Who do we worship at Christmas time?

We went driving around last night looking at Christmas lights.  The kids had a blast, and it was interesting to see the different displays -- some simple, some extravagant.

After a while, I began to notice quite a few houses that had Jesus/nativity related displays, right alongside Santa Claus, etc.  It reminded me of visiting a cathedral in Vienna years ago.  At the back of the church, on one side was a statue of Mary.  On the other side, there was a statue of Jesus.  My friend, who was our guide that day, said that there are always more worshippers on Mary's side than on Jesus' side.  She said she always felt sorry for poor Jesus.

So, I wonder what Jesus thinks about being put alongside Santa?  When he was born, he was the object of worship and adoration.  As he should be, since he is God and he is our Savior!!   But now... who attracts more worshippers -- Jesus? or Santa?

Just as food for thought... compare the words of "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" ...

You better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

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!

 
to the words of Psalm 139...

O LORD, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down

and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before,

and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high; I cannot attain it.

Where shall I go from your Spirit?

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,

and the light about me be night,"

even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them

At the risk of offending someone who feels Santa is an innocent, childish, fairy tale, may I ask whether he is not really an imposter, even a "false god"?  
 
Think about "He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you are awake, he knows if you've been bad or good."  Who really knows that but God alone?
 
And "He's gonna find out who's naughty and nice?"... Check out Romans 3:9-18... God has already figured out who is naughty (all of us) and who is nice (not one of us!).
 
But thanks be to God that we don't have to be "good for goodness sake", because we can't  be good enough!!! We don't have to "be good" in order to receive the gift of salvation from God.  For Romans 3:21-26 says:
 
²¹But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
 
I pray that all of you may know that gift of God's grace!