons with God." (Rom.2:11p)

Yes, God's word says: "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev.22:17p) and "every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isa.55:1p)

But if you don't believe — and you won't if you are trusting in another god — Santa is a FALSE god. "Be NOT deceived" (Gal.6:7p).

CHILDREN'S FAITH in the coming of Santa puts some Christians to shame who are (or should be) expecting the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. What does a little child believe?

Santa is coming to town. Children had better be ready. They'd better watch out. They'd better be good. He's coming. Is everyone prepared for his coming? Are they prepared for when Santa comes to reward every boy and girl according to his work?

MILLIONS of boys and girls each year wait with expectancy and patience for the glorious appearance of the great Santa-god. What a BLESSED HOPE for countless numbers of children. His reward is with him. What comforting hope the boys and girls have as they prepare for his coming.

And during the night he may come at any time. "Even so, Come, Santa Claus", they may be saying. But every true Christian all around the world should be saying:

"Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev.22:20p)

"CHILDREN are an heritage of the Lord" (Psm.127:3p) The Lord Jesus "called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea." — "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." (Mat.18:2-6,10)

And the Lord Jesus also said: "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put [his] hands upon them, and blessed them." (Mark 10:14-16)

AND TODAY, almost 2000 years later, parents put their children in Santa's arms and the children look at Santa with awe and tell him their prayers and wishes for toys or whatever, and he smiles and lays hands upon them and says "Ho Ho" and sends them on their merry way to... hell?

However, "With God all things are possible", and as long as there is still breath in you, you can: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy House" (Acts.16:31) "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Rom.3:23)

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John.1:12)

JESUS says: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Rev.3:20)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Rom.10:13)

"The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be SAVED! For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation!" (Rom.10:8-10)

It doesn't say maybe, it says "shall" be saved. Are you saved? If not, I urge you to call upon the name of the LORD right now and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. Do this now! Before it's everlastingly too late.

FOR I DECLARE unto you the gospel, which should be received, "By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures, And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once." (1Cor.15:2-6)

"As we said before so say I now again, if any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Gal.1:9)

It is my sincere hope that you will believe God's gospel and receive the Lord Jesus Christ who loves you so much that though you are a sinner HE DIED FOR YOU. Remember that Jesus is the Lord!

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." (John 15:13,14)

"And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." (1Jn.3:23)

"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1Jn.5:10-13)

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols." Amen! (1Jn.5:21)

WHICH God do you want your children to know and love? Santa, or the Lord Jesus Christ whose name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and KING of Kings, and LORD of Lords!

He has promised: "Surely I come quickly!" Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:13,14)

If you want peace on earth, pray: "Even so, Come, Lord Jesus." If you haven't done so already, Receive HIM into your HEART, and be not counted among those of whom the Lord Jesus said: "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, 1611 Authorized Version, the pure word of God.

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2Tim.3:15)

Postscript: As I [originally] wrote down the last words which you have just read, My one and a half year old child crawled under the table and sat DOWN on the floor at my feet and leaned back SECURE against my legs and held on to me. Safe and Secure. Do you trust God THAT much? Is your faith like that? I speak the truth in Christ, and I Lie NOT!

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." (Prove.3:5-7)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. --Richard