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But that’s because the devil stole him away making
Santa into the image of a toy maker at the north pole who leads the
local elf union!
Indeed, Santa does have a place in the manger. The same place that
we should have…as a worshiper of God’s true Son and our Savior from
sin, Jesus Christ.
Saint Nicholas was a Christian pastor. He knew the love of God. This
is God’s love that He sent His son into the world to save sinners.
Nicholas was so moved by this fact that not only did he become a
pastor to share this good news, but he had a particular compassion
for widows and orphans. He would make sure that their needs of both
body and soul were taken care of, bringing them gifts and supplies.
His generosity became quite famous, and he was loved very much by
others, especially the children.
Last year, on a particular evening at Grace Lutheran Church we had
about 300 people come through the doors of Christ’s Church. Every
kid that entered into that church came to the manger where they were
not only told about Jesus and the Christmas story but had an
interaction with it. And a pastor, dressed like a pastor from many
centuries ago, met them there and proclaimed that Christmas story of
God’s greatest gift. Even though the red suit is admittedly, a
little cheesy compared to who he really was.
It’s time that the Church take Santa back from Satan and the world.
Satan is too good at distracting and distorting everything that
would lead us to Christ! The real story of Saint Nicholas is how he
loved the One born at the Manger!
Pastor Daniel McQuality
Grace Lutheran Church
Lincoln, Illinois
*Bring the kids to “Santa at the manger” this Thursday, December
15th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 201 South
College Street in Lincoln.
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