We're used to images of the Jolly fat guy who is kind to everyone. And even though he supposedly makes a list of "who's naughty and nice" - he never really leaves the naughty kids off the list - it's just a feeble attempt by parents to introduce justification by works into the Christmas story.
But the real St Nic was quite different, although stories about his life are more in the realm of folklore and legend than accredited historic fact. As the pastor of a church in Myra (in the SE of modern Turkey), he was a tough Gospel-preaching evangelist. His elevation to universal gift giver stems from a story about him throwing gold coins through a window to provide a dowry for three young Christian women whose family had fallen on hard times. Some versions have him dropping them down the chimney and/or the coins ending up in their stockings hanging to dry by the fire. But note the difference. His are not gifts to give delight to the already wealthy. They are gifts of compassion to rescue poor young women from a life of slavery or prostitution for a Christian future.
During the persecutions under Roman Emporer Diocletian 303 AD, Nic was arrested, imprisoned and tortured. When he was released, the story is that he was covered in blood from the torture he endured. Perhaps that's a connection we can make with the red suit that our modern Santa habitually wears.
Nicolas of Myra also attended the First Council of Nicea in 325, which was called to discuss, among other things, the Arian controversy over the nature of the Trinity.
The story goes that during a heated debate between Arius and Nic, Arius broke out into a song:
The uncreated God created the Son, the beginning of all things
The uncreated God adopted the Son, advancing himself as king
The persons of the trinity do not share equal glory
No sooner had Arius finished than the incensed Nic punched Arius in the face. Kind of gives a whole new meaning to the song: "Deck the halls". But the point is this. Heresy isn't a matter of trading around ideas. It is vitally important, because to get it wrong is ultimately cruel and unloving to people. I'd like to think that, if Nic actually did what legend reports, he didn't do it because he was annoyed that Arius disagreed with him, but because he was incensed that the Lord Jesus was dishonoured, and saw that Arianism cuts right to the heart of the Gospel. He did it out of a love for the Lord, and a genuine compassion that people heard clearly the only Gospel that could bring them forgiveness and eternity.
So in honour of Nic's example, perhaps we could encourage you, not to punch the next heretic that comes to your door, but to explain the truth to them, or even to buy a good theological book for a non-Christian friend this Christmas. Santa would approve...
Image: Nicholas strikes his opponent. Part of a fresco from the Soumela Monastery (Turkey) Photo: Marco Prins Licence:Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
This blog was originally posted on The Good Book Blog on 18 December 2012
Tim Thornborough is the founder and Publishing Director of The Good Book Company. He is series editor of Explore Bible-reading notes, the author of The Very Best Bible Stories series, and has contributed to many books published by The Good Book Company and others. Tim is married to Kathy and has three adult daughters.