Scripture for the Day Dec 24th 2020: Santa Claws?

Today I may ruffle the feathers of some of my dear Christian friends. So be it. (Proverbs 27:6) The truth told to friends is better than a kiss from an enemy. 

Jesus was born in fall, in September. Some scholars have calculated even the hour of His birth. Celebrating and honoring Jesus is a good thing. But we should do this every waking minute of the day, should we not? Don't get me wrong, I have fond memories of many childhood Christmas times. The tree decorations, the extraordinary food, sweets, the festive atmosphere, the rituals, and  the gifts - being let into the family room to be judged by Santa Claus. But it is a deception, this Santa Claus thing. Do you see the parallels to Jesus? If you have done well, Santa Claus will reward you for your good behavior. But it is Jesus Who rewards us for following Him, and His reward is all of Heaven for eternity. Anything that brings us closer to the LORD is a good thing, But anything that takes us away from God is a bad thing, Everything that takes is away from Jesus is not of God. Everything that attributes God's work to satan is blasphemy. And blasphemy is the one unpardonable sin.

Mark 3:28–29
28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;
29    but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—

If you re-arrange the letters of Santa, what biblical name does it render? Isn't it horrifying to realize that satan is so cunning that he would get most of the Western world to teach their children blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and dress up as a representative of hell every year for the rest of their lives?

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from 1any tree of the garden’?”

Now, I enjoy Christmas in its purest meaning. But I despise the commercialization of it. I hate the blasphemy that it has become since Coca Cola replaced Jesus with Santa. and I reject it outright. 

Mark 7:13
thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

Biblical Holidays

The Bible mentions many HOLY days, events that God want's us to celebrate. 

Fairchild, Mary. "Calendar for the Feast of Trumpets and Other Bible Feasts." Learn Religions, Aug. 29, 2020, learnreligions.com/bible-feasts-calendar-700160.

Sending Gifts

There is nothing wrong with giving gifts if it is done with a pure heart and for the right reasons. But Christmas has become a pre-packed, thoughtless, buy-something-for-someone-because-that's-what-I- must-do, meaningless exercise. The tradition of giving gifts is mentioned in the Bible. In Revelation. In the last days, the two prophets die, the good guys, The world celbrates their death with giving gifts. If we truly celebrate Jesus' life, His birth on earth, sure, gift one another, with that motivation in mind. Anything else is just taking a step away from God.

Revelation 11:10
“And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.”
While Christmas is not a Biblical Holiday, the Bible warns us about this particual holiday, the way we celebrate it.

Of Trees and Idols

Jeremiah 10:1-5

A Satire on Idolatry
1 Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel.
2 Thus says the Lord,“ Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens
Although the nations are terrified by them;

 3    For the customs of the peoples are delusion;
Because bit is wood cut from the forest,
The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.

4    “They adecorate it with silver and with gold;
They fasten it with nails and with hammers
So that it will not totter.

5 “Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot walk!
Do not fear them,
For they ccan do no harm,
Nor can they do any good.”

At first glance, verses 3 and 4 could refer to the Christmas tree tradition. But even if it didn't, God wants us to worship idols. Besides, God's Word is multi-dimensional. Yet, what do we do year in year out? Are we not teaching our children to worship Santa? Everything that takes away from God is evil. 

Neverthesless, enjoy your Christmas in the Spirit of the Birth of our Savior on earth. His only reason to come to earth was to save us. Renew your vow to follow Christ Jesus today, and stay blessed,
In Jesus'name
Amen.

#Devotional #Scripture4TheDay #Christmas #Santa #SantaDeception