Christians, tell your children there is no Santa Claus

[Guest Biblicist]

"We want our children to be happy and enjoy Christmas"...

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

Being lied to is exasperating, telling them a lie, or allowing them to believe one is NOT training in the instruction of the LORD.

"We want to let our children be children"...

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him. (Proverbs 22:15)

If your child lies to you about coloring on the walls will you let them "be a child" then? [My 4 year old daughter told me "The cat did it".]

"They are going to believe in Santa anyway when they hear about him at school, on television, their friends and such"...

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is

[Axxman]

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.

Hey Sierra, Why is a person being a "scrooge" or ruining Christmas by not talking about Santa?

On Saturday night we set up our tree, and decorated our house. We began the entire event with our four children, by reading the story of Christ's birth from the bible. We had a pleasant family time and our kids were fascinated a-new as they used their "imaginations" to recall that special time in history. As I placed the angel at the top of the tree my daughter Skylar (she's 7) was so excited. As she stared towards the ceiling she said, "Daddy, this is how it looked when the Angel came to tell them Jesus was born." To be honest, I never really thought about WHY we have an angel on our tree...but for the rest of my life I will think of that moment (and my precious daughter) EVERYTIME I put the Angel on the tree.

Those are the "imaginations" I want my kids to use. I want them to focus on the things of God. I want them to imagine Godly things, Godly miracles, Godly principles. Even if Santa was 100% real...he wouldn't get a mention in my house on the day we celebrate the birth of our Saviour.

[sweetycakes]

WAIT!!! What do you mean there's NO Santa Claus?????

What!!! Do you mean that I've wasted a first-class stamp on my letter to Santa this year?

Guess I'll just be getting a piece of coal for Christmas this year, anyway

[Smalcald]

I kind of agree with Sierra's approach though. The fact is in our culture right now Santa is everywhere for little kids, I feel no compunction to sit down with our seven year old and make some big deal about what is real and what is not real in this area, it seems both depressing and dull, anyway I think she knows already, and besides its fun!

But we do focus on the birth of Christ and celebrating that and of course we do talk specifically about the reality of that event and the reality of Christ and His birth. The importance for Christians is to celebrate a truly Christian Christmas, if we just ignore Christmas our kids are more likely to just pick up the secular junk or dislike Christmas if they are not allowed to celebrate it, which is a very odd state indeed for Christian kids to not like celebrating Christmas! Bur during this Advent season why not embrace the center of the Church year.

I have also not had a big sit down about how fairies and goblins don't exist either, I mean how long is the list of non real things we need to pound our kids about! If she starts to really act like she believes in these things yes I would have to talk to her at that point.

But we are not Amish and we like lights and tree's and Nativity scenes and really enjoy this season, I see no reason to change.

[Guest Biblicist]

This is one of the songs we are singing this month for Christmas...

Peace, peace, peace on earth

and good will to all.

This is a time for joy

This is a time for love

Now let us all sing together

of peace, peace, peace on earth.

Peace, peace, peace on earth

and good will to all.

This is a time for joy

This is a time for love

Now let us all sing together

of peace, pleace, peace on earth.

Silent night, Holy Night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child!

Holy Infant so tender and mild;

sleep in heavenly peace

sleep in heavenly peace.

Peace, peace, peace on eart.

[Axxman]

I kind of agree with Sierra's approach though. The fact is in our culture right now Santa is everywhere for little kids, I feel no compunction to sit down with our seven year old and make some big deal about what is real and what is not real in this area, it seems both depressing and dull, anyway I think she knows already, and besides its fun!

But we do focus on the birth of Christ and celebrating that and of course we do talk specifically about the reality of that event and the reality of Christ and His birth. The importance for Christians is to celebrate a truly Christian Christmas, if we just ignore Christmas our kids are more likely to just pick up the secular junk or dislike Christmas if they are not allowed to celebrate it, which is a very odd state indeed for Christian kids to not like celebrating Christmas! Bur during this Advent season why not embrace the center of the Church year.

I have also not had a big sit down about how fairies and goblins don't exist either, I mean how long is the list of non real things we need to pound our kids about! If she starts to really act like she believes in these things yes I would have to talk to her at that point.

But we are not Amish and we like lights and tree's and Nativity scenes and really enjoy this season, I see no reason to change.

Is there some Christian holiday that is being usurped by fairies and goblins? I don't see how they can compare to the lie of Santa Claus. I have no compunction to sit down with my kids and make a big deal out of what is real or not either. Nor do I have to worry about it because I never lied to them about it in the first place. There never was a 'real' Santa to my kids. No big sit down required. It has always simply been a fact of life for them..."There is no such thing as Santa." My kids find it genuinely weird that some of their friends actually think that Santa is real. They don't understand AT ALL why someone would take a cartoon/movie figure and try to convince their kids that it is reality. Its never been more than a cute and funny story to them therefore I have no need to have some BIG discussion about the reality of Santa...and the same goes for fairies, goblins, and the Easter Bunny.

[anitarose]

I have just read through all 21 pages of this thread. I have seen exhortations to Christians not to lie to their children about Santa Claus...I have seen verbal attacks of the kind I never would have expected out of civilized Christians.

Let me throw this little idea into the mix:

Take the last three letters of Santa and move them around.....and you get SATAN.....

now think about THAT the next time you want to tell a child that Santa is real.

Sorry to rain on every one's parade (and no, I don't have children).

Anita

[Smalcald]

I kind of agree with Sierra's approach though. The fact is in our culture right now Santa is everywhere for little kids, I feel no compunction to sit down with our seven year old and make some big deal about what is real and what is not real in this area, it seems both depressing and dull, anyway I think she knows already, and besides its fun!

But we do focus on the birth of Christ and celebrating that and of course we do talk specifically about the reality of that event and the reality of Christ and His birth. The importance for Christians is to celebrate a truly Christian Christmas, if we just ignore Christmas our kids are more likely to just pick up the secular junk or dislike Christmas if they are not allowed to celebrate it, which is a very odd state indeed for Christian kids to not like celebrating Christmas! Bur during this Advent season why not embrace the center of the Church year.

I have also not had a big sit down about how fairies and goblins don't exist either, I mean how long is the list of non real things we need to pound our kids about! If she starts to really act like she believes in these things yes I would have to talk to her at that point.

But we are not Amish and we like lights and tree's and Nativity scenes and really enjoy this season, I see no reason to change.

Is there some Christian holiday that is being usurped by fairies and goblins? I don't see how they can compare to the lie of Santa Claus. I have no compunction to sit down with my kids and make a big deal out of what is real or not either. Nor do I have to worry about it because I never lied to them about it in the first place. There never was a 'real' Santa to my kids. No big sit down required. It has always simply been a fact of life for them..."There is no such thing as Santa." My kids find it genuinely weird that some of their friends actually think that Santa is real. They don't understand AT ALL why someone would take a cartoon/movie figure and try to convince their kids that it is reality. Its never been more than a cute and funny story to them therefore I have no need to have some BIG discussion about the reality of Santa...and the same goes for fairies, goblins, and the Easter Bunny.

As long as you have a joyous celebration of the Birth of our Lord!

Peace to you in this wonderful season of Advent.

[Smalcald]

I have just read through all 21 pages of this thread. I have seen exhortations to Christians not to lie to their children about Santa Claus...I have seen verbal attacks of the kind I never would have expected out of civilized Christians.

Let me throw this little idea into the mix:

Take the last three letters of Santa and move them around.....and you get SATAN.....

now think about THAT the next time you want to tell a child that Santa is real.

Sorry to rain on every one's parade (and no, I don't have children).

Anita

Give me a break.

You can't rain on the celebration of Christ it is going to happen even if you take away all of the extra's, haven't you ever seen the Grinch who stole Christmas, it can't be done!

[Guest Biblicist]

Because of Bethlehem

by Keith Ferguson and Bruce Greer

The autumn days turn colder

the leaves begin to change.

We gather round the table

to offer thanks and praise

And soon we're looking forward

to Christmas once again

Our hearts are drawn together

because of Bethlehem

The lights that line the houses

and shine upon the tree

are only a reflection

of the star shone brilliantly

Above a simple stable

outside a crwoded inn

where now the world is welcome

because of Bethlehem

Because of Bethlehem

We can celebrate

Because of Bethlehem

we know truth and grace

We beheld his glory

Jesus, God's own son

Peace on earth

good will to men

because of Bethlehem

The season comes so quickly

then passes like a dream

often in our hurry

we miss all that it means

the love and joy of Christmas

is a gift that never ends

for God is dwelling with us

because of Bethlehem

Because of Bethlehem

Holy Child of Bethlehem

descend on us we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in

be born in us today

Because of Bethlehem

We can celebrate

because of Bethlehem

we know truth and grace

We beheld his glory

Jesus, God's own son

Peace on earth good will to men

because of Bethlehem.