The Unpardonable Sin

"They  err who think that Santa Claus enters through the chimney. He enters through the heart." Charles W. Howard

Over the years much has been said and written about "the unpardonable sin."  Since Christians preach and believe that God is a God of mercy and forgiveness, regardless of the offense, this sin must be something unspeakable.   For much of my life I bought into the theology of my childhood.  This way of believing included that when we die we stand naked before an angry God and are accountable for our lives--"death and the judgment".   "Death and the judgment" is an awful thing.  So you certainly don't want "the unpardonable sin" on your resume when you  face the Almighty to be judged.

What I did was unpardonable.  Every Christmas I have to face it. I have to think about it. I have to relive it. I have to regret it. I have to hold it up in front of my face and deal with it.  It was a heinous and horrible offense. And the worst part of it is that one day I'll have to face the judgment!

We all do the things we do for the reasons we do them.  As a church soloist somewhere I had picked up the idea that I was supposed to tell a short and meaningful story before I sang.

In early December 1973 as I stood to sing a solo at my church in Jasper, Alabama, as was customary, I told a personal story about a Christmas at my grandmother's house in Enterprise, Alabama.  Keep in mind that the congregation, just like most church congregations , included young children.  Young impressionable children.  Young believing children.  Young trusting children.  Young listening children. It also included parents and grandparents of those children who propagated certain myths and legends to those children at Christmastime.

Forty two years have past since this horrible moment and I've tried over the years, but to no avail, to block it completely from my thoughts. But some things are so terrible you can never forget.  During this awful, horrible, thoughtless and yes "unpardonable" moment, I told the congregation including young impressionable children. Young believing children. Young trusting children, Young listening children and their parents and grandparents, I told them for reasons I have long forgotten--.about the Christmas I found out for sure there was no Santa Claus.

How in Heaven's name can I  get forgiveness for that !?!

Over the years as I have run into people who were there that fateful morning, they still laugh about it. To this day I don't see the humor in it.  I have to face this music year after year.  And I am going to be answerable to an angry God!   Can you imagine what He's going to say to me on that Great and Terrible Day?  " David, you actually told those children, those young impressionable children, that there was no Santa Claus?".  "Yes sir (gulp) I did."  Long pause (as my life flashes before me)  "Then I think a lifetime of torment is long enough,  Enter into the gates of Heaven.  But there are children here so be careful what you say about Christmas.  And I'll put in a good word for you to good Old Saint Nick! He and I are very close. Very close.  He's a jolly ole fellow and he'll cut you some slack."

I have long since forgiven my childhood church for teaching me so many untruths about the nature of God and for constantly dangling me over the pit of hell.  Thankfully over the  years a much kinder, gentler Being has replaced the angry and wrathful god of my childhood. It must not have occurred to our parents that when those evangelists, who came twice a year, spewed their venom,  the congregation included young children. Young impressionable children, Young believing children. Young trusting children. Young listening children. Either we should have been playing games in the fellowship hall, or those men should have never been given the pulpit.  But people do the things they do for the reasons they do them. In spite of the damage they caused, none of them committed an unpardonable sin.

If we get another chance to do it all again, I'm going to tell that congregation, including those children, about all the marvelous Christmases with my family at my grandmother's house. And I'll leave it at that.  But I won't be singing Santa Claus is coming to town.  Those children just don't need to hear all that stuff about "better watch out I'm telling you why". Whatever their Christmas includes, it shouldn't include the wrath and judgment of Old Saint Nick. Well heck, maybe they don't even think of it that way.

I think I can leave it alone now.  Come to think of it, it is pretty funny.  I'm sure it was cleared up that very day at lunch all over town. It was never an unpardonable offense.  If there is an "unpardonable sin", I don't think it was that.

"Children I've got very good news for you, Good children.  Bad children.  All children. This year, like every other year,  Santa Claus is coming to town!"