It's the time of year for glorifying GOD for the gift of the Messiah. For praising Jesus Christ for humbling himself to be born like us and live with us so that HE could redeem us. A Son is born! The WORD became flesh! It ought to consume our thoughts. Unfortunately the Son of GOD has competition. santa claus. The question of whether or not to teach our children santa may seem foolish and divisive to some. After all, what could possibly be wrong with a happy tradition that brings joy to boys and girls? But is it that simple?
TRAINING IN WORSHIP
We worship. That is what we are made to do. You may easily discern what you worship. What do you think about most? What is most important to you? That's your god. When you have a problem where do you seek answers? When you need hope or assurance, where do you look? That's your god.
But GOD said there is to be nothing in place of HIM in our lives. It is the first commandment!
Exodus 20:3 KJV
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
We are to look to GOD alone for provision, help, direction, and ultimately salvation. HE says there is no other way! If we put anything else in place of HIM, it is idolatry. But have we put santa in place of GOD? Have we made santa a "god"?
When Christmas rolls around, and we want to express our joy and gladness at the season, what do we talk about? santa. "Did you see santa, are Dad and Mom taking you to see santa, are you excited for santa to come, what will santa bring you..." It is as if the happiness, prosperity, and Christmas spirit all depend on santa. If we want to be fulfilled at Christmas, and get the most out of the season, we need santa! We are teaching our children to HOPE in santa.
We have an entire 'theology' built just for santa. santa is omnipresent (he can be everywhere at once, he sees you when you're sleeping), omnipotent (he can do anything), and omniscient (he knows everything, even if you've been naughty or nice). If santa says he will come he will come, don't worry about the chimney. He never misses one person, so trust in santa. But all present, all knowing, and all powerful are attributes of GOD; GOD alone! We are teaching our children to BELIEVE in santa.
We even have a way to contact our "god". If you want santa to come, you need to write a letter to him. Just write 'north-pole', he'll get it! Oh, you can pray to GOD too. We are teaching our children to PRAY to santa.
With so much of the holiday spirit riding on santa, he's really the main figure. We love to see our children believe in santa. It is pleasant to believe that there is something that you can't explain; something magical and even super-natural. It is satisfying to believe in something beyond ourselves. This is not a coincidence. It is called worship and we were MADE to do it. But we were made to worship GOD. If you give the worship that is rightly due to GOD to something else instead, it is idolatry. We are teaching our children to WORSHIP santa.
Since our children HOPE in santa, BELIEVE in santa, WORSHIP santa, and PRAY to santa, it is abundantly clear that we have made santa a "god". It is idolatry, and we have become fools.
Romans 1:22-23 KJV
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, ...
In the end, our false "god" cannot save us; he isn't even real! But GOD is! The reality is always more exciting than a fairy tale. If we really knew who GOD was, we wouldn't need or want santa.
1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
IT'S JUST PRETEND
Of course some will say that we're not really teaching our children all that. After all, "it's just pretend". But let's say that we teach our children santa, and the easter bunny, and God, and the tooth fairy, and Jesus, and the sandman, and all the rest. Then when they're a little older they ask us about this and we say, "Yes, they're just pretend".
"All of them?"
"Well, not GOD and JESUS."
"Oh."
But the damage is already done. These figures were impressed upon their minds at a critical time in their learning. They will now always think of GOD as a kind of magical fairy tale man who is nice to believe in. HE supposedly has powers, and HE's nice to children and good people; they know because they drew the picture of the ark with the giraffe, right before they drew the picture of santa with the reindeer. They want to believe in GOD. But when life, logic, science, and philosophy come against HIM, HE goes in the fairy-tale pile.
GOD becomes inextricably linked with make-believe!
OUR WITNESS
We should also consider the unbelievers around us. When we participate in a worldly tradition, we are missing an opportunity to glorify GOD. Our friends and neighbours don't need to hear more santa claus and 'ho ho ho'; they need truth. Christmas is a time when we have an opportunity to talk about the birth of the Saviour. Don't waste time on santa.
CONCLUSION
We must not teach our children to worship any "god" other than the one true GOD and Jesus Christ HIS Son. As parents, we must actively oppose anything which attempts to compete for their hearts or minds. The notion that we would voluntarily introduce an idol to our children is unthinkable!
It is also our responsibility to teach our children everything we know about GOD from HIS word. We must not paint GOD in the same light as fairy tale creatures. HE is real. He is the Creator of the universe.
We must also take every opportunity we have to share CHRIST with the unbelievers around us. Do not put a myth in HIS place?
santa is an idol for us and our children. By teaching our children santa, we inevitably misrepresent GOD! By participating in the santa tradition we send the wrong message to those around us.