Lately, I've been reading a lot of articles from Relevant Magazine. Recently I read one about being 25 and another about hospitality. The articles are typically thought provoking and as the name suggests, quite relevant. However this recent piece contemplates the advantage and possible benefits of including Santa Claus in a Christian Christmas celebration. While thought provoking, it did not sit well with me. I immediately remembered when I was in China working for the summer in 2010 and a 20 year old university student asked me, "Is Santa just Jesus when he gets old?" It seemed absurd to me at the time. But to someone outside the West, outside of the proclaimed Christian empire, both bearded men are the talk of the Christmas season. It would makes sense, except one is the real Savior of the world and the other is a fat farce.
The idea that Santa even has anything to contribute to Christmas is thoroughly disappointing. To even think that this is a relevant issue makes me concerned. Jesus gave up his godship privileges to live a mundane human life; he was betrayed and murdered so that I might live forever despite my shame and sinfulness. Yet the response to Santa Claus is that he "personifies much more than he seems to at first... more importantly, he embodies all of the things we want to feel at Christmas... the idea that there’s Christmas magic in the air, the idea of a hush falling over a sleepy household while sugarplums dance, the idea that there’s a deeper story at work." But the truly deeper story is the Prince of Peace came and now lives in his followers in the form of his spirit. To even consider that Santa has anything to offer is appalling as he clearly pales in comparison to what Jesus offers.
The author said it correctly when writing, "Santa and all he represents suggests we’re all searching for something." Why then would we perpetuate the idea that this false symbol could fulfill the longing within us? As Christians we aught to boldly take a stand to affirm the deity of our Lord Jesus and point others to him rather than acknowledging the world's erroneous solution. We cannot settle for a hint of Christmas in Santa Claus when the truth is our "search [for all that we are looking for] culminates in the person of Christ." No more hints are necessary. Truth has been revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.
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