I have suspected it for many years as a child growing up and about four years ago I heard it from an eyewitness, “Santa Claus is a Baptist.” It wasn’t just me that heard it, everyone on the train heard it. Our family had left Bryson City, NC and rode the “Polar Express” to the “North Pole.” It’s a quick trip, only taking 1:15 minutes. The train is very fast. Once we arrived on the outskirts of town the chef/singer/comedian/tour director told us about the buildings on each side of the track at the “North Pole” as we passed each one. “This is the library, this building is where the reindeer sleep, this is the workshop where toys are assembled by the elves, the Clauses live in that house, and this is the grocery store.” Then she pointed to the church. “And this is the church where the Clauses were married and regularly attend.” The front of the church building was lit with the name of the church bright. “Whitter Missionary Baptist Church.” I saw it with my own eyes. Even in the “North Pole” they have a place for Jesus.
One man in the Christmas Story, who is often spoken of in a negative light is the Innkeeper. He didn’t have a place for Jesus. He was a man that would miss Christmas, the first one. This story is found in Luke 2:1-7. We don’t know if the innkeeper was indifferent to Joseph and Mary, a pregnant girl he’d never met. We don’t know if there was ignorance on his part or simply overwhelmed with the sheer number of people asking for rooms. What we do know is he turned away Christmas. Perhaps he directed Joseph to the stable, we aren’t told. But there was at least one thing he could have offered but didn’t. He could have opened his heart and given him his own room. Is Jesus always in our thoughts during this busy time of year? I sure want him to be in mine more. If he stepped into our lives would we give him our room?
Wallace Purling was a little boy, 9 years old. He was big and burly for his age, but he was not quite as quick as other children his age. His church was performing the Christmas Story. He wanted to be a shepherd, but he just didn’t fit the stereotype. They told him he could have a speaking part if he’d be the innkeeper. He liked that. When Joseph and Mary knocked on the door during the play, “What do you want?” he said in his gruffest voice. When Joseph asked for room because Mary was great with child he roared, “Seek it elsewhere.” Joseph put his arm around Mary with both having sad looks on their faces. Wallace saw the faces and started to tear up. “Wait, wait a minute, you can have my room.” The church declared it to be the best Christmas program ever. The best Christmas is always the one when Jesus gets our room, first place in our hearts.