Let's talk about Santa

Some Thoughts on Christmas

THIS IS A POST FROM CHRISTMAS 2007... I wanted to repost it.....

First off, let me say I know I am going to sound a bit like a looneytoon right now... but I have been trapped in the house for a week so that might be where some of this is coming.

The other day (before our quarantine) we were out and a woman asked Bowden if he was being a good boy so Santa would bring him gifts.... I (in a very polite voice, I might add) said "In our house Christmas is based on God's gracious gift that we are celebrating on that day. So he will get gifts whether he is good or bad." She gave me a funny look and then walked away.

I want to look at this from a couple of angles. First the non-Christian one. What are we teaching our children? Have you ever known (Personally) someone who did not get ANY gifts for Christmas? Do any of you know anyone who was ever COMPLETELY good? So by telling our children that Santa sees everything and they will not get toys if they are naughty, then on Christmas morning they get toys... knowing they were naughty (even if they did not get caught), are we not just letting them learn that they can get away with being bad and still get the reward?

Then from the Christian point of view. First, please let me say, I do love the idea of Santa Clause. Flying all around, delivering toys. I love the original story of Santa Clause, which is the epitome of Christian giving. The problem I have is with what he has morphed into. This whole concept of having to earn what he brings you. Not to mention all the Christmas shows that talk about how Christmas will not happen if Santa does not come(but that is a WHOLE different post). I cannot imagine that this makes Christ very happy. He came to give us something that we COULD NEVER EARN. And yet we have turned the celebration of his birth into something that is completely based in earning the gift, in being good enough to get the reward. Christ's gift is one that comes with no strings attached. We just have to believe in our hearts.

So then I watched the Polar Express (Bowden loves trains) and these thoughts deepened. There is a part in the movie when they get to the North Pole and all the elves just creep me out. They are not nice and cheery, they are mean and creepy. They cheer for Santa as if he is some sort of god. These elves really looked like satan's minions. And I thought, I wonder if satan's minions actually cheer the concept of Santa in the same way - excited that a day that is supposed to be about celebrating the free gift of salvation coming to earth has collapsed into a free for all in which we all teach our children that "IF THEY ARE GOOD ENOUGH" Santa will bring them a present.

Again, I love the authentic idea of Santa. Santa comes to our house but he only brings treats and goodies in our stockings- nothing big. And he comes whether they have been good or bad. But I do think that it is interesting that the families I know who do not celebrate Santa have told me it is because they were afraid when they children found out Santa was not real they would then reject Christ as well because they cannot see Him either. I have never had anyone tell me they did not celebrate Santa because Christ is God's gift of grace and Santa, as he is celebrated today, is the complete opposite of that.