Christmas Without Santa?

As a Christian, yes, yes, yes, a thousand times, yes! Don't get me wrong. It's not a "bah humbug" kind of thing. I love, love, love Christmas! It truly does seem to be the most wonderful time of the year! 

What is not wonderful, however, is the slow fade over the years from a celebration of the life of Christ to the greedy commercialism, secular "holiday" traditions that completely omit even the name of Jesus. We have found ourselves in a time where nativity scenes are prohibited and replaced with the jolly, fat guy and his little minions. Where have we gone wrong? We Christians claim to live lives completely dedicated to Christ, 100% sold out to His will and His plan, yet at the time of the celebration of His birth, we are so preoccupied with everything else that we often don't even take the time to read and pray--we are just too busy. Rather than being a light, an example of the life we are supposedly celebrating, we are too busy to help others, hoarding what money we do have to ourselves, and we won't even discuss the Black Friday debacles all for a "good deal." I wonder how many of the things people fight over are actually presents for someone else...

Now, let's talk about Mr. Claus. I know you are probably thinking this writer is the Grinch trying to steal Christmas. Not at all. On the contrary, I would like to see Christmas continue to be the most magnificent, most celebrated Christian holiday, but for its intended purpose. That is, to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Who came to earth to die for you and me that we might live. Christmas has become less and less about Jesus and more and more about "the man with the bag" and his flying reindeer. The ideas of Christmas magic taking the place of the jubilation of miracles from Heaven. We know that Scripture plainly, repeatedly warns us that God will not tolerate any gods before Him. Exodus 34:14 states, "Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." Do people really worship Santa? Consider this.

Two years ago, it was four days until Christmas, and there were no presents under the tree. Yet, by Christmas morning, my kids had an abundance of presents to open. How could I take that glory, and praise, and adoration from the living God, and give it to a false one, an idolized, mythical creature designed to distract us from the very reason we "Christians" celebrate Christmas.

I would like for you to think for a moment about some of your favorite Christmas carols. Who are we worshiping? A popular song kids love to sing is "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." Now, let's do an analysis of the lyrics:

He (Santa) sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.

Psalm 139:2-4 tells us, "You [God] know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord."

So, encouraging a belief in Santa is a direct contradiction of the Word of God. How is that okay? One of my Facebook friends once posted, "You know you have gone BLIND when you can 'see nothing wrong' with something that God has called sin."

Some might argue that Santa is actually based on a Christian who went about giving gifts so it should be okay to teach him to our kids. It is true that the creation of Santa Claus was inspired by Saint Nicholas of Myra. Everything I read says this man was a very devout Christian who went about helping the poor. One account states he gave money to young, poor girls who did not have dowries in order to keep them from a life of prostitution. That is a far cry from kids making a list of the biggest, best toys on the market and their parents going into debt to provide these extravagant gifts. If Saint Nicholas was as close to God as I read, if he was so selfless to give to the poor to save their lives, how then, can we think he would ever be proud of the idolizing of a fictional character. The closer we are to God, we become less and He becomes more. 

One might say, "don't you think you are taking this a little far, making more out of this than what it is. It's just all in good, innocent fun." Think of it this way. We teach our kids, "Santa is watching. You better be good or there will be nothing under the tree for you." Or, "if you just believe, if you wish on the Christmas star, everything will work out fine. Everything will be okay." These are lies used to manipulate our kids into good behavior. How can these unrealistic hopes be good for kids? 

Let me just say, lying is a punishable offense in our house. Sneaking is second on the list, but warrants the same punishment. Sneaking is deceptive, it is lying. How, then, could I turn around and consistently tell lie upon lie to make them believe in a fantasy? Also consider, things do not just fall into place because the stars are aligned a certain way on a certain night or because this magical myth of a man happens by our way. It feeds the disillusionment that if we are good enough, if we wish on the right star at the right time, good things will come our way and somehow our whole lives will be forever changed. That's simply not true. We can't be good enough, or do enough to earn God's love. It is a gift, a free gift for us, a gift paid for at Calvary. He loves us because we are His creation; we are His children. God alone changes things, works things together, aligns events for our well being. It is because of Jesus our lives can be changed forever. That is what our kids show know.

It is our duty as parents to prepare them for life. As long as we live, we will face difficult situations. In John 16:33, Jesus comforts us by saying, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. " To bring up a child believing that anything or anyone other than our Savior can transform our situation is robbing them of peace, a very basic coping and survival skill. Not teaching our kids where our help comes from is denying them a life-line. We must, must, must equip our children for the days ahead.

If you are one of those looking for a Christmas miracle this year, ponder this. The very idea that a young virgin conceived and brought forth a son who would change the world,that is a true Christmas miracle. I encourage you, my friends, to stop and really think about this. Being impregnated by the Holy Spirit is something we should all long for. Obviously, I'm not talking about a physical manifestation, but rather a spiritual pregnancy and a birthing of the things of God in our lives. That, to me, is most miraculous.

Finally, Christmas has been transformed into a Valentine's Day copycat. All of the new movies are centered around finding true love, mistletoe kisses, and a Christmas with a new love or a long-lost love constitutes the happiest Christmas of all. True, the season is best celebrated surrounded by friends and family. That is, IF you have a good relationship with your family. That is, IF you have close friends. For those who may not have close relationships, this can be as tortuous as Valentine's Day. These inflated ideas and lofty fantasies tend to lead to plummeting depths of despair, extreme depression and disappointment, thus, the heartbreaking rise in suicides this time of year.

It is vital that we get the focus off of self--what we have, what we do not have, what we want, what we expect or feel entitled to. Rather, our focus should be on those who truly do not have the very basic needs. The widows, orphans, homeless who are ignored and neglected. Elderly people on a fixed income who have no heat. Children who do not have warm socks or winter coats. Military families who have loved ones overseas. Families whose dinner table will have one less person this year. So, you don't find the love of your life this Christmas? Be an angel to someone else. Be the miracle they've been praying for. Be an example of God's love for us. Be the light! That is, after all, what we are supposed to be celebrating. 

Oh, come let us adore Him! For He alone is worthy! Christ the Lord!

Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."