Your children and Santa Claus

LOL C4K!

 

In our home, Santa Claus is on an equal plane with Cinderella, Buzz Lightyear, Belle, and Mr. Incredible ... great fictitious fun that encourages a child to enhance their imagination. Every child will go through a period where they believe in "imaginary" characters (regardless of the name).

Our only "rule" regarding Santa (and the others) is that we do not lie to our children. And yes our children do understand the true meaning of Christmas.

 

Legend has it that Nicholas (Bishop of Myra) was not only at the council of Nicea in 325 AD, but also slapped Arius for his heresy (debatable because every source I've seen mentions he wasn't listed as being there). True or not it makes a great story So on Nicholas' behalf (on behalf of these stories we have of him today anyway) I hereby slap all those who promote the "Santa Claus" mockery

I hope that if someone 1700 years or so from now was saying things about me like they do about Nicholas, there would be a Christian around to slap them for it

 

DavidsonBap quote "Oh man...you guys need to chill out and relax.

Maybe move to a cave somewhere just with the Bible and out of city limits.

My kids love Santa Clause and it is harmless and fun. Gosh... "

I don't think it is all that harmless. We start off by lying to our children. Then using more and more lies to keep the "harmless tradition" going. Most of the idols we as Americans have (and do) are done while we call them "harmless". I just cannot see Paul (or Jesus for that matter) falling for such pagan materialsm.

When we stand before Christ at judgment time....who would you most likely want to be:

1. a Christian who did things because "everyone else" was doing it and thought that it was harmless and fun ... or....

2. a Christian who did ALL things for the glory of Christ. Who, instead of sneaking around pretending to be Santa, would boldly go and minister to believers and share Christ with the lost.

I just think that it can not only be harmful, but it is a big waste of time. We are to make the most of our time (Eph. 5)

 

Haven't had one done since my youngest was a toddler. It's not my favorite thing, but I ain't against it if others want to do it.

Did you really say you're "not big on Santa"? It just sounded funny.

It's completely up to you. Just allow others to let it be completely up to them as well.

I do that on easter presents. Gift giving is supposed to be a sign of our appreciation of each other, out of appreciation for what the Lord has given us. I don't like the idea of Jesus' sacrifice being exemplified in a material gift like any other. Again, I wouldn't fingerwag if I were in your home, I just wouldn't do the same thing in mine.

Bottom line is, I got no problem with Santa. Got no problem with Rudolph either, or Frosty, or the great pumpkin, or whatever. Jesus has never been compromised in my home by me not having a problem with these things. If someone else has a problem with it, and they don't want to do the Santa thing, then I support their sovereign right of them being convinved in their own minds. But they shuld likewise let me be convinved in my mind as well.

If it's one thing I hate at Christmas is people who want me to be convinved according to their minds.

 

When a freind's children asked me for my thoughts on Santa is he real? Do I believe in Santa? I told them that santa was the act if caring, sharing, and thinking anout or of others at Christmas and all year long. When I was Asked to explain what I said, I explained that if you have a pair of jeans, that were too little for you, or you receive a gift you don't want/ like, then you can give it to someone who needs a gift.
Faithgirl46

 

Liberal? I'm not sure about that but I do like your ideas. The "Santa" issue has always been an issue I was uncomfortable with but I think you might have a good idea here.

 

faithgirl,

please don't take this the wrong way, but I think next time you should put the emphasis on Jesus. By saying what you did about santa being the act of caring, etc, it seemed to me to be totally ignoring Jesus as the One who taught the principle that you so rightly encouraged.

It seems to me that many of us unconsciously substitute Santa Clause for some sort of "spirit of Christmas" and it definitely turns into a secularization of the whole holiday.

 

It sure seems like so many people here do not have Santa in Christmas. I have never met anyone in real life (who celebrates Christmas) that does not have that. At our (SBC Christian) school, we dont mention Santa or reindeer, just in case.
In our home, we have Santa. Our kids know what Christmas really is. We do a Happy birthday Jesus cake every Christmas eve and eat if for breakfast Christmas morning. We read the Christmas story together every Christmas morning as well.

 

Yes, we bake Jesus a birthday cake, as well! Of course, we are baptists so food is one of our favorite blessings!

 

We made the personal decision not to have Santa Claus with our children anymore.

If we tell small children that Santa is real but you can't see him like Jesus is real but you can't see Him... then later reveal that Santa was never real... why should they believe us when we tell them that Jesus really is real? We have already demonstrated that we are willing to lie to them to get them to behave the way we want.

 

Amen!

 

We never did Santa. My wife didn't like it, and I didn't care one way or the other. Up until this year, my daughter just accepted what we said about Santa. But now she's 4 and has started asking because she sees him at the store etc. So my wife told her about St. Nicholas and then told her why those guys were at the mall, store etc.

We said she could go see him, but he isn't going to get her any presents.

 

When I was around 6---MAAAAAAAAYBEEEE 7---Momma took us to the shopping center to see Santa Clause!!! He came in on a BRFD Fire Truck and automatically --- even as a 6 year old --- I put two and two together and said--- "Somethin' ain't right here!!!"

That has tramatized me up to this very moment---filled me with guilt and has given me a "complex" ever since then!!!

I've never believed in Santa Clause---but I do believe in Santa's "Cause"!!! Especially when that "cause" is pointed in Blackbird's direction!!!

 

I do that as well. Okay, I don't bake it, I buy it at my local Ralph's grocery store.

It's the one time I can eat cake and not fel bad.

 

Their dad, may not have allowed me to speak about Jesus. When I defied him another time, he began mocking God, and saying he wrote the book of Glenn. ( his first name). My Girlfriend and his wife, said that this had been happening, the mocking, for awhile and me mentioning God only made the situation worse. They are now separated and She is going to church and attending Bible Study.
Faithgirl

 

We dont do santa. We dont hide Santa either. My 2 year old knows who he is, but knows that he is just pretend.

The reason we dont, is because it is a lie. I am not comfortable with lying to a child. But, I also believe that Santa is portrayed as having powers that only God has.

"He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when youre awake. He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake."

Only God knows everything in my house.

I dont believe that having Santa ruins faithfulness and trust in God. Im just not comfortable with the lie, and my kids will have just as much fun and "magic" enjoying presents from my husband and I on Christmas morning. Santa isnt needed here!

 

Johnv said

well said and I agree! My parents celebrated Christmas with Santa and we attended church and learned about Jesus. Never once, did I think my parents lied to me. I have endearing memories of my father playing Santa. He didn't appear in a suit, but would just leave indications that Santa had been there. It was fun for all!

We continued the tradition with our children. They never confused Santa with Jesus. There comes a time when all children figure out that the man in the red suit can't be every where and couldn't possibly deliver presents to every child in the world in one night, but they continue to study the Bible and know that Jesus is REAL.

Now the problem is the children who have never heard of Jesus. It is our mission to try to reach them and sometimes we can use the story of Santa and the so called spirit of Santa to do that.

I think it is up to each individual family to decide how they are going to celebrate our Lord's Birth.

 

well said and I agree! My parents celebrated Christmas with Santa and we attended church and learned about Jesus. Never once, did I think my parents lied to me. I have endearing memories of my father playing Santa. He didn't appear in a suit, but would just leave indications that Santa had been there. It was fun for all!

We continued the tradition with our children. They never confused Santa with Jesus. There comes a time when all children figure out that the man in the red suit can't be every where and couldn't possibly deliver presents to every child in the world in one night, but they continue to study the Bible and know that Jesus is REAL.

Now the problem is the children who have never heard of Jesus. It is our mission to try to reach them and sometimes we can use the story of Santa and the so called spirit of Santa to do that.

I think it is up to each individual family to decide how they are going to celebrate our Lord's Birth. </font>[/QUOTE]I firmly agree with John and Thankful.

My family and my wife's family both did the Santa thing when we were children. I never felt my parents lied to me about it at all.

We have Santa in our home. Our daughters enjoy it, yet we also stress Jesus way more than Santa. Our girls ask more about Jesus and his birthday than they have about Santa.

 

Their dad, may not have allowed me to speak about Jesus. When I defied him another time, he began mocking God, and saying he wrote the book of Glenn. ( his first name). My Girlfriend who is his wife, said that this had been happening, the mocking, for awhile and me mentioning God only made the situation worse. They are now separated and She is going to church and attending Bible Study. He is attending Church as well.
Faithgirl
Faithgirl </font>[/QUOTE]