During this Christmas season many people around the world will spend much of their time trying to convince and persuade children to believe in Santa. They will go to malls and take pictures with a stranger in a red suit persuading their children this is the man who leaves gifts at their house each year. They will watch movies telling young ones to “make sure you are good” enough to make it on the good list in order to receive great things under the Christmas Tree. They will even go as far as setting out milk and cookies the night of Christmas Eve for this man in a red suit. This man will receive much praise this Christmas season because children are told that he leaves them gifts under the tree.
However, I would argue that there is one greater than the man in the red suit who really deserves the recognition for Christmas. This is a man of truth and not a man of a fabricated story.
Have you ever sought for the truth? What do you believe about truth? Is there really truth out there or do we need to live in a land of fairytales?
Yes, there is real truth and there is evidence of truth? Yes, there is a man of truth named Jesus and He is much greater than a myth. Take a look at some of the evidence.
· Thousands of years ago this man’s birth was announced before He was born.
· The exact place where He was born was given before it happened.
· It was told that He would save the people
· It was written that He was the one who would pay for the things they did wrong.
There is no evidence for Santa? There is no evidence for his eight tiny reindeer and yet, many will spend time trying to convince others that he is real. On the other hand, there is a mountain of evidence that Jesus is the truth. Which one will you seek this Christmas?
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The words of Jesus from an eye witness account of John
Deanna
Here is an additional perspective from Dr. Jame Dobson.
“Christmas memories are among the most cherished of all my childhood reminiscences. The fantasy of Santa Claus coming on Christmas Eve was an important part of the fun. I’m reluctant to deprive today’s kids of an experience that was so exciting for me.
On the other hand, I understand the concerns expressed by many Christian parents about the pagan celebration of Christmas. They don’t want to link Santa Claus, a mythical figure, with the reality of the baby Jesus who was born in Bethlehem of Judea. They have good reason to fear that they might weaken the validity of the Christmas story by mixing it with fantasy.
So this is the dilemma — Santa is fun, but Santa could be confusing. What are Christian parents to do? This is a judgment call to be made by a given family. Shirley and I chose to play the “Santa game” with our kids, and we had no difficulties teaching them who Jesus was and is. Other families regret mixing the two images.
What is best? I don’t know. But if I had to do it over, I would still let my children thrill to the excitement of Santa’s arrival down the chimney on Christmas Eve.”
Thank you for your perspective in fairy tales or truth. I understand that Santa can be a fun game, however in most households they will spend more time on the games of Santa and persuading others to believe in him, while they miss many opportunities to share about the truth. However, the real point is not if children can distinguish between myth and truth but God stated clearly in the first Commandment to “have no other gods before me” meaning that all praise and glory should go to God not the man in the red suit. God is the one who gives great gifts not Santa. So why not allow children to learn to be thankful that mommy and daddy have a job that God provided which allows the family to celebrate Christmas without unrealistic wishes and expectations that Santa can not meet. In addition most children that I know write letters to Santa in hopes that he is watching them while they do good being mislead that Santa might bring their inner most desires when only God can bring the desires of a persons heart. Ultimately, God has given the greatest story of all, so why do any other people or games need to be added.
On another note my children’s most cherished times of Christmas are setting around the fire place, drinking hot chocolate, acting out the Christmas story, sing Christmas songs around the tree, looking at Christmas lights, telling the original story of Saint Nicholas and opening gifts which ends with prayer to the Father for it all.
Thanks,
Deanna
Deanna, I particularly like this choice of subject for discussion. Notice I said discussion not argument.
The Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy with words that I believe are appropriate concerning this subject.
1 Timothy 3:7- :Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.”
I was brought up under the “lie” of the “man in the red suit” and I have found this teaching to be a bad habit to break.
I also believe that God addresses this issue in Exodus chapter 20.
Exodus 20:16-“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
I understand this to mean “do not lie”.
I agree with your desire to lift high the true message of Christmas and the true glory due our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Merry CHRISTmas.
I do have a 2 questions for all those who hold to the teaching of the “man in the red suit”. Would you put your child on a cross country train, by themselves, and encourage them to enjoy the beautiful scenery and make wonderful fun memories knowing that in the middle of the ride the track is broken and a painful train wreck is inevitable? How many children do you know are happy when they find out “the man in the red suit” is not real?
Watchmen
Watchmen,
Good insight and Biblical support. We should all look to the Bible as our standard.
Deanna
Wow. This is something I have been troubled by this season. My oldest being five is so caught up with Santa that as he prayed the other night he prayed for santa to bring him a lot of toys. This coupled with my own experience when my father told us that he was the real Santa is hard. When my dad told us that Santa was not real I automaticly was very confused that if he could lie to us about him then God and Jesus were certainly fabrications also. It took a long time to come to terms with that doubt. What to do? When we love to see the excitement in the eyes of our babies coupled with knowing it may harm their belief and love for God. Maybe Santa is hiding a forked tail in that red suit of his???
Anonymous,
Thanks for leaving a comment on our blog. May we all “run the race with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, (Heb. 12:1-2”.
Deanna
“Would you put your child on a cross country train, by themselves, and encourage them to enjoy the beautiful scenery and make wonderful fun memories knowing that in the middle of the ride the track is broken and a painful train wreck is inevitable?”
YIKES!!! That’s crazy talk. To equate parent’s indulgence of the Santa myth with sending them to certain death is irresponsible. This is where the world gets its ammunition against Christians.
You will not find anyone in counseling because of an unhealthy Santa Complex. By school age, the kids figure it out, and it’s a non issue. Period.
However, you will find psychiatrist making lots of money from shop-a-holics, overspenders, people who have serious clinical depression as a result of not having enough. Want to find where the real evil of the season is? Look to the malls, the venders, the people who tell us that we “must have”. It’s frightening to hear people make wish lists, or to hear of someone who was unhappy with a gift. The real “other god” is things. Not Santa.
Anyone who hears a child praying for Santa to bring gifts has found a real teachable moment. But again, if you take away Santa forever, it’s like ripping off a band-aid. Try taking away gifts and see where our “treasures” truly lie. There will your heart be also.
My most treasured Christmas activity is listening to my grandparents tearfully read Luke 2 every Christmas, and tell their memories of Christmas Past. It always centers around Christ. I agree with Dr. Dobson. You can play Santa and still worship the Christ of the manger. I just don’t think you can focus on buying gifts for 20 and on Jesus too.
YIKES again…did I forget to mention I’m loving your blog and I think you guys are doing a great thing? My bad. I do like to read your stuff!! Got carried away for a minute…
Thanks for your input.
Let us go over a couple things. Besides the fact that it is not a game to children, they believe this so called game that parents are playing. Are tears suppose to come with games? And regarless of the fact that your standard seems to be Dr. Dobson instead of the Word. The real point is that we spend much time on Santa, that could be spent on Christ. Parents are in the malls trying to get the gifts that the children tell Santa they would like to have. Our priority should be spent on training for Christ, not defending Santa.
D
Bad call. I don’t preach Dobson, I stated I agreed with him. People who read books will do that from time to time. Christ The Word is and always has been my standard and authority. Check me out and you’ll find this to be true.
Here’s what I’m saying: “Santa” isn’t the problem. Spending and gift giving are the gods that draw our focus AWAY from the Greatest Gift long after Santa is forgotten. Santa is a 5 year game, really. The madness of spending and shopping goes on for the entire rest of our lives, whether you play “Santa” or “Mommy and Daddy are blessed by God enough to get you this stuff”.
In that light, our family becomes a false god before the One True God, and our gifts the offerings and sacrifices that we offer them. If your convictions are based biblically, how can we celebrate the holiday centered around our family? That’s why I like Thanksgiving so much. No tree, no gifts. Just the wonderful presence of our loved ones joining together to praise God for His gifts of grace, of mercy, of His Son.
If you believe in your heart that God would have you celebrate without Santa, I will never ever condemn you for that. In fact, it is a great choice. But don’t throw out Santa and continue to overspend and say you’ve done the right thing. (Not directed at you personally, but collectively to the ones who do this…)
Now, my original thought: When we make accusations against the world, we need to stick with facts and not sensational thoughts or provocative stories. Comparing belief in Santa to murdering your children on a broken train is sloppy.
Cari,
Thanks for the thoughts. However, if you read carefully then you will see that it is not the death of children on the train, but the hurt involved from the crash. In addition, why would you spend time celebrating Santa as a Christian when you can teach your children about the ONE TRUE GOD. If you think somehow this is a game to four and five year olds without the parents telling them that it is a game, then please explain how these children are getting the point that it is only a game. As for me I was very disappointed to find out that what I once thought was truth later I found to be a lie. I’m not sure how Christians (not the world) live to justify telling a lie (the Bible speaks clearly to this). I understand your point about the gifts, but my point is once again, to defend Christ as the only real gift giver and the only one who deserves praise.
Thanks,
D
I see your point…at which I would say that we never spent alot of effort trying to “convince” our kids of the “truth” of Santa, nor was it imposed on me as a “truth”, but as a game. I myself was raised, and continue to raise my children believing in the ONE TRUE GOD. So I guess the point would be, if people are directing thier children to Santa as the gift giver and NOT mentioning God, then yes, you have idol worship. If in a Christian family you find your child a little too attached to Santa, then the game should be made truth.
Ok, I was going to sit this one out, but… I just gotta defend Cari on this.
First, in re-reading the posts upthread, Cari *never* said that her standard was Dobson instead of the Word of God; I think that’s a cheap shot. She merely cited him as a published (and respected, by many) authority to shore up her point, which both D and MJ do, as well, with their authors of choice. Fair is fair, no?
But that’s a minor quibble. The totality of the thread gets a bit — well — a bit hostile toward the whole Santa Clause thing, and it READS as if Cari is taking it on the chin for merely stating the facts.
First, I agree with Cari that a parent’s participation in Santa Clause during their kids’ early childhood years *IS NOT* comparable to that parent putting their kids on board a train certain to derail, or a plane certain to crash. And yes, I did understand (as did Cari) that the analogy was NOT one of “death” to “sadness” but merely one of “disappointment and hurt” in both cases. (It seemed insulting to Cari to spell that out, when she is so clearly articulate, intelligent and sincere in her posting.)
But as a father of three young children myself (a preschooler, a toddler, and an infant), I will ‘fess-up to “doing” the Santa Clause thing with them, AND I’m going to tell you something else before I get edited off the board (ha). My parents did the same for me and my two brothers, and my Dad was Chairman of the Deacons at our church for many years. There was NO “trainwreck” or any other sort of emotional/spiritual pathology associated with The Big Reveal about Santa Clause — and here’s why:
Even from a *very* young age, we just sort of “knew” that Santa was a figment — a cartoon, if you will — akin to a fun game of make-believe, and childhood is filled with such games. And I must say, even though D will disagree with me: in this case, it was harmless.
Now, I do NOT believe that make-believe is “always” ok, particularly about important matters. But NOR do I believe that when a child find out Santa Clause was just fun & games, that he will “immediately” begin to think that other “fanciful” things are ALSO make-believe, such as spiritual warfare, angels, demons, miraculous healing powers of God, the gift of speaking in tongues, divine deliverance from terrible evils. . .all of which are quite real.
Children are so smart, and with good teaching and careful parenting, they DO understand the difference. My brothers and I certainly did! My children do! And the same goes for many of my friends’ children.
Of course, perhaps D would counter with, “Even so, why play with fire?” (I don’t mean to put words in D’s mouth; I’m just trying to flip the coin a bit.) Well, she would be right: we shouldn’t play with fire. And if her convictions lead her to leave Santa out of Christmas with her family’s traditions, probably most of us (including me, and probably including Cari?) would absolutely support her in that choice.
The difficulty I see arrives when those making that choice decide that it is “the best” choice for all of us, and that our choices are, as it was put above, akin to a “trainwreck.” No so.
Indeed, as I must play both father and mother for my children, our Christmas traditions are still evolving. But it always includes large family gatherings with all our extended family to celebrate our precious Lord’s birth, singing around the piano, lots of hugs-and-tickles time on the floor watching the fire (because really, they just want to be together and with me, no?), and plopping into the wagon and traipsing through the neighborhood to watch the gorgeous lights and decorations glisten in the ice and snow (and we’ve got a LOT of it this year, wow!).
And, for the older two, they can nearly recite the Christmas story from memory. The older one uses his popsickle-stick puppets (long story!) to act out the Christmas story, though the baby didn’t particularly care to play Baby Jesus this past Sunday evening at the SS Christmas party, but never mind! He was pressed into service nonetheless. 🙂
After they are down, my brother helps me get all the “Santa” stuff spread out, and he and I very much enjoy that time together, too. But make no mistake: the children are not being deceived in the sense of false witness-bearing. The know it is a game — just as I did, and just as my brothers did.
As for the legitimate notion that we should perhaps teach our children to be thankful to God that He has given parents jobs to provide gifts and warm homes — yes, this is true. But at the “high Santa” age, they don’t “REALLY” understand that my job pays for all their food, their house, their school, their clothes. . .even though we are careful to thank God in our prayer time for those things.
Additionally, and I may take some heat for this, I will also say that when Santa is talked up at school and elsewhere, there can be just as much emotional trauma when Santa “fails” to make a visit, causing out precious little ones to feel they have been “bad” during the year! I just HATE that part of the “myth.” So, we don’t talk that up at all, by the way.
The bottom line is that we CAN, as parents, allow our children to participate in such “earthly” traditions as Santa while also teaching them the true nature and origin of ALL gifts: the Holy God Creator. Is it hard? Yes, but that’s ok. Lots of things are hard.
So, Cari, I agree with you on this. Time constraints are preventing me from writing more just at the moment, but if I have been unclear on anything (quite likely!) please point it out and I will be happy to clarify any confusion I am causing.
And anyway, all families have their own traditions and their own colors. Mine certainly does! But I hardly think that “different” necessarily means “not as good.” As for Santa? We can’t banish him by decree, so my choice is to incorporate the fun parts, making it a lesson in selfless giving and the joy of gifting, and walk that right alongside the very REAL, very TANGIBLE supernatural gift God has given us all!
Watchmen said…
I’ve been “watch”ing and reading but have not had time to write due to my busy “shopping” weekends and cleaning up my “sloppy” thoughts on this subject.(just kidding Cari)
Proverbs 15:1 encourages me with “A gentle answer turns away wrath,..”
I respectfully disagree with your opinion of my comparison of a train wreck and the moment of revelation when a child finds out his parents have lied to him/her about the man in the red suit.
All train wrecks do not end in “certain death” but I feel reasonably certain they end in tears, pain and confusion, much like young children coming to the realization that Santa is not a real person.
I will reitirate that I believe we should abstain from godless myths and instead train our children to be godly, as the Holy Scriptures instruct us.
“This is where the world gets its ammunition against Christians.”
-Cari
I humbly disagree with this assertion. Jesus states, as recorded by John in chapter 3 verse 19, “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” The light pierces the world to such a degree that the world responds to the truth in the only way it knows how, retaliation. My attempt to bring a fresh look at this “Santa” dilemma in no way insights the lost to rebel against the truth. You give me way too much credit.
It is the very true and real and living words of Jesus himself that draws the cruelty against Christians.
Jesus states, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Now this draws ammunition, and might I add, let me be the first to take the bullet.
Thank you 2chix for allowing me to express my opinions.
Watchmen, okc
Crazy, but I’m glad we all have each other here! You’ve all spoken so intelligently and made me think. When I first met MJ she made me think about why I believe what I believe. I have a rich family history in my faith, praise God. But MJ, not by words but by her own belief (very new compared to my lifetime of faith) challenged me to dig into the Word and to know it, and as Jacob, to become intimate with Christ myself, not to lean on the “Faith of my Fathers” as my only knowledge of Christ. A new hunger if you will.
I have heard Deanna speak. She is intelligent and full of faith and deep in her convictions. So no warfare, no bitterness. I’m enjoying the dialogue, (diablog, ha ha) and enjoy it for why it is here…to make people ready to defend their faith.
God Bless all of you, have a Merry Christmas, and I can’t wait to see the future we all have in this blog. May it open the eyes of people unwilling to see!!!