December 19th, 2024
The true story of St. Nick (or Santa Claus) is difficult to uncover. Like many accounts from antiquity, facts and legend have been inseparably mixed to produce an alloy that is impossible to break apart. Nonetheless, there are a few things we can say quite definitively. If St. Nicholas were here today, he wouldn’t be keeping a list of naughty and nice children. He wouldn’t be delivering presents on Christmas Eve. And he wouldn’t let his reindeer run over grandma.
Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, lived from the late 3rd century to the early 4th century A.D. It was a time of upheaval and rapid cultural change. Growing up on the southern coast of modern-day Turkey, Nicholas likely endured the empire-wide persecution under Emperor Diocletian. Some sources indicate he was imprisoned, and when he was finally released, he returned home to joyful shouts: “Nicholas! Confessor! Saint Nicholas has come home!” His life spanned terrible persecution as well as the time when Constantine became emperor and legalized Christianity in the year 313.
But all of this brings up an interesting thought experiment, what would he be doing if he were alive today?
If St. Nicholas were alive today, he’d fearlessly advocate for justice. The oldest extant source about Nicholas is a late 4th century fragment that narrates his intervention with three men about to be executed. In the confusion of a riot near Nicholas’ town, three men were falsely accused and condemned to death. Later, it was revealed that bribes were given to ensure the destruction of these innocent men. Nicholas, however, acted quickly and advocated on their behalf on two separate occasions to ensure their lives were preserved and they were eventually set free.
If St. Nicholas were alive today, he’d be standing strong – and if necessary, alone – for theological truth. After experiencing persecution under one Roman emperor, Nicholas found himself in the surreal event we know today as the Council of Nicaea. Bishops still bearing scars from the persecution of Diocletian now gathered under the watchful eye of a new emperor to discuss the unity of the Church. The problem at hand was the Arian controversy, caused by the teachings of the Libyan Arius, who believed that Jesus had a beginning in time and was therefore not coequal with the Father. Recalling the historic moment, a 14th century bishop from northern Italy claimed that Nicholas listened to Arius’ for some time at the council, but grew so angry over his heresy that he stood up, approached him, and slapped him across the face! Though initially it was not received well by the other bishops, Nicholas gained a reputation as a defender of orthodoxy.
If St. Nicholas were alive today, he’d be leading the fight against human trafficking. One of the most extraordinary stories about Nicholas comes from the well-known Golden Legend or Readings of the Saints compiled by Jacobus de Varagine in the late Middle Ages. Left with a significant inheritance, Nicholas set out to use his wealth for noble causes. Quickly, he found that his own neighbor was in dire need. With three teenage daughters and no money, this neighbor began to contemplate prostitution as the only way for his daughters to support themselves. Under cover of night, Nicholas left enough gold for a dowry for the first daughter. Subsequently, he did the same for the second and third daughter as well. When the third sack of gold was dropped, the father chased down Nicholas to find out who had shown such generosity. “Ah, Nicholas, it is you!” cried the father, “You have saved my daughters from certain disaster.” Nicholas, embarrassed, and not wishing to be known, begged the man to keep his identity secret. “You must thank God alone for providing these gifts in answer to your prayers for deliverance.”
Yes, if St. Nicholas were alive today, he’d be a lot less interested in cookies and milk, and more concerned with justice, truth, and mercy. He would very likely be working toward biblical justice, standing for biblical truth, and leading the efforts to end human trafficking with whatever resources he had.
Like many Christians throughout history, Nicholas provides a great model for 21st century Christians to learn from and emulate. But perhaps more than any of these stories, we should learn from the way he introduced himself. When asked by the previous Bishop of Myra who he was, he answered, “Nicholas, a sinner.” As a little boy, he understood his sinful condition, and this humility remained with him throughout the rest of his life.
This blog post was originally published on December 16th, 2020.
Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, lived from the late 3rd century to the early 4th century A.D. It was a time of upheaval and rapid cultural change. Growing up on the southern coast of modern-day Turkey, Nicholas likely endured the empire-wide persecution under Emperor Diocletian. Some sources indicate he was imprisoned, and when he was finally released, he returned home to joyful shouts: “Nicholas! Confessor! Saint Nicholas has come home!” His life spanned terrible persecution as well as the time when Constantine became emperor and legalized Christianity in the year 313.
But all of this brings up an interesting thought experiment, what would he be doing if he were alive today?
If St. Nicholas were alive today, he’d fearlessly advocate for justice. The oldest extant source about Nicholas is a late 4th century fragment that narrates his intervention with three men about to be executed. In the confusion of a riot near Nicholas’ town, three men were falsely accused and condemned to death. Later, it was revealed that bribes were given to ensure the destruction of these innocent men. Nicholas, however, acted quickly and advocated on their behalf on two separate occasions to ensure their lives were preserved and they were eventually set free.
If St. Nicholas were alive today, he’d be standing strong – and if necessary, alone – for theological truth. After experiencing persecution under one Roman emperor, Nicholas found himself in the surreal event we know today as the Council of Nicaea. Bishops still bearing scars from the persecution of Diocletian now gathered under the watchful eye of a new emperor to discuss the unity of the Church. The problem at hand was the Arian controversy, caused by the teachings of the Libyan Arius, who believed that Jesus had a beginning in time and was therefore not coequal with the Father. Recalling the historic moment, a 14th century bishop from northern Italy claimed that Nicholas listened to Arius’ for some time at the council, but grew so angry over his heresy that he stood up, approached him, and slapped him across the face! Though initially it was not received well by the other bishops, Nicholas gained a reputation as a defender of orthodoxy.
If St. Nicholas were alive today, he’d be leading the fight against human trafficking. One of the most extraordinary stories about Nicholas comes from the well-known Golden Legend or Readings of the Saints compiled by Jacobus de Varagine in the late Middle Ages. Left with a significant inheritance, Nicholas set out to use his wealth for noble causes. Quickly, he found that his own neighbor was in dire need. With three teenage daughters and no money, this neighbor began to contemplate prostitution as the only way for his daughters to support themselves. Under cover of night, Nicholas left enough gold for a dowry for the first daughter. Subsequently, he did the same for the second and third daughter as well. When the third sack of gold was dropped, the father chased down Nicholas to find out who had shown such generosity. “Ah, Nicholas, it is you!” cried the father, “You have saved my daughters from certain disaster.” Nicholas, embarrassed, and not wishing to be known, begged the man to keep his identity secret. “You must thank God alone for providing these gifts in answer to your prayers for deliverance.”
Yes, if St. Nicholas were alive today, he’d be a lot less interested in cookies and milk, and more concerned with justice, truth, and mercy. He would very likely be working toward biblical justice, standing for biblical truth, and leading the efforts to end human trafficking with whatever resources he had.
Like many Christians throughout history, Nicholas provides a great model for 21st century Christians to learn from and emulate. But perhaps more than any of these stories, we should learn from the way he introduced himself. When asked by the previous Bishop of Myra who he was, he answered, “Nicholas, a sinner.” As a little boy, he understood his sinful condition, and this humility remained with him throughout the rest of his life.
This blog post was originally published on December 16th, 2020.
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