The Omniscient, The Omnipresent…Santa?

By Contributing Writer, Bambi Moore

He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows when you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness’ sake!

“Mama, that sounds so pretty! Are they singing about Jesus?”

“No, honey. They are singing about Santa Clause.”

“Oh. Who is Santa Clause?”

“Santa Clause is make-believe. He is a silly game people like to play at Christmas time. Parents say he brings their children new toys on Christmas. ”

“Can’t their parents give their own children gifts, like you and daddy do for us, Mom?”

“Yes they do, but the children believe that it is Santa who brings gifts while they are sleeping.”

“Is Santa friends with Jesus?”

“No, Santa and Jesus are not friends.”

The little boy is silent as he tries to process the chunks of information using his limited logic and understanding.

“Why aren’t they friends?”

“Because Santa isn’t real, honey.  Jesus is.”

“Are you sure, Mommy? Those kids believe he is real. Billy said his dad even helped him write a letter to Santa. And I see him everywhere I go!”

 

Ho, Ho, Ho? No, No, No.

All Christian parents want their children to understand as much about God as they can grasp at the youngest age possible.  But to a child, Santa has many of the same qualities as God:

He’s Omniscient:
He sees you all the time-whether you are good or bad.
He’s Omnipresent:
At least he can be in all places in one night.
He Rewards Goodness:
Although, how many kids do you know who really ever did get only lump of coal?

Santa has not been a part of our Christmas or decorations for lots of years. The lights, sounds, parties and bursts of activity are plenty to distract us, without adding in the extra selfishness and theological confusion that Santa Clause brings to a child’s mind.

For many of us, we don’t question traditions, especially not Christmas ones. We think if we grew up with something and “turned out all right” that it must be fine for our own children. But whether or not we turned out all right should not be what guides our practices. Besides, who defines the term “all right”? As an adult, do you ever struggle with the “gimme’s” during December? You know, gimme this and gimme that? Yeah, me too.

Maybe we’re not as “all right” as we think.

The materialism and commercialism of Christmas is impossible to avoid entirely (at least if you leave the house). But we can strive against it and do everything we can to keep our minds stayed on Him.

 

Other Benefits of Not Inviting Santa to Christmas

Even young children have a sense of their family’s spending patterns. If we don’t teach them to believe that gifts magically appear to all boys and girls the same, then they will be thankful and more grateful to know that mom and dad must have sacrificed to give them that special item they received.

Our children realize that as their parents we are more aware of their behavior and bad habits than anyone else, yet we give them a gift regardless of that because we love them unconditionally. Our gifts to them are not dependent on their good behavior.

 

If Not Santa, Then What?

Jesus.

Work on starting new traditions–ones that focus on Him. Consider reading Noel Piper’s book, Treasuring God in our Traditions, for some great ideas.
~Have fun with a Jesse tree or Advent wreath–anything that teaches the prophecies about Jesus.
~Try out this Christmas giving project to illustrate to your children just how much they do have.
~Make decor and symbols that reflect Christ such as a Names of Jesus chain. (Cut strips of construction paper. On each one write one of the names of Jesus, along with the scripture reference. We are using these in our family worship time.)
~Sing Christmas hymns as you go caroling.
~Limit gift giving altogether.  Consider meeting a missionary’s need or the needs of an orphan’s ministry instead of filling your own home with more stuff.
~Put on your own living nativity with another family or two.
~Stay out of the mall, toss the relentless toy catalogs that come in the mail, and spend time reflecting on the redemptive plan that was revealed when God humbled himself and became a man.

 

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