Christians, tell your children there is no Santa Claus

[Guest Biblicist]

Oh, ok. Blame it on the Christmas lights I am putting up this morning.

The box says:

PROPOSITION 65 WARNING:

Handling the coated electrical wires

of this product exposes you to lead,

a chemical known to the State of

California to cause cancer, birth

defects and other reproductive harm.

Wash hands after use

It must also cause brain damage.

Emily Anne, put down the Christmas lights and step away from them...

[Vickilynn]

Shalom,

However, there are children who were VERY hurt and questioned the existence of G-d and did not trust their parents, knowing they had been deliberately lied to all those years.

Who? I can't think of a single person I have ever known that was very hurt when they found out that Santa was not real and questioned the existence of God as a result.

Shalom Forrest,

Don't be silly. Just because YOU don't know any doesn't mean there aren't any.

There ARE testimonies of this very thing, I have know children who experienced it. Butero posted recently of his experience with the same reaction. Do your homework with an open mind, the proof is out there.

You can't make an argument on your limited experience in this area and you can't speak for every child everywhere.

[Vickilynn]

I was taught all about Santa and it never hurt my coming to faith in Christ AT ALL!

For the LOVE OF GOD!, can't we let children be children?

Amen.

I would imagine that just about everyone on here believed in Santa Claus when they were little and it did not hurt any of them.

forrest, no one can know if telling their children about Santa might lead their children astray. God's word tells us; And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. (Luke 9:42) What if telling them about Santa does cause them to not believe in Jesus or His Truths?

Little children were able to be children for many many years without the idea of Santa. This is an interesting video about the History of Christmas... The idea of Santa wasn't adopted till the fourth century.

Shalom,

Excellent post!!

[Trusting Jesus]

I was taught all about Santa and it never hurt my coming to faith in Christ AT ALL!

For the LOVE OF GOD!, can't we let children be children?

You make it sound like children must believe in Santa in order to be children.

"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child..."

Call me blond, but I missed the connection?

Ok, blondie!

If foolishness is bound up in their hearts, then they need wisdom from their parents, not more foolishness. Get it?

Oh, ok. Blame it on the Christmas lights I am putting up this morning.

The box says:

PROPOSITION 65 WARNING:

Handling the coated electrical wires

of this product exposes you to lead,

a chemical known to the State of

California to cause cancer, birth

defects and other reproductive harm.

Wash hands after use

It must also cause brain damage.

Emily-Anne, there must be another reason. The warning on the box says "...known to the State of California...." You are in Michigan.

Seriously, though, I agree that we need to be careful with our children. It's important the way the parents handle things that really affect the child. I remember when I was old enough to begin to question things. I wondered how Santa could get to the whole world in one night. But because of the way my mother handled things I never questioned how Jesus could be everywhere all the time. Christmas was a time for fun - Santa - but Jesus was a part of my every day life, all year round, even on Christmas. I just wish Santa would pick up his own bills for the Christmas gifts.

<>< ><>

Nathele

[forrestkc]

Shalom,

However, there are children who were VERY hurt and questioned the existence of G-d and did not trust their parents, knowing they had been deliberately lied to all those years.

Who? I can't think of a single person I have ever known that was very hurt when they found out that Santa was not real and questioned the existence of God as a result.

Shalom Forrest,

Don't be silly. Just because YOU don't know any doesn't mean there aren't any.

There ARE testimonies of this very thing, I have know children who experienced it. Butero posted recently of his experience with the same reaction. Do your homework with an open mind, the proof is out there.

You can't make an argument on your limited experience in this area and you can't speak for every child everywhere.

And neither can you. I am sure there are some anecdotal examples. I am sure there are examples of kids that lost trust in their parents when the dog died for that matter, but the point is that by and large, if you lose trust in your parents when you find out that Santa Claus is not real, there are probably some larger underlining issues at work. The fact is, just because something is a problem for 1% of kids does not mean that we ought to ruin it for the other 99% of kids.

[Guest LadyC]

i gotta stick my nose in here.... i understand what the OP is saying, but i really think it's a little on the over-reactive side. my parents were christians, and i believed in santa clause til i was seven. however, i ALSO was taught the story of Christ's birth and what christmas was really all about.

no harm was done to me for having believed in santa. no irreparable damage done at all. however, i do remember feeling a bit betrayed and heartbroken that my parents had pulled off this hoax. (my education on the facts came at the hands of my brother, who forced me to hide behind the couch on christmas eve and watch my parents sneak in all the gifts they'd had stashed next door, just to prove to me that santa wasn't real.)

i must say, i was more disappointed when, as a teenager, i stayed up one night to find out if all the animals really knelt at midnight on christmas morning in reverence for the birth of Christ, and my kitty slept peacefully right through it, curled up in a ball on the foot of a bed.

[Vickilynn]

And neither can you. I am sure there are some anecdotal examples. I am sure there are examples of kids that lost trust in their parents when the dog died for that matter, but the point is that by and large, if you lose trust in your parents when you find out that Santa Claus is not real, there are probably some larger underlining issues at work. The fact is, just because something is a problem for 1% of kids does not mean that we ought to ruin it for the other 99% of kids.

Shalom Forrest,

How about the Biblical command that Christians should not lie? Can you show me where there is an exception made for Santa?

The other 99% of the children should not be deceived. It is a sin to lie and it is an awful thing to deceive one's own children!

The other issue is robbing G-d. Attributing G-d's blessings to a make believe person is wrong.

Any way you play it, telling children that Santa is real is REAL WRONG for Christians.

[MrsSealedEternal]

We are in the practice of telling our kids that there is no Santa Claus and are oldest is amazed (although I no longer am and the boys are too young to understand) at the amount of lying that they observe other parents practicing to get their children to believe in this figure that is contstantly being transformed into an angel of light by vain imaginations.

But on a positive note, if anything good is to come of such lying practices, I hope it is to serve as an example to them at how easy it is to be decieved into being brainwashed into believing a lie and that we are all susceptible to this methodology and need to cling to God's Word for truth and follow God's example.

The model reminds me of antichrist typing...instead of the real Christ insert Santa here...

God has commanded his followers not to practice lying and that is what actually settles the issue once and for all, so I am not here to debate it, but pardon the pun, to needle some consciences, if possible.

With Agape Love,

God Bless!

[tah]

Yes indeed...

"God bless us, every one!"

Tiny Tim's famous quote from "A Christmas Carol" in case you have not read the story...

[freedfromsin]

There is only one reason that anyone thinks that lying to their children about Santa is ok. That reason is that those people do not comprehend holiness.

Hbr 12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: