Christians, tell your children there is no Santa Claus

[Ovedya]

Vickilynn,

To begin with, I didn't make this discussion about you. You used the term "you" first in our conversation, so naturally I followed suit. Kind of hard to talk to you without using the term "you."

Second:

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.

Sure it's a choice. I've never argued that fact.

But what about lying to children, period? See, I think that's where were' missing each other here. I have never argued that lying to children about Santa Claus is okay. What I did say was that there is no inherent harm to children. No adult has been seriously afflicted because the Santa Claus myth was told to them as a child. In fact, as I recall, in recent years there was a study done which showed that no inherent emotional harm was committed upon children through the telling them of this myth.

As I wrote before, I think it's disingenuous to pontificate on about "the lie of Santa Claus" when parents tell their kids plenty of lies all year round, including the one about "Christmas is Jesus' birthday." Then again there's the problem with the taking on of pagan traditions such as the yule log and decorating Christmas trees, etc., and making them palatable by painting them with the "Christian" paintbrush. The same holds true for the little idols of Jesus that some of us have in our homes. I mean, seriously, if you're going to be so absolute, then be absolute. Don't just talk the talk. Don't preach at Christians not to lie and deceive children when we lie and deceive ourselves all the time. And children? Children understand a lot more then we give them credit for. They see the hypocrisies.

That's all I'm saying.

Secondly, I've read in this thread where someone said that it was okay for my daughter to have told the truth about Santa Claus to her little friend. Well I couldn't disagree more for one main point: The parents of this kid were, and are, unbelievers. It would have been a different story had they been Christians, but they're not. Our testimony with them was damaged because of that little incident. Some might say, "Great. They need to hear the truth anyway." That may be true, but were talking about the Gospel here. Where in the Bible does it ever permit us as preachers of the gospel to offend the cultures and traditions of others for the sake of the truth? It doesn't.

We need to have some balance and common sense as Christians. We are often viewed as bigoted and intolerant because of the way which we talk about certain things that, in the long run, make very little difference in terms the outcome. The manner in which we conduct ourselves ought to be proper before the Lord, peaceful before men, and loving toward one another. The Lord Jesus was just such a man. In His humanity He drew men to God through love and by being a man of peace. Often I've heard Christians talk about Jesus "bringing a sword," but that's not true. Jesus was a man of peace before men. To the religionists who used their faith to control, condemn, and repress people, He brought a sword. But to the faithful He was a man of peace.

Isn't that really what the season is about? What was the multitude of angels singing in the heavens when the shepherds saw them? It was "Glory in the highest places to God, and on earth peace among men of His good pleasure." (Luke. 2:14) Jesus' birth was the birth of the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). Even His ministry was a ministry of peace and reconciliation (Zech. 6:13; Eph. 2:17).

[Emily~Anne]

As I wrote before, I think it's disingenuous to pontificate on about "the lie of Santa Claus" when parents tell their kids plenty of lies all year round, including the one about "Christmas is Jesus' birthday."

Again, celebrating Jesus's birthday on Dec. 25th does not mean we tell our children that Jesus was born on that day. It is nice to have a special day to really focus on the most wonderful gift of all. I have never ever met a Christian parent who celebrated the birth of Jesus on Dec. 25th tell their kids that Jesus was born on Dec. 25th.

[Ovedya]

I think that I'm done with this discussion for now.

Yesterday I sensed from the Lord that I should have quite at least a page back, but I persisted because I'm naturally stubborn. Even this morning I struggled a bit getting that last post out.

It seems that I am always going to be at odds with believers and unbelievers alike about the holiday seasons. See, our family doesn't celebrate Christmas in the traditional way. We always seem to be completely broke at this time of year, so we don't put too much emphasis on the gift giving. We've never had enough room for a Christmas tree and have always seen than as an unnecessary expense anyway. We have always just had a very simple Christmas eve where we talk, play games and generally enjoy one another's company. We may sing or have prayer, and eat a nice dinner, but that's about it. On occasion we have put up lights and various decorations, and we always have hung up the wonderful cards that we receive each year (Especially the ones from our Worthy family).

My wife and I, we don't go in too much for cultural or traditional religious rituals. We've both been burned by religion, and it's just not what we're after. We prefer to gain more of Christ in His Person - in His reality - not through any traditional cultural or religious means. We don't condemn or judge, or speak badly of persons who do that, however. It's just not "our bag." Our children understand it, and they're not missing out on anything. They look forward to the holidays because being together is what's most important to them. When we can, we give gifts to one another. When we can't give gifts, we give more of ourselves.

That works for us.

[Guest HIS girl]

I told my 4 boys when my eldest son was 6 that Santa Claus is not real after my son had mentioned that" Santa is nasty because he only gives presents to certain boys and girls. Why are there many children without toys?" I then took this opportunity to tell my boys the truth about the Santa promotion of Christmas.

[WayneB]

I think that I'm done with this discussion for now.

Yesterday I sensed from the Lord that I should have quite at least a page back, but I persisted because I'm naturally stubborn. Even this morning I struggled a bit getting that last post out.

It seems that I am always going to be at odds with believers and unbelievers alike about the holiday seasons. See, our family doesn't celebrate Christmas in the traditional way. We always seem to be completely broke at this time of year, so we don't put too much emphasis on the gift giving. We've never had enough room for a Christmas tree and have always seen than as an unnecessary expense anyway. We have always just had a very simple Christmas eve where we talk, play games and generally enjoy one another's company. We may sing or have prayer, and eat a nice dinner, but that's about it. On occasion we have put up lights and various decorations, and we always have hung up the wonderful cards that we receive each year (Especially the ones from our Worthy family).

My wife and I, we don't go in too much for cultural or traditional religious rituals. We've both been burned by religion, and it's just not what we're after. We prefer to gain more of Christ in His Person - in His reality - not through any traditional cultural or religious means. We don't condemn or judge, or speak badly of persons who do that, however. It's just not "our bag." Our children understand it, and they're not missing out on anything. They look forward to the holidays because being together is what's most important to them. When we can, we give gifts to one another. When we can't give gifts, we give more of ourselves.

That works for us.

Sounds good to me brother.

[Guest LadyC]

i mentioned earlier that i believed in santa til i was about six. i never fed that fairy tale to my kids... i mean they heard the stories, we sang the songs, yada yada, but i never led them to believe he was real. not because i felt it was wrong to do so, but because i was just too much of a reality big-mouth. i was a single mom and every penny was hard-earned. i wasn't about to let santa get the credit for any gift i splurged on.

likewise, they always knew the truth about the tooth fairy. again, not because i intentionally tried to shield them from the fantasy, but because life was life. i had to put an "IOU" under my oldest daughter's pillow the first time she lost a tooth.

if you ask them now, though, and i think i did last year, my oldest said that despite it all, she STILL believed in santa for many years and was disappointed when she learned he didn't exist. (she did acknowledge never believing in the tooth fairy though, because of the IOU).

i don't know how she came to believe in santa. that belief was not something i fostered. but children WANT to believe in fairy tales. perhaps having such childhood beliefs stimulates their imaginations or something. it makes them happy.

[LossForWords]

"I think that I'm done with this discussion for now."

HA! Me too.

[MrsSealedEternal]

Dear Ovedya,

You are certainly welcome to your viewpoints that it is not okay for your daughter to have told her friend that, and I once felt simular to you.

But I respectedly disagree with your position and will continue to stand fast by everything I have said on this subject. Let me expand on why...

I am convinced in my own heart and mind that for me to tell my daughter that she could not speak truth when the subject arose was shameful to me and this conviction runs deep. I thought about all the times I felt obligated to believe all the lies I was told, and then as I learned truth, pressured to keep the truth silent, as if it was a secret that noone else was supposed to know. Truth suppresion is REAL problem with mankind. It is a sin to lie. It is devilry. BUT it is reversible and it is forgivable. I could rant and rave about it, but I won't. I have not told her to run and tell all the decieved children she can find that they are being lied to, but when the subject is broached with her, she is certainly free to speak what she believes to be true whilst exercising respect for their parents authority, just as all the children that believe it to be true are free to say so to the kids who don't believe. I have already been convicted that to silence her was wrong and a double standard and somehow hypocritical to the honesty I was hoping to instill in her. And the more i might think about, then more I might wonder about the double standard that is imposed on her to not broach the subject.

The fact is, there is nothing disrespectful about my daughter speaking the truth accept the offense that is taken to it. It is honest and right and true. I do not want her to be rude when she does it and I will do my best to train her to understand how to be tactful and thoughtful of various perspectives, but no matter what, someone will always be offended by the truth, nevertheless, it is a worthy suffering. I have learned to accept this and have moved past feeling the way you do about this subject. If God did not offend us when we are not being honest with the truth, we would all be in darkness, meaning well and telling others whatever other whopper someone wants to try to plant in our hearts. He tell us the truth because He loves us and he admonishes us to be imitators of Him.

There are times when we don't know the truth and we think we do and we honestly spread the deception. It takes for someone who really has the truth to share it in order to break the spell. Our Lord was wise enough to know when to be silent and when not to and I will pray that he grants us the wisdom to do the same.

I rest my case.

With Much Agape Love,

[dgolvach]

What are you guys trying to say?.....Theres no Santa????? IM CRUSHED!!!!!!!!You guys aren't gonna get any toys cuase Santa's just gonna pass right over your chimney!

Dan

[sierra21]

i don't know how she came to believe in santa. that belief was not something i fostered. but children WANT to believe in fairy tales. perhaps having such childhood beliefs stimulates their imaginations or something. it makes them happy.

Out of your whole post LadyC- this is what stuck out to me.

If anyone can miss the power in the above couple of words...then you need to stick in some kids dvd's and experience the fairytale world in which they have a RIGHT to live in. They are CHILDREN...they deserve to believe in flying fairies, animals that can talk, and a man whole will bring them a present at Christmas.

If you are one of those people who are ruining that dream for your children, then I suggest you go into your movie and book collection right now and throw out every single piece of material that deviates even minutely from reality...because afterall- are you not just continuing to support belief built on lies??? and yes, that was sarcasm.