I remember defending his existence in fourth grade, then finding out I was wrong soon thereafter. A man I had never met in the flesh, but looked forward to his coming on December 25th every year.
Santa Claus.
via Pinterest
The good-will ambassador for many girls and boys across the world is truthfully presented as a character along with Charlotte, Wilbur, Rudolph, and any other fictional characters we encounter in the children’s literature in our home.
As far as I know we are the only people in our family who do not teach our children to believe in Santa Claus. We have not been ridiculed for our choices, but I want to lay out my reasons here to prompt your thinking on the matter. Truth is too important to flippantly follow the status quo, and therefore, I want to give you some meaty measures to add to your milk and cookies for Santa this year.
First, there are attributes we assign to Santa that are only manifested in God: omniscience and omnipotence.
Omniscience, means that one is all-knowing. The holiday song, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, goes, “He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when your awake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good. So be good for goodness sake.”
Only God knowns our thoughts and ways, our lying down and waking up. He judges the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts like no one else can. Omniscience belongs to God in His triune state alone.
Omnipotence, or unlimited power, is attributed to the man who can fly around the world in one night, fit down chimneys or pass through locked doors, and magically provide your heart’s desire one day every year.
Unlimited power is only found in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Second, and equally important, Christmas is a religious holiday about the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This Christian holiday has been secularized so that it is more palatable to non-Christian’s worldwide. Yes, there is an atheistic movement to quiet or extinguish the celebration, but Christmas is largely a money-making secularized holiday.
We have run the risk of making Christmas more about ourselves than the King born in a manger. A jolly old man bringing us more material presents is not the presence that should be celebrated this time of year.
Please understand that I genuinely love Christmas movies, music, and decorations. You will find me glued to Hallmark on many occasions during the Christmas season. Honestly, one of my favorite creations of my artistic mother is a two foot Santa and Mrs. Claus that she painted in ceramics. However, I have chosen to make Santa a fictional character in limited books and movies for my children so that they will not miss the message of Christmas found in the nativity and Christ-centered books on our shelves.
Growing up, my parents followed the three gift rule like many other parents I know. They gave my sister and I three gifts each Christmas just as the wisemen presented to the Christ-child. (Albeit there could be ten pieces to the “one” gift.)
My mom and I.
However, this post by Ann challenged my perspective on even this practice. Jesus is the gift and the three gifts were given to Him on His birthday not the opposite. What do we give Jesus on His birthday?
That is why we, along with multitudes of others, choose to give to Gospel for Asia, Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child, World Vision, and Compassion International at Christmas and throughout the year. In serving the poor, needy, orphaned, and unreached, we are presenting sacrificial thank offerings to God and His Son, Jesus at the celebration of His birth.
Does this mean that we cannot exchange gifts with others? I would say no. To show our love and appreciation for each other as an extension of the gift of Christ Jesus in our life is a blessed privilege. Must we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas? Likewise no.
We have had the Kneeling Santa figurine since a Christmas Wedding Shower 10 years ago. As I reflect upon its meaning now, I am unsettled in my spirit. Yes, Santa is bowed worshiping the New Born King, but this even implies that Santa preceded Christ. The true “Santa” was actually St. Nicholas who lived after Christ and gave to the poor in the name of Jesus.
via Google Images
The face of the Father of Christmas may indeed be merry and bright, but it is not found at the North Pole. Conversely, He chose the lowly and humble stable to make his glory known. Then brought forth wisemen from across the earth and angels soaring in the sky to announce His coming and celebrate His Son, the gift of Christmas. He brought His Messenger in this way so that the heart of every boy and girl could know the favor of their Creator through Christ the King.
However you choose to celebrate Christmas in your home, I hope that you will submit these practices to God and seek His will. I pray that you will make Christ predominate in your hearts, homes, and heritage this Christmas and each one to come.
Raise the Risk Challenge:
- Read Ann’s post referenced above here.
- Consider who the face of Christmas really is in your family and make any necessary changes.
- Give a gift to Jesus by sponsoring a child locally or either here, here, or here.
Everyone has their own journey and yes, it is our hope that all will know Jesus as Lord and Savior but it happens when their eyes of understanding are open. So we love and pray and have compassion on those that choose to acknowledge Santa once a year. For many it takes them away from the troubled world they may live for just a short time..I grew up thinking their was a Santa Claus and it did not prevent me from knowing Him. Praise God! May this season be one of peace and joy in the Lord.. (:
Yes, Roberta, for those without Christ, Santa is a symbol of joy and good-cheer. I do pray for those who celebrate apart from the true meaning of Christmas. I also enjoy the classic movies with Santa Claus and Rudolph and know that God created us in such a way that we are also creative story weavers to imagine such characters and bring them to life for many to enjoy.
I hope that we who have the Light spread it this Christmas season. Thank you for reading and for your comments!
Merry Christmas,
Brooke
you verbalize some of the reasons we didn’t go out of our way to try to make our girls believe in santa. i still remember the day when one of them looked me in the eyes and said, “mommy, is santa real or is he pretend?’ i loved the question. i could answer it honestly and still not take away her enjoyment of the fun parts of christmas.
“yes, he is pretend.” just like all the other fun things in your imagination. you don’t want to go to school and tell everyone there is no santa b/c it hurts a part of many in a place we can’t go.
but in your heart, you know…he is pretend. like the fairy tales we talk about.
i’m not going to tell you he exists in the way you are asking me now, b/c i don’t want you to discover he is only pretend someday and decide that all the other things i told you about God, Jesus and faith are not true too.
they are different from santa…no matter how much some try to make them similar. santa is for fairytales. Jesus is for truth. gut level truth. He takes care of guilt and sin…and best of all, gives us hope for change in the present and hope for a glorious future after this life.
hallelujah! (I think Handel ended one of his pieces with the same sentiment:)
Beautifully put, Martha. Thank you so much for your comment! Welcome to Raise the Risk.
Merry Christmas,
Brooke
I know why my mother taught me that Santa and the elves were real: she wanted me to have a wonderful childhood, full of great memories, unlike her own. We even left food for the reindeer! I remember praying on Christmas morning, “Dear God, Thank you for Santa!” In the 3rd grade, all of my classmates tried to tell me he wasn’t real; I refused to believe them. Then, when my adult cousin told me that the Tooth Fairy wasn’t real, nor Santa, nor the Easter Bunny, during the summer preceding 4th grade, I was truly devastated. I felt as if I had lost a friend who loved me. I never wanted my children to experience that, nor to feel as if I had mislead them, so we, too, treated Santa as a fictional character. Some thought that I was depriving my children, but they were quite happy each and every holiday. We still followed the traditions of money under the pillow, presents under the tree and coloring and hiding eggs each spring. I knew that they’d never be disappointed when they found out the truth because they’d know the truth from the beginning.