Santa Exposed: Part III

Here we are again for our third segment of Santa Exposed.  In review we looked at St Nicholas, Kriss Kringle and Santa's Throne.  Now we will look at Santa himself!  We were operating on our original paragraph:

You can find him in any mall prior to Christmas, sitting on his throne while lines of children wait just to sit on his lap and be judged; "have you been a good little boy..."  This jolly old man, his head and beard as white as snow, that rides in a sleigh, pulled by reindeer, giving presents to good little boys and girls if their name is in his book.  All with the help of Santa's elves.  Just fun fantasy you say?

So we start this segment with:  This jolly old man, his head and beard as white as snow.

Revelation 1:13-14 NIV and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.
His head and hair (beard were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.


Santa is referred to as "Father Christmas" which ties him to the very beginning or "Ancient of Days":

Daniel 7:9 NIV As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

The term "Father" is reserved for the Most High:

Matthew 23:9 NIV  And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

Mere coincidence you say?  
The Jewish Rabbi's have a saying; Coincidence is not Kosher.  
I say "Coincidence" is God's middle name!?  
Could there actually be something to what I am writing about?  
Why such a need to make Santa have the attributes and likeness of Christ?  
Is that not a good thing Ernie?

We will answer these and finish in the next segment...

Santa Exposed: Part II

Previously, we began to look into the mystical person of Santa Clause and his beginnings, or what we think they are?  We learned that St Nicholas as we know him didn't exist and that Kriss Kringle is an imposter of The "Little Christ Child".  Remember the great imposter wants to deceive by being like the real thing but with an ulterior motive.  

Isaiah 14:12-14 NLT  "How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world.
For you said to yourself, 'I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north.
I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.'

Now we are going to dissect our original paragraph which is reprinted below:

You can find him in any mall prior to Christmas, sitting on his throne while lines of children wait just to sit on his lap and be judged; "have you been a good little boy..."  This jolly old man, his head and beard as white as snow, that rides in a sleigh, pulled by reindeer, giving presents to good little boys and girls if their name is in his book.  All with the help of Santa's elves.  Just fun fantasy you say?

First: "You can find him in any mall prior to Christmas, sitting on his throne while lines of children wait to sit on his lap and be judged; "have you been a good little boy..."  

Mark 10:13-16 NLT One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Him.
When Jesus saw what was happening, He was angry with His disciples. He said to them, "Let the children come to Me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.
I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."
Then He took the children in His arms and placed His hands on their heads and blessed them.

Kids love Santa, why, because he first loved them and provide for them.  They feel safe with him and tell him all sorts of stuff to include problems and secrets?  Just check with the post office to see how many letters are addressed to Santa each year.

1 John 4:19 MKJV We love Him because He first loved us.

Santa sits in judgment over the children by asking if they have been bad or good.

Acts 10:42 NLT And He ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of all—the living and the dead.

Next Time in our Santa series, we will look at: "This jolly old man, his head and beard as white as snow,"?

Stay tuned for Santa Exposed: Part III

Violent Take it By Force!

Each day I am inundated with news of violence, crime and use of force issues.  This brings to mind an unusual verse in the bible that seems to be very difficult to interpret.  Now some verses are straight forward and some are not.  It is not to say that reading the Bible is without profit unless you are saved.  As a matter of fact, just reading the Bible and what it "simply" says about man's sinful condition and God's redeeming plan of Salvation, can be easily understood by all!  The Bible is both a book of Information and Transformation.  If you are already saved (Thank God), then reading the Bible and not quite fully understanding it is still ok because theWord of God speaks to your Spirit to bring Transformation.  It is done by not conforming or submitting to your sinful nature.  God's righteousness, holiness, and ULTIMATE sacrifice can bring someone to salvation!
Romans 12:2 NKJV  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Bible says what it says and means what it means:
Several people say, "The Bible says what it means and means what it says."  Although that sounds good - it's no good!  It simply is not true.  The Bible says what it says and means what it means!  Although there are many things God says to us that are just as He speaks or writes them, such as sin, redemption, holiness, grace, and mercy, there are deeper things.  There are "hidden" things (knowledge) Deut 29:29 of the Bible.  God says His word and ways are foolishness to the "natural" (sinful) man 1 Cor 2:14, 1 Cor 1:27.  God reveals these things and gives understanding through His Spirit.
1Corinthins 2:10-13 NKJV
(10)  But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
(11)  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
(12)  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
(13)  These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

I wrote all that to write this.  The verse I am talking about is Mat 11:12 which talks about God's kingdom, violence, and force?

Matthew 11:12 NKJV

(12)  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force.

Many well known and respected men of God will say that they are not sure what this passage means.  There are three common interpretations.  By The Way, just because there are different interpretations of this verse doesn't negate God's Word in any way.  There are many, many things about scripture we will never know this side of heaven, and just because we don't know doesn't diminish God in any way - it only proves to exalt Him more.  With that said, here is my perspective.

Violence is a word that you can't get away from in society.  Its use is almost always in the negative and so are most of its definitions.  In Law Enforcement, we say: Violence is neither bad nor good, it just is!  Police use greater violence to control violence.  Force is a word that can be used in place of violence.  We might agree that all violence involves force but not all force is violent.  Granted the force used by police is controlled, lawful, and extremely scrutinized but it is violent and violence none the same.

Now you might say violence in any form is bad.  Football is a very violent sport and yet we don't call it bad.  The more you understand about the game the more violence plays into the game.  We can agree or disagree on the use of the word, however, it is this perspective I want to use to address this scripture.  

"From the days of John the Baptist" (not a denomination here), his days are about one proclaiming for all to repent.

Mat 3:1-2 NKJV

(1)  In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

(2)  and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

People didn't like that message then and they don't like it today.  They didn't like John proclaiming about it and Jesus fulfilling it!  Why?  Great question, because it means that "I" just can't do whatever I want, that there are consequences to my actions and choices, that some things are JUST PLAIN WRONG, and that I will have to give an account for what I do?  OUUUUCH!  I know that hurt but it is true.

"Kingdom of heaven suffers violence".  We must always be careful about translating English words into our current times.  This can mean to rush into or press ahead foolishly without counting the cost.  Rush into what?  Salvation.  Counting what cost?  Christian life or more accurately, repentance, and faith.  When someone rushes into salvation they usually end up with a false conversion and a false view of Christ.  This not only hurts them but Christianity also.  Think of how many marriages in our country that were, rushed into, without or against Godly counsel, and how did they turn out?

"And the violent take it by force", I believe has a two-fold application.

1.  Forceful persistence and tenacious behavior can yield results.  The question is what type of results are you looking for?  God's or your own?

2.  One of the words translated in Greek here is "harpazo" which means to snatch away.  This is the word used in "rapture", a catching away.  Another word here is translated "autos" which means "self".  Used here I see the meaning to be, God will forcefully take me home, He will grab me outta here!  I know it is bad English but ya know what I mean?

There is a war going on in the spirit world and it is violent.  We may not see it or even realize the effects it is having on or around us - but it is forcefully going on none the less.  Ask God to use whatever force is necessary to accomplish His plans and purposes for your life.  For those loved ones who are not saved, ask God to forcefully call them to Himself.

Be tenacious in your prayers because the violent take them by force...

ernie