Dec 09, 2011
Santa Clause & St. Nick (Dec. 9th 2011)
Posted by Pastor Todd Murphy in | Comments (0)
My friend asked me a question of Facebook today regarding whether or not it is ok to tell our children about Santa Clause. So I thought instead of just answering him, I would put an answer up on my blog. The simple answer is no, you should not tell your kids about Santa. Why, because it leads to Satan worship. If you just look at the name Santa, it is actually just “Satan” with the “n” in the wrong place. If you ever went to a Fundamentalist Church, you know what this is... It is an evil plot to corrupt the minds of our children by sending “subliminal messages.” Further when you say the name Santa repeatedly over and over again it makes subliminal rock-n-roll beat which is also of the Devil. Besides that, I learned about this plot by playing my Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby Christmas records backwards many years ago!
Ok now that you are rolling on the floor laughing at that stupidity and I have your attention now, I will tell you what I really think. NO I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANYTHING WORNG WITH TELLING YOUR KIDS ABOUT SANTA. The real Santa, named St. Nicholas was a fourth century Greek Orthodox Christian. He was known for his care for the poor, apparently leaving coins for them in their shoes. He lived in what is now Turkey. In any case, this is not the guy we tell our children about. We talk about a jolly fat old man who gives children whatever they want, flies around in a sleigh pulled by eight “tiny reindeer” and lives at the north pole. I think the most scarring thing for me about this fable is that when I finally saw a reindeer, it was not “tiny” at all! In fact it was quite diesel! I felt like I had been lied to... Ok I am goofing off again.
Seriously though, as for me and my wife, we have never told the “Santa Clause” story but only the Jesus story. We have deliberately made it about family, needs, serving one another, and God’s provision. In fact as an aside, my wife and I have probably had too much sadistic fun watching our young children give people looks like “are you crazy” when people ask them about Santa. Anyway, here are a few thoughts for you young parents who are losing sleep at night wondering if you should do the Santa Clause routine or not.
First you are telling them a story that is not true and somewhat unnecessary. This is decidedly different from the story you make up when your toddler walks in while you are both “hot-n-heavy.” The first is not necessary the second most definitely is until their little minds are ready to handle that obscure human ritual we call sex. Also when you do tell the Santa story, you then have to “un-tell” it at some point. I think most kids are not going to be too attached and not be too disappointed. But a few could potentially think “what else have my parents told me is not true?” You want your kids to trust you. So you need to give some thought to this for the long hall. Again, there is really no moral line being crossed here. You just want to think it out. And besides, if your kids hang out with mine, it is very likely that your kid will come home telling that a Murphy boy told them that Santa is a myth. I’m just saying!
Second, the fat sugar-daddy who gives his “sweet baby boy” and “sweet baby girl” everything he/she could want is really I think more of a creation of our modern retail “give me what I want” culture. Again no big deal as long as you do not let it go too far. But I think the idea that there is some grampa figure out there whom our kids an send a list to and get their immediate lusts and desires met may not be a good path to teaching them to be selfless.
Third, there is an inherent “works” orientation to the whole Santa Clause thing. It is not about a reception of grace most of the time. The idea of getting coal in your stocking because you were a naughty boy seems to lace the whole exercise with guilt. I remember as a child getting cool stuff under the tree. I remember thinking it was from Santa. I am also sure that I would not have liked it any less had I known those first few years that it came right from my parents. Here is something that has stuck with me though. When my step-dad told me about naughty boys getting coal in their stocking, I remember really worrying about whether or not I had been good and wondering if I was going to get a good Christmas again. It is interesting just how much that sudden surge of guilt and introspection is so similar to so many people’s view of God. People have abandoned the Church in scores because they feel guilted into obedience rather than motivated by the grace of Christ. I think the popular God of America today looks a lot more like Santa Clause who omnisciently “knows when you are sleeping, and he knows when you awake, he knows when you are bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!”
That all said, as parents you should talk out what you are going to do. If you have really fond memories of the Santa thing, that is fine. I think there is no real harm that can come if you just steer clear of some of these concerns and you do not draw it out too long. One thing I would suggest is pick a termination age while they are still pretty young, like 4-5. Most of all have a principled reason for why you are going to do it. But above all else, make the season about Jesus. Lifting up the knowledge of him is the greatest gift you can every give your children.
Posted by Pastor Todd Murphy in | Comments (0)
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