John 1:8-9 He himself (John the Baptist) was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. (Jesus Christ) THE TRUE LIGHT that gives light to EVERY PERSON was coming into the world.
Ephesians 4:8 “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.“
Someone asked me the other day, after we promoted the Santa Parade in downtown Milford at Church, “do we believe in Santa?” I don’t discount the concern behind this question because while freedom to believe in who you wish is an American freedom I would defend with my life, I still don’t recommend following fake God’s. False God’s demand we do things like sacrifice our children and turn lifeless things into objects of religious devotion.
My first thought when asked this question was, “I don’t think Santa faith is really a big problem in the world.” However, my more reflective self went to the more meaningful idea that the invention of the Santa myth, like so many other archetypal stories we generate, point to a very deep knowledge imbedded in the human soul that there is a loving and joyful being out there wanting to reward us and give us the best days of our lives. Yes I know Santa Claus is based on the true story St. Nicholas, a generous pastor in Turkey in 280 AD, but we’ve embellished the character and made him omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and eternal.
I would say the person that asked me this was being more concerned than critical and was certainly gentle in their inquiry. I explained to them that tipping our hat to jolly old St. Nick wasn’t a matter of belief but a matter of joy. I find joy in the idea that people like the story of a benevolent creator who comes to spread cheer and interrupt our mundane lives with light and levity.
One of the reasons I have a strong faith in Christ is because the Christ figure keeps showing up unintentionally in the stories we act out; we just can’t help ourselves. Tanner Cannon writes, in a really good article on Christ like figures in literature, “literature will create new heros, that sacrifice, protect and serve, forgive, create, be humble, confront evil head on, and turn water into wine (figuratively of course).”
Superman Comics, To kill a Mockingbird, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Odyssey,and Harry Potter reinforce our inner conviction of a divine savior who loves us, sacrifices to save us and will ultimately return for us.
Harry Potter “has the great responsibility of keeping the ‘muggle’ people safe from a demonic villain named Voldemort. Potter has physical scars indicating some sort of tragic event such as the scars Christ had from the nailing to the cross. Harry is in agony with his villainous foes. He is tormented by the curse he holds, resembling how Christ was burdened with our sins.”
Now some will take all this to mean that the Christ, the Christian savior, is just as mythical as these literary characters but no, the Gospels are not literature they are historical record… big difference. However, we should be encouraged and excited by all of the expectation filled stories that keep pointing us to the hope instantiated in our souls by a force outside of ourselves. If the stories of benevolent saviors isn’t placed in our psyche by a force outside of ourselves then why can’t we change the themes, why can’t we change the narratives? No matter how “post Christian” and “sophisticated” Westerner civilization becomes, we can’t resist the ancient subjects of sin, sacrifice, redemption and salvation.
So no, I don’t “believe” in Santa but I believe in the God who put such a delightful idea into our minds.
