What's wrong with Christmas? Part 2: Santa

 

Obviously, Santa has no biblical connection. But what about 'Saint' Nicholas?

 

The legend surrounding Nicholas, before he became the fat, white-bearded, red-suited elf, states that he was a fourth-century bishop in the seaport of Myra on the south coast of what is now Turkey. Incidentally, it was a town the apostle Paul had stopped at a couple hundred years earlier when he was being dragged in chains to Rome. (You can read about that adventure in my novel The Minotaur Medallion.)

According to Catholic sources, “St Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea [in 325] and was vocal in opposing the Arian heresy.”

“Vocal.” He was vocal, you say? We'll look at that in a second. What was the supposed 'heresy'?

 

Arius, at the counsel of Nicaea, “described the Son as a second, or inferior God, standing midway between the First Cause and creatures; as Himself made out of nothing, yet as making all things else; as existing before the worlds of the ages," according to the Catholic encyclopedia.

 

Arius came to this conclusion based on dozens of scriptures. Here are just a few:

• "The Father is greater than I." (John 14:28)
• "My Father sent me…" (John 20:21)
• "What I teach doesn’t come from me but is from the One who sent me." (John 7:16)
• "The very works that my Father assigned me to accomplish…" (John 5:36)
• "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matthew 28:18)
• "God… gave his only-begotten son…" (John 3:16)
• "The Father… has granted to the Son to have life in Himself." (John 5:26)
• "I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak the things the Father taught me." (John 8:28)
• "Father…let, not my will, but yours take place." (Luke 22:42)
• "Jehovah created me at the beginning of his creation." (Proverbs 8:22)
• "He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation." (Colossians 1:15)

Yet, according to Catholic World Report, when Arius stood up to speak at the Council of Nicaea, Jolly old Saint Nick, “enraged by Arius’ denial that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, strode quickly over to Arius, pulled him down by his beard, and punched him in the face.”

 

That's not "vocal", dear Catholics, that's physical. 

 

In any case, it explains the real Christmas spirit that you see on display at all the malls this time of year. If someone disagrees with you, tries to take your parking space or grabs the last Leap Frog LeapPad, punch his lights out!
 

It’s what Saint Nicholas would do.

 

Follow this Link to Part 3.

 

 Bill K. Underwood is a columnist and author of several books available at Amazon.com. You can help support this site by purchasing one of his books.