“…so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good…”
–Matthew 5:45

It’s time to blow the lid on this whole Santa lie.

Just not the one you’re thinking of.

The Story of Saint Nick is the stuff of legend. I mean that. The guy was born around the year 270, but what we know about him are stories that have been passed down —probably exaggerated here and there, like any good tale.

Here’s a version of his story that might ring a few (Christmas) bells:

Nicholas of Myra was a Christian Bishop from what today is Turkey. He was a generous man. There are so many wonderful deeds attributed to him that he is also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker. Today, he is honored as a Saint.

One story tells of a poor man in Nick’s town with three daughters. The man had no money to provide marriage dowries for them. Without dowries, these young women faced a grim future—likely slavery, or worse.

One night, Nicholas anonymously dropped a bag of gold down the man’s chimney. The grateful father used the money for his eldest daughter’s dowry, and she was married.

A second time, Nicholas dropped gold down the chimney, allowing the second daughter to marry.

Desperate to know who was helping, the man stood watch. When Nicholas arrived with a third bag of gold, the man caught him in the act. He thanked Nicholas profusely, shared the story, and thus, the legend of Saint Nicholas was born.

(By the way, according to the legend, some coins landed in one of the daughters’ stockings, which were drying by the fire. That’s why we hang stockings!)

The Big Santa Lie

So, here’s where we need to expose the Big Santa Lie. Did you notice it?

There was no naughty or nice list.

That’s right—Saint Nick wasn’t keeping score. His gifts weren’t rewards for good behavior; they were gifts. No strings attached.

In truth, Santa was following Jesus. He was practicing grace.

The conditional morality stuff? That came much later—most famously in the 1934 song “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” It’s a catchy tune, but maybe it’s time for an update. How about this?

You’d better watch out, you’d better not cry
No reason to pout, I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town.

He’s bringing a gift; it’s given for free
A love that’s for you and a love that’s for me,
Santa Claus is coming to town.

God sees you when you’re sleeping
God knows when you’re awake
God loves you when you’re bad or good
Give a cheer for Jesus’ sake!

Oh, you’d better watch out, you’d better not cry
You’re precious to God, that’s totally why
Santa Claus is coming to town.

Santa is one more way to celebrate the Gift of Love, freely given.

That is, after all,

The Big Christmas Truth.

Merry Christmas,

Mitch