Concerning the Christmas tree, there is a rich Christian heritage that does not neglect the Christ-centered celebration of Jesus birth.  From a historical perspective, there are some pagan practices that appear to be related, but ultimately are not related to the Christian celebration.  Many Christians have besmirched the use of the Christmas tree as being rooted in some very detestable practices of the occult, but these prohibitions do not stand up under the scrutiny of objective historical analysis.

The only real problem with Santa Claus is the company he keeps…namely, the elves.  Elves are mythical and essentially evil, little gnomes.  Santa’s elves are trivialized as benign entities devoted to benevolent agency.  The original Saint Nicholas was very well loved and venerated by second century believers for his generosity as Bishop of Myra.  Long after his death, his legend grew and was mixed in with pagan concepts of Odin, elves, and the like.

From a historical perspective, there is really nothing wrong with the original conception and celebration of Santa Claus.  The problem is one of legend and time.  Time and culture have led us to the modern conception of Santa Claus…one that is ridiculously amplified to something well beyond the scope of its original intent and basis in historical fact.  An originally good or benign thing can not become a bad thing because bad people twist it; only the twisted thing is a bad thing.

Santa Claus and the Christmas tree are bad if and only if they have primacy over the work and person of Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Santa Claus is an icon of materialism in our culture and the Christmas tree has become a historical landmark prompting us to be materialistic in the celebration.  Our response to these icons is what is wrong, not the icons themselves.

Calvary Community Church simply recommends that you simply put Jesus at the center of your Christmas celebration.