Please note: The above link is not necessarily endorsed by the Christian Corner
Christmas & Santa Claus
While not your typical article on Santa, the intent is to challenge the reader to think about Santa Claus in a
way they had never previously viewed that "jolly old elf." Before
going any further, it is important to understand that I always have,
and always will, have fond memories of waking up on Christmas
morning, full of anticipation, tearing down the stairs on Christmas
morning to see what Santa had brought me. Nonetheless, the following
perspective must be considered before introducing the story of Santa
Claus to young children. Please read the whole article, don't stop
at the next sentence because of the controversy/emotions it will
engender.
When parents tell their young children about Santa Claus, they are
embarking on a lie that they will perpetuate for years, that will
ultimately lead to the shattering of the child's trust in their
parents. Many parents will go to great lengths to keep their
children believing in Santa. As the child gets to be around four or
five years old, many parents don't want the moment to end, so they
begin adding props to substantiate the lie. How many of you
remember seeing (or actually being responsible for) half eaten
cookies, or empty glasses of milk? One neighbor even went so far as
to track soot from the fireplace to the Christmas tree on boots!
This might provide another year or two, but eventually, the child
realizes that there really is no Santa. The impact of this on the
child can range from mild disappointment to an outright loss of
faith and trust in what their parents tell them about everything.
Let's take this a step further. The child believed in Santa, despite
having never seen Santa actually put the toys under the
Christmas tree. Now that the truth has been revealed to be a lie,
the child will begin to wonder what other things the parents have
said that were not true. The list may include the Easter Bunny, the
Tooth Fairy, the Great Pumpkin (just kidding). When these are brought
into question, the parents again will be forced to tell the child
that these too are imaginary characters. This all leads up to
casting doubt on the one thing that is real: Jesus Christ.
Despite reassurances to the contrary, the child will wonder when the
parents will fess up to God being make-believe, just like Santa.
Could Satan himself have devised a better plan for destroying the
faith of little children?
Even the whole concept of being good to get your presents on Christmas,
flies in the face of the message of the cross. Being a good little
boy or girl doesn't get you into heaven, only a child-like faith in
Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross can get you to heaven.
There are some who hold to the notion that Santa is Satan, just spelled
differently, (and both wear red). I wouldn't go that far, but Santa is
certainly a great deception, and Satan is "the father of lies."
Taking Santa out of Christmas has many benefits. There can be a
greater focus on the real celebration, the birth of Christ. As far
as the presents as concerned, now the child knows that the gifts came
from you, not some mythical benefactor. Please prayerfully
consider whether to perpetuate the myth, or to celebrate the real
meaning of Christmas. God bless you.
Thanks be to God! This page is hosted by
Get your own Free Home Page