In the year 1087 A.D., Italian merchants stole the body of St. Nicholas and moved it from his homeland of Turkey to Bari, Italy. The second theft of this generous bishop occurred on the day before Christmas Eve in 1837 in Troy, New York when Clement Clarke Moore’s published poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” more commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas,” hit the local newspaper and became popularized.
This possibly well-meaning illustration of St. Nicholas’ benevolence helped trigger the flight of the red-robed-robber-baron we call Santa Claus. Be honest. Whose image first comes to mind in the imaginations of most children around Christmastime: Santa or the Baby Jesus?
PORTAL TO HEAVEN: During the first theft of Nicholas, thieves merely stole his body. With the second heist, there was almost a theft of his soul. But those who promote Santa Claus are accomplices in that robbery…not to mention the pilfering of the adoration of the Baby Jesus. When you and I stand before Jesus, will we be listed amongst these accomplices?
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form… This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Colossians 2:8,9 NIV, Luke 2:12 NIV
One more thing: If Portals has moved you, would you take just one minute to write a review on Amazon? It would mean a lot to me. Thanks, RJL