Not a Cunningly Devised Fable
2 Peter 1:16-21
Myths and legends can be powerful teachers of morality. This is why they have been used from time immemorial. They speak of something greater than the story itself. They can be based upon some degree of fact, but this is not necessary for the truth conveyed by the fable to be valid. For example, there was probably a King Midas, who is the subject of a fable that he had asked that everything he touched might turn to gold. The story goes on to state that when his daughter came into contact with him, she turned to gold also. Midas then realized that there was something more valuable than gold. There are many other examples I could cite, but this teaches the basic power of a myth.
When the Roman Empire became “Christian” under Constantine, some 3oo years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, it became necessary to teach a large number of people quickly about the Christian faith. The people knew the legends of the gods, but they did not know Jesus. Deliberations were made on how to teach the Christian faith. So they incorporated myths and “Christianized” them. They in a sense baptized Paganism. So the fertility festival of Asherah (also known as Isis, Artemis or Diana) became the Christian Easter. Part of the more innocuous of the old festival, such as painting of eggs, bunnies, and the rites of spring were used to teach the Resurrection of Jesus. These legends persist to this day, and churches run riot to have Easter Egg hunts for the children. As society becomes more Pagan, this is all Easter means for some people. It’s all about Peter Cottontail, carrying his colorful plastic eggs in a basket full of green confetti, resembling grass. It’s about children having fun rather than the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Another fable used by the church is Santa Claus. As I noted before, myths can have a basis in fact. There was a Greek bishop 1500 years ago called St. Nicholas. His claim to fame is his generosity to poor maidens who could not afford the dowry needed to get married. So, St. Nicholas put gold in their stockings. This is certainly laudable on the man’s part. But St. Nicholas morphed into Father Christmas, and then into what is today known as Santa Claus or St. Nick. The man in the red suit is a far cry removed from the original saint.
Santa Claus has been quite secularized. Jewish people wanted to be able to share in the American celebration of Christmas. But they needed to do this without the birth of their Messiah, which most deny. So Santa became the replacement for the baby Jesus in the manger. As a matter of fact, Santa becomes a replacement for the Lord Jesus as well. It isn’t Jesus any more who knows if you are naughty or nice, it is Santa Claus. A lump of coal replaces the fire of hell for the wicked. If you are bad, then you get a lump of coal. If you are good, toys and goodies proceed from his sleigh. So be good for goodness’ sake rather than for God’s sake. The value of Christmas is how much the economy is stimulated. It isn’t about God’s gift to the world, it’s about the value of the gifts we get.
I don’t want to be another modern Christmas fable called the “grinch,” but if this is what Christmas is about, then it is an utter failure. Think of the damage actually done to the economy as a result of Christmas. The manufacturers have to pay overtime and build extra warehouses for all the Christmas gifts. Workers have to be paid overtime in the stores. Then these workers have to collect unemployment in January. Then there are the steep discounts offered after Christmas to rid the excess inventory. If people celebrated their own birthdays rather than Christmas, buying of gifts would be distributed throughout the year. People always to spend a little more than they make, so the more even distribution of goods throughout the year would actually increase business profits. But who am I to advise all the economists? That isn’t my concern. My concern is that Christmas has been hijacked.
Yet in our churches. Santa, rather someone dressed up as Santa will make his appearance to children. Santa is ubiquitous. He’s is in many different churches and malls at the same time. Of course, in the church, we make sure Santa gives a nod and bow before the baby Jesus doll in the manger. We use Santa to buttress the truth of the gospel. But is tis a good idea?
I can remember reading about a young girl named Virginia who was devastated to hear that Santa Claus was not real. An ingenious editor answered Virginia with a memorable article. “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,” he replied. But the Santa he describes is a legend. Santa is everywhere there is an act of kindness or love. This is how he exists.
Now let us contemplate the damage Santa actually does to the gospel. We have to tell our children sometime, if they don’t learn elsewhere, that there is no Santa Claus. Then we try to tell them that Jesus is real. This does not work very well, and what happens is that Jesus is nothing but a grownup’s Santa Claus. Jesus himself has become a myth in the liberal church. This isn’t to say that there was not a historical Jesus. The Jesus Seminar is trying to determine who the historical Jesus was. But the existence of Jesus is not overly important. They would deny He actually rose from the dead in any literal sense. But that is all right for them. They have His teachings. Properly manipulated, they become the basis for a new morality. So eternal life has morphed into the belief that if Jesus’ teachings are followed, one will have a better quality of life. Salvation is replaced by self-help and recovery programs. And we just follow along. Maybe evangelicals cannot agree with the liberals on doctrine, but at least we can share in improving things in this world.
At this point, we need to consult the Bible. What does the Bible say about myths? Here we meet St. Peter, who is writing at the end of his life. He is facing execution for his faith. Soon he would be crucified. No one would undergo crucifixion for a myth. If Christianity claimed to be an Eastern myth, it might have been tolerated more. But Peter in both 1 and2 Peter tells us the fact that Christians will suffer persecution for their faith. No one would die for Santa Claus, or a legendary Jesus either.
Peter tells us here that we have not followed carefully designed myths. Peter saw Jesus. He heard Him teach and do wonders, real wonders, for three years. He had seen Jesus in His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. He saw Jesus arrested and condemned to crucifixion. He saw, touched and saw Jesus alive after the Resurrection. He saw Jesus ascend to heaven. He believed that Jesus would return. He experienced the power of the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. He saw the angels come and deliver him from the inner prison. These are facts and not fables.
Peter then directs his readers to the Bible. We don’t have fables; we have a sure word of prophecy. It is the light of Scripture that needs to illuminate our hearts and not the lessons from myths. This prophecy is true because it comes directly from God himself. The prophets were not story tellers and moralists. They spoke by the power of the Holy Spirit infallibly for God. What Peter told them should warn us as well. The eyewitnesses of the earthly life of Jesus would soon pass. There was always the danger that the truth of Jesus would descend into legend as has happened to so many historical figures in the past. The voice of the prophets would be replaced by storytellers and moralists. We can see this by some of the romances that later developed in the church, such as the legend that Jesus used His miraculous power as a child to turn clay pigeons into real ones. This is just one example of all the nonsense which developed. Peter and also John warns us to stick to the facts of Jesus to which they were witnesses and not to delve into speculation.
The power of myth is not even to be compared with the power of the gospel. It is only the gospel which can transform lives and provide a ral and lasting hope. We need to move away from the sophistries of men and instead join Paul in saying that we wish to share nothing but “Jesus Christ and Him crucified. We might think we are helping the gospel by using myths as a bridge in our evangelism. We think this might help us reach the lost. But one should carefully consider that a bridge goes in two directions. It seems to me that far more people in our churches are crossing over into the world than are crossing the bridge to the church from the world. We need to replace our sophisticated apologetic with the simple and powerful proclamation of the Word. In the Bible, we have a God who created everything out of nothing by speaking the word. What a powerful word it is! Through preaching the same word of God is proclaimed which makes people new creations. Let the preachers leave off stories and preach the Word!
