Page 14 - December 2015 Issue 300

14 THE NEW COUNTESTHORPE HERALD
NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE CHURCHES
SANTA OR SAVIOUR?
DECEMBER 2015
If you were asked ‘Who takes centre stage at Christmas?’ you might be forgiven for answering ‘Santa!’ The jolly, white- bearded man dressed in a red suit is everywhere at Christmas - on our TV screens, in our shopping centres, and on our Christmas cards, to name but a few places. There is no escaping Santa. Children adore him and believing in him is a rite of passage to adulthood. Whether young or old, belief in Santa is surely part of the magic of Christmas.
But, perhaps more importantly, we should turn our attention from Santa towards a Saviour; for the magic of Christmas is about a Saviour who came into the world as a baby 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. Consider the following points
Santa on the other hand is only a figure of legend, although there was a fourth century Bishop of Myra called Saint Nicholas, who sacrificially gave to others. Yet he is far removed from the mythical man today with his reindeers who’s only a 19th century American invention.
‘Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.’ (Luke 2:10,11).
Santa brings happiness but it’s only
temporary, it happens and it goes,
it’s fleeting at best. Our lack of true
contentment and happiness is quickly
evident again soon after Christmas is
3) Jesus Christ came to save sinners. ‘This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ (1 Timothy 1:15).
The message from Santa is that he rewards the so-called ‘good’. Yet the universal problem of humanity is that none of us is good. ‘None is righteous, no, not one’ (Romans 3:10). The Bible states ‘for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23). The good news is that Jesus Christ came to save us from the penalty that our sins deserve by dying on the cross and three days later rising from the dead. ‘He appeared to put away sin, by the sacrifice of Himself. Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many’ (Hebrews: 9:26,28).
4) Jesus Christ offers the greatest gift of all. ‘But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 6:23b). Jesus is the greatest gift anyone can receive. He offers eternal life, and this gift brings lasting joy. On the other hand Santa Claus offers a bit of materialistic happiness which comes and goes. So this Christmas why not turn your attention towards a Saviour. You might just find yourself becoming the beneficiary of the greatest gift of all.
Happy Christmas
Pastor Aubrey Vaughan (Countesthorpe Baptist Church)
2) Jesus Christ brings Joy that lasts.
Countesthorpe Herald
herald@macunlimited .net
Send in your news reports & views your newspaper - your news
1) Jesus Christ is a historical figure. ‘But
over. As one child said to his Dad, ‘Does
when the fullness of time had come God
Santa really deliver the goods? Because
sent forth His Son born of a woman.....’
he has to come back every year and I’m
CoutHeraldAgency.qxp_Layout 1 16/07/2015 17:08 Page 1
(Galatians. 4:4) still not satisfied.’
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A NEW START FOR H&R IN COUNTESTHORPE
We are on the move in Countesthorpe, with a new agency opening on Monday 17 August, offering:
• Six day a week opening (Monday - Friday, 9am -1pm
Saturday 9am - 12 noon)
• Customer car parking available right outside
CURRENT BRANCH
NEW AGENCY
Call into see us before Wednesday 12 August at:
2 Cosby Road, Countesthorpe
After Monday 17 August visit us at:
69 Station Road, Countesthorpe Tel: 0116 277 8384
The Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. The Society's registration number is 206043