Santa lives at the North Pole … JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh … JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year… JESUS is an ever-present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies … JESUS supplies all your needs by the riches of His grace.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited … JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and enters your heart.
You have to wait in line to see Santa … JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap … JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly … JESUS has a heart full of love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
All Santa can offer is “HO HO HO” … JESUS says, “Cast your cares on me, for I care for you.”
Santa’s little helpers make toys … JESUS makes a new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes, and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but … JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree … JESUS became our gift and died on the tree, for you and for me.
It’s obvious there really is no comparison.
Yes, JESUS is better, He is even better than Santa Claus — infinitely better!
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
Jesus is still the reason for the season.
Not better, just different, and equally imaginary.
I am often surprised at the number on nonbelievers that read Christian literature. And they pay attention to what they are reading! For this I praise the Lord. Dr. Bob – Fantastic piece. Thanks.
Chris, Thanks for stopping by, reading, and sharing your view. I’d enjoy talking with you sometimes about the evidence for the historicity of Christ. My website is included in my author bio and you can find my ministry contact information there. Merry Christmas. Bob
Hi Bob, Thanks for this. I wasn’t adressing the historicity of Christ or Santa Claus–there was a St. Nicolas after all (a bishop of Nicea, I think), but of their consequences. In both cases, a mythology arose from which many people draw a moral and ethical system for living. It seems to me that, taken at face value that is, taking what they are reputed to have said or the notions for which they are imagined to stand, the value of either’s is as good as the other. However, Christ’s actual legacy is much darker. There being, in his case, a book and a Church meant that many followers considered they were entitled to badger and harass and persecute and murder those with whom they disagreed. And they still do. (I don’t recall any large massacres, or even small ones, motivated by Santa Claus.) It is not that these figures are imaginary–although they may be–but rather what belief in them has done to the imaginations of those who came after. The difference? The book and the church.
Chris, I see that you hold your beliefs firmly. I will agree with you on one point: Christ’s followers are sinful and need a Savior. I will confess that I am the chief of sinners, therefore, I am thankful for Christ’s virgin birth which we celebrate at Christ, for His sinless life, for His sacrificial death on the cross on my/our behalf, for His victorious resurrection, for His powerful ascension, and I long for His glorious return. As I’ve stated, I would be glad to have an open dialogue about Christ with you. Bob
It seems to me that you are holding Jesus and Christianity responsible for the actions of some of His followers. True Christians are peaceful, loving people, as Jesus was. This would be like holding atheists responsible for the atrocities committed by Mao or Stalin. Or the whole of the Germanic people, past, present and future, for the actions of Hitler and his followers. Neither makes sense. Nor does blaming Christianity and Christians for the action of a few using (actually misusing) the name of Christ to commit un-Christian acts.
I certainly am, Tim, since you do it all in his name, claiming undivided allegiance. There are many kinds of atheists but (according to the church) only one kind of Christian. But it’s more than that: having god talking in your ear (or some other body part) seems to entitle you to seek to destroy everyone who disagrees; that is the lesson of history. Not good enough to believe something, but because it’s in the book (or claimed to be), and in the name of god, you consider that you are entitled to insist that the powers of the state, when you are not the state yourself, to force your beliefs on everyone else.