Christians, tell your children there is no Santa Claus

[tah]

I am going to say it...

When I read threads like this I am torn between and

sigh....

[Guest Biblicist]

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.

I'm gonna have to agree with that Vickilynn.

The biggest reason we didn't tell our children about Santa was because it was a lie. Plain and simple. Satan, the great deceiver, tosses enough lies at us and our children, we [parents] do not need to add to it.

Proverbs 12:22 The LORD detests lying lips,

but he delights in men who are truthful.

We are commanded instead to impress upon our childrens hearts a love for the LORD...

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

What better time of the year to impress upon our children a love for the Lord than the time we celebrate the giving of His Son for our sins?

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH, PEACE GOOD WILL TOWARD ALL MEN

[Emily~Anne]

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.

*edit*

<>< ><>

Nathele

[Guest Biblicist]

ARRRGGG! Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about.

Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.

[Vickilynn]

I'm gonna have to agree with that Vickilynn.

The biggest reason we didn't tell our children about Santa was because it was a lie. Plain and simple. Satan, the great deceiver, tosses enough lies at us and our children, we [parents] do not need to add to it.

Proverbs 12:22 The LORD detests lying lips,

but he delights in men who are truthful.

We are commanded instead to impress upon our childrens hearts a love for the LORD...

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

What better time of the year to impress upon our children a love for the Lord than the time we celebrate the giving of His Son for our sins?

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH, PEACE GOOD WILL TOWARD ALL MEN

Shalom Bib,

Amen and amen. Excellent post.

There is no Biblical support for lying to one's own children and telling them Santa is real and gives them presents.

BTW, that is different than children knowing the make-believe story of Santa and enjoying it.

[Vickilynn]

ARRRGGG! Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about.

Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.

Shalom Bib,

Another excellent post.

When we parents deceive our children, take away the glory from G-d and disregard the REAL reason for Christmas, how is that good? It's about G-d!

[forrestkc]

If someone wants to tell their kids that Santa is not real, then fine. If someone else has kids that believe in Santa, then fine. A big deal is being made out of nothing here. I mean, raise your kids how you see fit and my wife and I will raise ours how we see fit.

[~pearl]

When I had my daughter and was faced with the question of do I bring Santa in or not, I decided that every year "Santa" would write her a letter. He would tell her what she had done good in that past year and what she needed to improve on. The letter would end with a reminder that Jesus and His birth were the real reason to celebrate Christmas, that Santa was fun, but Jesus was real.

That's a neat idea. We didn't write letters but our kids were taught the reason for the season.

I like it too...

I was looking for ways to talk to the children about Jesus and Christmas as Santa gets a lot of attention ...

I will pass this thought on to my children...

That is a fantastic idea! If you don't mind I would like to suggest it to some fellow Moms at Church.

[Guest LadyC]

i think i'll have santa write just such a letter to my grandson, and if my daughter approves of it (and i'm sure she will), she can read it to the little tot.

[tah]

I love Christmas..everyone is talking about Jesus...

Just everyone..

That letter is going to be so fun....Love them kids ...