Evil Santa

If there is one Christmas song which bores into the brain and wreaks havoc, it is Santa Claus is coming to town.

I was thinking about Santa Claus, and the origins of the story in the 4th Century Bishop of Myra (Turkey), Nikolaos. Nikolaos became best known for giving gifts of money to three young women whose impoverished father could not afford their dowries. Without dowries, they could not marry, and they faced possible futures as prostitutes.

It struck me that these girls didn't in any way deserve this gift. It was entirely a matter of grace on Nikolaos' part.

I also thought that it was clearly an act of disinterested love. He had the girls' best interests in mind, and acted accordingly.

It is also clear that Nikolaos wanted nothing in return. As it was an act of grace and love, it was not something from which he stood to gain anything.

Contrast this with the Santa Claus of that song.

"You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town..."

This Santa Claus rewards and punishes, giving to those who perform as he desires, withholding from those who don't. The punishments extend beyond good and evil, and include undesired feelings. Those who express sadness or anger are also likely to lose out.

"He's making a list
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town."

"He sees you when you're sleeping

He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!
O! You better watch out!
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town"

There is no escape from this all-seeing eye. Can't sleep? He's got a little list, and you might be on that.

Contrast the Bible's picture of God:

God commends his love to us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Regardless of what you or I have done, or will do, God still loves us and his gift is still there.

This seems to me to be much better than the evil Santa of that cheery song.