One of my earliest memories of Christmas centered on St. Nick. I remember sitting on his knee asking for a new bike. I remember the cardboard fire place we set up in our living room with a lighted fire we turned on at night (without a real fireplace this was his entrance into the house?). I remember the year mom crocheted/granny square stockings to replace our small plastic ones; these still hang each year at my house. Finally, I remember the year my sister’s stocking was empty, and what I thought was a strike of justice turned out to be a faulty assessment of reality (she had already gone through her stocking).
The Santa Clause tradition has motivated children to spend the month between Thanksgiving and New Year’s exhibiting their best behavior. In a rewards v. punishment theme children wish to avoid an empty stocking with desire to cash in on Santa’s generosity.
Similarities exist between what St. Nick hopes to accomplish and walking with Jesus. Both are appear to be all-knowing. Both desire to bring the best out of the people they encounter. Both have a list used to categorize people and their behavior. Here the similarities seem to break down and begin to diverge, as the lists available are handled quite differently.
St. Nicklaus’ list is about behavior. He rewards the good while punishing the bad. A child does everything he/she can to ensure they are included on the “nice” list. Sure, Santa grades on a sliding scale, but either you’re good or you’re not. And the burden is on you. Your behavior determines your destiny. If you’re not good enough, you fail to get the stuff you want. Simply, it’s a works-driven form of righteousness.
Jesus’ list, on the other hand, is about grace and discipleship. Those who are on Jesus’ good list find themselves filled with flaws, shortcomings and sin. As Paul quotes the Psalmist, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Rom. 3:10). No matter how hard we try to be good, we cannot be good. In part, because nothing within us is good. The purpose of the cross was to transfer the righteousness of Christ onto us in order to make us good (2 Cor. 5:21). Even Jesus describes his Second Coming, not in terms of a “naughty” and “nice” list but, in terms of compassion. Did we feed the hungry, offer a drink to the thirsty, practice hospitality to the homeless, and clothe the naked, visit the sick or those imprisoned? (Mt. 25:31-40).
Maybe the best picture of how Jesus’ list gets flipped is the story of the two men who ventured to the temple to pray (Lk. 18:9-14). The first was a member of the conservative political/religious party. He avoided an immoral life, and shunned the people who lived such lives. He fasted twice a week and tithed a tenth of his income. If the prayer was made today, he’d boast his church attendance too. The other man knew his sin was before him, and he refused to look up at heaven. He just cried out to God in confessional tones for mercy, not justice.
Santa’s list, as a works-oriented list, places the first man on the “nice” list while the other goes on the “naughty” list. Jesus flips the list because he is looking for humility and compassion while operating in a context of grace. Neither men are good, but the second is willing to admit and trust God’s grace. The first one trusts himself, while the second puts everything on God.
When I look back at the year I thought my sister’s stocking was left unfilled, I’m ashamed at the thoughts that went through my mind. I thought we both got what we deserved. And that’s the flaw in Santa’s works-oriented list, and it’s where I was fatally flawed in my theology. He gives you what you deserves with the “naughty” while rewarding you far better than you deserve with the “nice” list. Jesus’ list simply includes those who know they deserve nothing but are given everything. He calls it grace.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)