Christians, tell your children there is no Santa Claus

[Ovedya]

Seems to me this thread might use a bit of review here... Debating Santa Claus has sure taken the focus of what this season is supposed to be about.

http://www.worthyboards.com/index.php?show...p;#entry1042805

I agree.

When you boil the holidays down isn't it a lot more about being with family and appreciating the riches which God has given us - even if those "riches" are far less tangible than we might prefer?

[Emily~Anne]

I honestly and truly cannot think of a time I had to lie to my children. I have been trying to think all day and my mind draws a blank. Tyler knew where babies came from because he was present for the birth of his brother, in fact he cut the cord. If he had asked how his baby brother was made as far as specifics or any other question he is not old enough to know, I would simply explain to him that he would have to wait until he is older. I used to lie to my oldest child about Santa and the Tooth Fairy, this was back when I just did whatever the world did without second thought.

[Vickilynn]

It is something which we should not do. That is true. But what's the reality of that?

Shalom Ovedya,

If the Bible says NOT to do it, THAT is our reality. We are sinning if we do. The Bible says to teach right doctrine, not teach others to lie. No, we are all not perfect, no one said we are, but we are to teach and walk in the truth, not lies. We are not to teach that it's OK to lie under certain circumstances. G-d says it's wrong to lie, and it is. That cannot be argued or rationalized away.

As parents many of us find ourselves lying to our children about a lot of things. So either we're absolute or we are not. I think that we find ourselves in this compromising position a lot and not just on Christmas either.

If you say that G-d didn't mean it when He said "Do not Lie", then you could also say that He didn't mean it when He said "Do not commit adultery" or He didn't mean it when He said "those who call on the name of the L-rd will be saved." You either believe G-d's Word or you don't. You either commit to obey or you don't. THAT'S reality. It's a choice. No one is being forced to lie to their kids and tell them Santa is real. It's ridiculous to defend the choice to willfully lie. It's the same as defending the choice to willfully engage in any other sin. It's a sin according to the Bible, pure and simple and there is no rationalization to do it.

So why focus so much on "the lie of Santa"?

Because that's the topic of this thread. If you want to start a "should parents lie to their kids thread" then we would discuss other instances. But since this is about the lie of Santa, I believe it is right to stay on this topic, don't you?

Anything to take the focus off our own hypocrisy, I think.

That's not true in my case. I just told you why above.

I'm not judging anyone's "condition." No one is being forced to tell their children that Santa is real. It is a choice to lie and deceive and disobey G-d's Word. But just because it's a fun thing to do, or it's been done for generations, or it ruffles feathers doesn't make it any less a lie and against G-d's Word. We either believe His Word or we don't. I do.

Fact is, I have found that there is nothing inherently wrong with telling kids that there's a Santa Claus.

Really? You don't believe lying is a sin according to G-d's Word? Or are you making rationalizations because it's "Santa"? We cannot pick and choose what we obey. G-d's Word is Holy, He is Holy and we either obey or we do not.

Does the Word say that there is an exception to "do not lie" if it is lying about Santa being real? How can you say there is nothing inherently wrong with lying? Is this G-d's Word or not?

Colossians 3:

9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of(K) its creator.

Ephesians 4

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

[MrsSealedEternal]

It is probably realistic to believe that almost everyone who can communicate has told a lie or lies and I for one am guilty of that. The Good News is it is forgivable. That does not change the fact that lying is a sin and that God command's us not to lie, so any lie we tell, whether it be about Santa or a white lie or whatever does not change the truth of that fact and we are all admonished by the Lord to repent (of lying, too) if we are going to worship God in Spirit & Truth, whom He is indeed looking for persons to worship Him in this way. In fact, that is what is acceptable worship to God.

Joh 4:20 "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."

Joh 4:21 Jesus *said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.

Joh 4:22 "You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Joh 4:23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.

Joh 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Joh 4:25 The woman *said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us."

Joh 4:26 Jesus *said to her, "I who speak to you am He."

God Bless with much Agape

[Ovedya]

Shalom Ovedya,

If the Bible says NOT to do it, THAT is our reality. We are sinning if we do. The Bible says to teach right doctrine, not teach others to lie. No, we are all not perfect, no one said we are, but we are to teach and walk in the truth, not lies. We are not to teach that it's OK to lie under certain circumstances. G-d says it's wrong to lie, and it is. That cannot be argued or rationalized away.

Whose rationalizing it away? I'm merely pointing out that we are not in any position to judge.

If you say that G-d didn't mean it when He say "Do not Lie", then you could also say that He didn't mean it when He said "Do not commit adultery." or He didn't mean it when He said "those who call on the name of the L-rd will be saved." You either believe and live by G-d's Word or you don't. THAT'S reality. It's a choice. No one is being forced to lie to their kids and tell them Santa is real. It's ridiculous to defend the choice to willfully lie. It's a sin according to the Bible.

I am not "defending the choice to willfully lie." And neither did I say that God didn't mean it when He said not to lie. But you would be an outright hypocrite for telling other people not to lie to their kids if you lied to your kids about anything - at any time.

So why focus so much on "the lie of Santa"?

Because that's the topic of this thread. If you want to start a "should parents lie to their kids thread" then we would discuss other instances. But since this is about the lie of Santa, I believe it is right to stay on this topic, don't you?

This thread is absolutely about lying to children: "...tell your children there is no Santa Claus"

Anything to take the focus off our own hypocrisy, I think.

That's not true in my case. I just told you why above.

So you're perfect then? Never lied to your children once? Do you also tell them not to believe in imaginary things, like I wrote above?

I'm not judging anyone's "condition." No one is being forced to tell their children that Santa is real. It is a choice to lie and deceive and disobey G-d's Word. But just because it's a fun thing to do, or it's been done for generations, or it ruffles feathers doesn't make it any less a lie and against G-d's Word. We either believe His Word or we don't. I do.

As do I.

Fact is, I have found that there is nothing inherently wrong with telling kids that there's a Santa Claus.

Really? You don't believe lying is a sin according to G-d's Word? Or are you making rationalizations because it's "Santa"? We cannot pick and choose what we obey. G-d's Word is Holy, He is Holy and we either obey or we do not.

"He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7)

"If we say that we do not have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)

[faith pleases God]

So in your case it certainly is dependant on how you were raised.

Shalom Smalcald,

Absolutely incorrect. I NOW celebrate Yeshua's birth, and I do that because I am a Christian. Not because I was raised a Jew.

It all depends on whether we truly believe the Word of G-d is G-d's Word and we should obey it rather than man.

Telling someone that Santa is real is a lie and there is no way to make it not a lie.

The question is, whom do we serve? If we serve G-d, we will not lie.

In Deut. 32:21 it states that they have made me a jealous God with what is not God. They have provoked me to anger with their idols. According to Easton's Bible dictionary idols in this context means "nothingness". In Websters dictionary a definition includes a false conception. This is debatable but Santa is a false conception. Either way right or wrong, why would we as Christians give homage or reverance to something that deters and undermines the significance of Christ's birthday. I understand pagan and atheists doing so because to them Christ as a savior is a false conception. But seriously, why would we as believers allow the undermining of what is not worthy?

[Vickilynn]

Whose rationalizing it away? I'm merely pointing out that we are not in any position to judge.

Shalom Ovedya,

We are to state G-d's Word and not be swayed by man's logic and rationalizations. No place do you see me judging someone's heart. No place. However, I will stand up for the truth of the Scriptures which say plainly and without apology that we should not lie and especially not CHOOSE to lie.

I am not "defending the choice to willfully lie." And neither did I say that God didn't mean it when He said not to lie. But you would be an outright hypocrite for telling other people not to lie to their kids if you lied to your kids about anything - at any time.

Let's please keep this about issues. I have never chosen to lie to my children.

This thread is absolutely about lying to children: "...tell your children there is no Santa Claus"

No, with all due respect, the thread is about telling your children about Santa Claus and lying to them by telling them he's real. Please read the OP again, it's all about Christmas and lying in that context by telling kids Santa is real. It is not about general lying to children. However, I will say that it is wrong to choose to lie to your children at any time about any thing because lying is a sin according to the Scriptures. And especially willfully lying. I choose not to lie to my kids. It is a choice to obey G-d.

So you're perfect then? Never lied to your children once? Do you also tell them not to believe in imaginary things, like I wrote above?

The question is choice. I choose not to lie to my children.

The issues are clear:

~Telling children Santa is a real person is a lie.

~Lying is a sin.

~It is a CHOICE to lie.

~There is no justifying it.

"He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7)

So this then negates G-d's Word that we should not choose to sin? So, your argument is that we CHOOSE to sin and it's OK because we all sin?

I never said I did no sin. However, this thread is not about me, it is about G-d's Word which is clear - lying is a sin.

You cannot change the facts that G-d's Word says that lying is a sin and to tell children that Santa is real is lying. Any way you play it, the facts remain the same because it's a CHOICE.

[Emily~Anne]

So in your case it certainly is dependant on how you were raised.

Shalom Smalcald,

Absolutely incorrect. I NOW celebrate Yeshua's birth, and I do that because I am a Christian. Not because I was raised a Jew.

It all depends on whether we truly believe the Word of G-d is G-d's Word and we should obey it rather than man.

Telling someone that Santa is real is a lie and there is no way to make it not a lie.

The question is, whom do we serve? If we serve G-d, we will not lie.

In Deut. 32:21 it states that they have made me a jealous God with what is not God. They have provoked me to anger with their idols. According to Easton's Bible dictionary idols in this context means "nothingness". In Websters dictionary a definition includes a false conception. This is debatable but Santa is a false conception. Either way right or wrong, why would we as Christians give homage or reverance to something that deters and undermines the significance of Christ's birthday. I understand pagan and atheists doing so because to them Christ as a savior is a false conception. But seriously, why would we as believers allow the undermining of what is not worthy?

This is a good point. I know as a child, I definately idolized Santa.

For my children, the birth of Christ alone is reason enough to celebrate.

Also, if we go by how our parents raised us above God's word, then I think that would also be idolizing wouldn't it?

[WayneB]

Comparing lying intentionally to reading fictious stories fits into the apples to oranges category. Jesus told fictitious stories to illustrate a point but he never resorted to lying.

Honestly!

[Emily~Anne]

Comparing lying intentionally to reading fictious stories fits into the apples to oranges category. Jesus told fictitious stories to illustrate a point but he never resorted to lying.

Honestly!

Yes, this is a great point. Reading fairy tales to our children simply is not the same as lying to our children by saying Santa is real. Definately apples and oranges.