Christians, tell your children there is no Santa Claus

[Guest LadyC]

sierra, will you clarify something for me? your last post pretty much confirmed what i already thought, having not recalled seeing you ever say that you have told your children santa is real. but just for clarification... has there ever been a time when you have told your children that yes, santa really does exist? let me put it another way. have you ever told your children that lie?

[MeCajunboy]

sierra, will you clarify something for me? your last post pretty much confirmed what i already thought, having not recalled seeing you ever say that you have told your children santa is real. but just for clarification... has there ever been a time when you have told your children that yes, santa really does exist? let me put it another way. have you ever told your children that lie?

If you're going to clear things up LC, you may as well go all the way. There is no lie if you tell your children that there "ONCE" was a man name "Nicholas" from another country who DID at one time in life deliver gifts he made by hand to childern whom were too poor to have gifts. I do agree that it may not be a good idea to take the tale to the max. with the "flying" of reindeer and all, but what better thought to plant in a child's mind that there once was a man who did good deeds for poor children in some remote location? I know I didn't turn out so bad and my mother picked up the tradition and passed it off into my generation; the idea of making gifts for others you love and I passed the same tradition to my children. As long as your children know what Christmas is really about and how to reverence Jesus during that time. How many children do you know have turned out bad/evil because their parents wanted to see them happy for Christmas?

[Vickilynn]

Oh I'm not upset Vickilynn- annoyed might be a better word.

Shalom Sierra,

Well, I'm sorry you're annoyed and you can't see the Christian love in my posts.

Do you really think, in our society, that I'm going to have to sit my children down and tell them to believe in Santa?? There is more than enough on television, books, toys, etc. If my kids choose to believe in a character that I believe to be much like "winnie the pooh" or "Shrek"- I'm not going to sit back and crush their precious imagination. Kids aren't stupid. They know that the whole idea of Santa doesn't really make much sense, but they choose to believe it anyway, because it MAKES THEM HAPPY.

Listen Sierra, you need to know that I don't care WHAT man's logic says. You see, I care what G-D says. You can justify it all day long and it still is wrong to lie, whether that lie makes your children happy or not. G-d's ways are not negotiable. They CHOOSE to believe? You, as a parent are responsible for telling them the truth that Santa is not real. If you don't, it's ther same as if you DID sit down and lie to them. You know they believe a lie and you are responsible for setting them straight.

If you want to be a scrooge to your children, or grandchildren, then go right ahead. But as I said before, I am going to foster my childrens imagination and include a special present from Santa under the christmas tree each and every year.

So, you willfully and rebelliously choose to perpetuate the lie that Santa is real, even though you know it's a sin? Why don't you go out and steal, murder, commit adultery? Sin is sin. I am amazed that you choose Santa over G-d. That is what I call idolatry. It is very serious.

You can continue to try and continue to persuade me to do otherwise, but trust me, it won't make a difference. You're wasting your time.

I'm not trying to persuade you to do anything. You will have to answer to Jesus for choosing Santa over G-d and rebelling against G-d's Word. All I can do is share His Word with you and pray for you, and I have done that and will continue. It really scares me that you have chosen an idol over your professed G-d. I pray for you Sierra.

[Guest LadyC]

actually, i was really just trying to get clarification on what exactly sierra HAS told her children. i don't recall her ever saying she has told them that santa is real, and since she seems to be in the awkward position of defending herself, i thought i'd give her the opportunity to clear that up.

i may be assuming too much here, but i get the impression from her posts that she has shared the story of santa with them, allowed them to read about him, hear about him, watch movies and cartoons about him, allowed them to sit in his lap for a photo op, or to accept gifts marked from him, but has never said "you'd better be good or santa is going to leave lumps of coal in your stockings" as though it were a true story.

and if i'm correct, then what she HAS done is not wrong in any sense. i'm sure she's probably read her children all sorts of fairy tales over the year, like snow white, or cinderella, just like probably most of us have. (i won't say everyone, because i'm sure someone will pop up and say they've never read such stories to their kids.) kids believe in fairy tales when they're young. all sorts of fairy tales. and allowing them to hear or read or watch fairy tales, whether about santa or cinderella, is not equal to lying.

LYING to the children would be saying "he's real, you better believe it, reindeer really fly and santa really manages to hit every house in the world at the stroke of midnight."

my question has always been this... how does he get into the homes of people who have no fireplace?

[Vickilynn]

... and since she seems to be in the awkward position of defending herself, i thought i'd give her the opportunity to clear that up.

Shalom LadyC,

The OP is talking to us all. The only ones who are defending themselves are those who are defensively railing against the OP and the Scriptures which say not to lie. If a parent perpetuates the lie that Santa is real, it is the same as telling them Santa is real.

Parents need to teach their children the truth, not allow them to believe a lie or tell them a lie. There is no justification that can go up against the Scriptures on this.

[Guest LadyC]

vickilynn, i agree we should not lie to our kids, and that we are commanded not to lie. and i know that the OP was addressing everyone. however, i directed my question at sierra because i don't believe she has ever given any indication that she has lied to her kids about santa, and has only allowed them to enjoy the story like she would any other fairytale.

[Emily~Anne]

I believe Sierra was referring more to what she plans to tell her children as she is currently pregnant (and due fairly soon I believe) with her first baby.

[Guest LadyC]

oh LOL... well, she can clarify her intentions then!

[Vickilynn]

Shalom,

Several references have been made to "children being happy" by believing Santa is real.

I have not addressed this because, really, it's not as important as the Biblical issue of not lying to our children, but let me tell you, our 5 children have NEVER been told that Santa is real and have ALWAYS been told that Jesus is the reason that we celebrate and my children are extremely happy at celebrating Christmas.

Besides that, it is the responsibility of Christian parents to teach their children the truth from Scripture and not give in to their worldy whims. They are CHILDREN, they don't know any better until they are taught better. And Biblically it is our responsibility to teach them.

[Emily~Anne]

*edit*

I have not addressed this because, really, it's not as important as the Biblical issue of not lying to our children, but let me tell you, our 5 children have NEVER been told that Santa is real and have ALWAYS been told that Jesus is the reason that we celebrate and my children are extremely happy at celebrating Christmas.

*edit*

Our children as well!