The Truth About Santa Claus

We’ve all been subjected to having to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what we want for Christmas and have our picture taken so our parents can send it out to family members all over.

Santa has nothing to do with Christ himself.

Santa Claus was developed over a period of time and originated in Europe. Santa was said to have derived from Patroned Saint Nicholas who gave gifts to remove 3 young women from prostitution. However the name Santa Claus is derived from the Norwegian name Sinter Klaas. Sinter Claus brings gifts to the children, sings songs and has the help of his black slaves, however you won’t see sinter’s helpers called slaves.

To go even further back, the original concept for Santa Claus is from Norse Mythology about an “almighty” god named Odin,who road an eight-legged horse that can leap far distances and was older with a long white beard.

It wasn’t until the concept of santa came to the New World that an artist created their own image based off these European descriptions and later Coco Cola adjusted Santa’s outfit to match their colors that we now have the Santa that we all know.

 The whole basic american concept of Santa Claus had always bothered me to an extent even as a child. I didn't like being passed off to Santa to sit on his lap, after we have constantly told not to talk to strangers let alone go sit on their lap and take pictures or tell him what I want. 

We have to stop embracing these worldly mythical characters.

Holiday Cheer

This time of year everyone is scrambling trying to get the best gift they can get for their loved ones and friends. However unlike the previous years, many people do not have the funds to buy as much as they did in previous years so people are putting themselves in debt or just moping about because they can’t afford to shop.

Do not lose sight to the reason why we celebrate Christmas! This is supposed to be the time that spend with friends and/or family, not to outdo each other on gifts or to spoil your children. Don’t let the fact that you can’t exchange gifts make you lose your joy. Be thankful for your health or your children’s health.

Your children will understand why they didn’t get the latest toy or gadget this year, let them know that it isn’t about getting everything you want and let them know that those items will be around next year. Do some crafting, watch movies or make something in the kitchen that everyone can participate in.

Remember that Jesus wasn’t born on Christmas anyway, so there is no need to feel like you have to embrace Christmas traditions. Unfortunately, people believe that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, but it’s not scriptural. However we can use it as a time to reflect on the birth/life of our savior Jesus Christ.

Represent

Don’t let others represent you…

The reason I say this is that there are many believers and pastors,preachers,bishops and so on out there that the public get to see and yet they do not represent Christ as they should. There are so called Christian organizations and churches that the masses are exposed to and use them to judge Christians as a whole.

I have noticed that along with the influx of reality shows with Christians on them and the scandals that have been in the public eye, has tarnished the way many people look at Christianity today. There have been believers that backslide because they see other believers partaking in things that aren’t Godly or even saying things that they shouldn’t and open doors for error.

“The Preachers of LA” are a prime example of how believers can be led in error, due to an interview they did on a talk show and asked about a popular hip hop artist whom was very openly demonic and unstable, yet the preachers, except for one, praised the artist and said that the artist is entitled to be “creative” and that they are a musical genius. Not one of them said that the music is not something that believers should listen to or that there is something wrong with the messages the artist puts out and that no one should be listening because it’s demonic and can open doors for demonic activity.

Of course if one of them had said that, they probably would’ve have been heckled, however they would’ve opened up so many minds of the those watching and want to check in the bible if it backs it up, which leads them to actually pick up a bible.

This is not to say that these preachers aren’t any good, or to say that they aren’t saved. I say all this so you know that you have to check things out for yourselves and not let people represent what you are trying to represent if they aren’t sticking to the word of God. 

Pep Talk: Heirs

Galatians 3:29

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Genesis 13:2

New King James Version (NKJV)

² Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

The misconception in the world and even within the body of Christ is that in order to be humble and stay in God’s “good graces” is to be someone who is just make ends meet with maybe a little extra or to be close or in poverty. Those same people often believe that if the people in the church are financially successful that they must have been doing something they shouldn’t have.

Yet in the Bible we all as believers should be blessed beyond what we could imagine, which includes finances.

If you say you don’t want much, you won’t get it. If you say there’s something wrong with wealth, you won’t get it. So don’t be upset when you see others prosper financially in the church when you are barely getting by.

The Lord has made us heirs of Abraham whom was very rich. What is an heir?

noun

1.    1.

a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.

"his eldest son and heir"

synonyms:

successor, next in line, inheritor, beneficiary, legatee

As an heir we have to recognize that we aren’t supposed to be lacking anything and benefiting from what was given to us as believers in Jesus Christ.

Get rid of that small thinking and move on to bigger and greater things!