Citizen

I agree 100%, I don't understand how some "Christians" live their entire lives with nothing but fear about everything. Amen! It seems that just because you cannot grasp the seriousness of this in some people's lives is absolutely no reason to scoff at it or laugh it off.

If a person used the santa legend as part of their christmas and did so without lying to their children (which is not BTW, teaching them to lie, they figure that out on their own...but teaching them something worse...that lying is what grown ups do, or what they do to children...depending of course on the child's temperament) then we are not teaching children to sin. "pretend" when everyone knows that it is pretend is not sin, therefore you aren't in violation of these verses if you do that. Are you seriously saying that when someone stands before God and is asked about lieing to a child that causes that child to stumble - the person is going tell the creator of the universe that their excuse was that it was just 'pretend?' I hardly think that is going to fly as an excuse. Adults should never use a child's trust to play a game with them where the only result is the child is going to eventually learn that they were lied to. If we lived in a world where all the grown ups were mature and handled it with complete honesty from the get go - I may agree with you. But we don't and the chance that promoting this game of pretend where people will literally lie to their children because they think it is cute - are gambling with something serious.

If you go back and read my post about what happened to me in my childhood - when I learned that my faith in my parents teaching me things was being used against me by teaching me a lie and then laughing at me because I actually believed them - I slammed the door on ever trusting anyone again. Because they caused me to do that by their actions - I went down a road of denying God and scripture and living life without any accountability - committing many, many sins. It wasn't until I was 45 years old before God was finally able to reach my heart and it was a painful time to bring me back to Him. I know from talking to various people over the years that they also found that being 'duped' by their parents about Santa was the end of their innocence too and it cost them their ability to trust. The sad thing is - is that when I share this with people who 'laugh' at my situation - they do the exact same thing my mother did and laugh at me for being so stupid as to let that happen to me. Well I was SIX years old and my reaction was perfectly normal and I know I wasn't alone. So, if you think this is funny or a joke then I guess you will know which of us is viewing this correctly when we face our beloved Lord.

Here is the scripture that we are held accountable to. There is no 'qualifier' in it as to our intentions or that it wasn't done in malice, or that it was done for 'fun.' God does not differentiate in these scriptures. So, we best take it exactly as He says it and be careful in how we teach our children and playing out a lie with them that will cause them to struggle to find their ability to trust again - all the sins those children commit we will be held accountable for. We may be forgiven and exempt from the wrath of God but as Christians, we are still held to a level of accountability and I may not understand it, but we are told that somehow - our behavior as Christinas will affect our eternity. Does anyone doubt that we are held accountable for our behavior as Christians? You guys can laugh it off all you want - but fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Here are the scriptures about children: Matthew 18:6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Mark 9:42 [ Causing to Sin ] "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. Luke 17:2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

No problem. Actually, I still haven't gone to read the original post link. I have read so many of them in my life that I didn't really need to read it as I know the arguments by heart. For those who laugh off this issue really need to understand our responsibility to God when it comes to how we teach our children. I have more of my writings on this issue that I can add, but I assume they are covered by others many times over.

I wrote the article - it is my story and my work. Thank you for the compliment though. I wish that had not happened to me but it was so profound that I have been writing and re-writing about it most of my adult life.

THE HEART OF A CHILD Luke 18:16-18 NIV 16But Jesus called the children to him and said,

I agree with you. The lie of Santa stole the faith I had as a child. It took me many years to believe in anything I could not see again. I was told I was stupid by my mother for believing in something so dumb as Santa. I was 6. I promised I would never put my faith in anything again. I think that those who criticize you should realize that some people play Santa up to such an extent that it is a destoyer of many children's faith. Those who were fortunate enough to grow up in homes where the parents were honest and used the fantasy wisely should consider that they were very lucky. The misuse of something by one person or group of people does not make something evil for the rest of the population. Just cause teenagers hood surf does not mean driving shuold be illegal. I didn't agree with the way my parents did the whole santa thing, my kids knew it was a game. But we made sure never to pull the rug out of some other kid who might not know the difference. I believe that many people give the culture too much credibility when it comes to things like this. Unfortunately for some children, it can mean the difference between them growing up to accept Jesus or reject Him. From that stand point alone, I vote for standing on the side of caution and letting people know that there is a very wrong side. I think sounding the alarm and then letting people chose from there is fine. But leaving it as it is and the fact that one soul would be lost because of this ruse is cause for caution. Many parents lead children on in the 'lie' and are not honest with them. Parents represent God in a child's eyes. If the parent's take the precious faith and trust of a child and use that to teach them a lie from a very young age - how does that child find the trust needed to trust in God? How does one protect that kind of potential? I don't see the need for Santa nor the justification to protect the fantasy - for the sake of even the one.

I agree with you. The lie of Santa stole the faith I had as a child. It took me many years to believe in anything I could not see again. I was told I was stupid by my mother for believing in something so dumb as Santa. I was 6. I promised I would never put my faith in anything again. I think that those who criticize you should realize that some people play Santa up to such an extent that it is a destoyer of many children's faith. Those who were fortunate enough to grow up in homes where the parents were honest and used the fantasy wisely should consider that they were very lucky.

There is a wonderful site (I didn't see it listed in this thread, so if I missed it, I apologize) that has done an indepth analysis of the effects of music over the last 50 years. They have amazing quotes from the artists themselves. At this site - there is a 25 minutes preview of their video. I have the 10 hour version and it is amazing information and valuable to warn parents of what is out there today. http://goodfight.org/ _____________________

I believe they are referring to the Word of Faith preachers who say that Jesus wants you healthy and wealthy and the more money you give to them, the healthier and wealthier you will become. It is not biblical. Many of them also teach that 'they' have a special 'annointing' that they can transfer to you via touching your tv screen, sending them a letter that they can touch, or using prayer rugs, etc. and through this transfer of their 'annointing' power you will be healed. God it not a power to be harnessed. I hope that is what they meant.

Hi, I have had my share of anger and hate in this life and have wrestled that demon many times. Anger and 'hate' are just another way of describing frustrated control. When we are angry it is if we 'own' a piece of something that we have no control over. We feel we 'own' our anger and that gives us a false sense of power or control. Somehow we honestly believe that if we let go of our ownership of that anger that we have lost somehow. Understanding that as the lie that it is, is half way to letting it go and giving the situation over to the one who really does have the power and He is our Lord Jesus Christ. I know, because I have laid my own 'anger' and self deluded power in humble prayers at His feet many times and He has been faithful to give me the peace that passes understanding in exchange every single time. God bless