MORRIS TOWNSHIP — Santa didn't die for anyone, according to the Washington Valley Chapel on Kahdena Road.

But Jesus did, by making a sacrifice on a cross, Pastor John Kalis said.

One side of a sign out front of the Morris Township church reads "Santa didn't die for anyone," and the other side reads "Merry Mas, it's not the same without Christ."

"The idea behind the messages currently posted is simply this: the only gift of any lasting value is eternal life, which Jesus Christ offers to any and all for free through the forgiveness of sins — which we have all committed, no exceptions — by his sacrifice on a cross," Kalis said. "I can't think of another gift of greater value, or that will endure, to rival this gift."

Kalis said the church has used its sign out front for decades to convey provocative, truthful messages, and considered it a mainstay in the area.

"We hope they will cause people to pause and think," Kalis said.

In a 2011 Huffington Post article, author David Frum said the nation's "War on Christmas" was truly a war within Christmas, "a single holiday shared by two deeply antagonistic religions." BEGIN RELATED LINKS

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Frum said one religion that shares Christmas is the religion of Jesus Christ, the figure whose birth the holiday commemorates.

"This religion emphasizes universal grace and forgiveness," Frum said. "Religion two is the religion of Santa Claus, the holiday's most visible representative."

Kalis said he believed the culture today is "plagued by relativism and political correctness," and that his church is "not in the business of putting religions, races (and) nationalities down, but we are peddlers of truth."

"People really do want to know the truth deep down," he said.

Kalis said he thought the messages on the church's sign had been well-received.

Some of the past messages included, "Real Happy Hour, Sundays at 10:30 a.m." (the time of the church's weekly worship) and "April 1st, National Athiest Day." The latter even made one family interested in coming to the church, Kalis said.