If you have a sec.....

Here is a very good article on Santa and why people might not what to participate in it. I know this is a controversial topic, but it is my blog and i will blog what i want to:)! We have never done the whole Santa thing with EJ or G for several reasons. On of the main reasons is that the birth of our Lord and Savior is magical, exciting, and awe inspiring on its own! In my option it does not need a man in a red suit to complete it. Other reasons include greed and lying to my kids. Anyway, a good friend of mine showed me this article and it is super good!


Several years ago, I wrote a little booklet, which was called "A Very Strange Fantasy". In it, I argued that Santa Claus has become a false god, a fantasy that Christian families should not perpetuate. In this article, I will attempt to briefly explain why Santa Claus should not be part of a Christian subculture.Christmas is a time of year when we have the opportunity to celebrate the coming of Christ our Lord into this world. It should be a time when God has centre stage in the world but, instead, it has become a time of gross commercialization, with Santa Claus as the god-figure rather than Christ.Many people, even Christians, would insist that the whole Santa Claus thing is just a bit of harmless fun. Well, I know this is not a popular message, but Santa Claus is a false god. Let me explain.1) According to the Santa myth, he is very, very old - eternal in fact. The famous "Letter to Virginia" published by the editor of the New York Sun in 1897 boldly declares that Santa will live forever. Yet 1st Timothy 6:16 says that only God is eternal. 2) The Santa myth says that Santa "knows when we are sleeping, he knows when we're awake, he knows if we've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!" In other words, Santa is omniscient, all-seeing. Yet the Bible clearly says that only God is omniscient. (2 Chr 16:9, Ps 11:4, Prov 15:3) This is no "little white lie" - this is major blasphemy!3) The Santa myth says that Santa personally delivers presents to each child on the same night. When little children ask their parents how he can do such a feat, they are simply told that "Nothing is impossible for Santa!" Sounds a bit like Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing will be impossible." 4) Santa, according to the myth, is infinitely kind and good. He loves children, is always happy and generous. But in Mark 10:18, Jesus said "Why do you call me good? No-one is good but One, that is, God." And the gospels make it very plain that little children were very much drawn to Jesus. They often sat on His knee. What irony that so many children today sit on Santa's knee in shopping centres and other places. Who do they think about on Christmas Eve? Jesus or Santa? Who do they look to in joyful faith? Jesus or Santa? Who holds their love and affection? Jesus or Santa? A well-known Christian organisation held a Christmas appeal which featured a "letter to Santa" that some young child had written. In it, the child asks Santa to "get Daddy a job so we can all be happy again", "make Mum and Dad stop fighting" and "make sure the new baby is well when it arrives." Do you think it's right that the precious prayers of little children are directed to a false god who cannot save or help in any way? Even worse, Santa Claus is also known as Father Christmas, a blasphemous title that sets him up as the father figure right at the time when we are supposedly celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.The Santa myth is not a collection of "little white lies" at all, but a major distortion of the truth about god. The first of the Ten Commandments says: "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." Now a god can be anything really, but when you ascribe supernatural qualities to someone like Santa and then look to him for rewards and blessings, you've definitely got a false god by any standards. God loves children and greatly desires their love and faith. But both faith and devotion are redirected to Santa because of the myth that is perpetrated! Jesus actually said that it would be better to have a heavy stone tied around your neck and to be thrown into the sea than to lead astray one of His little children! (Matt 18:6)I haven't even mentioned the excessive materialism, greed and coveting that happens in the name of Santa Claus. Nor have I mentioned the issue of trust between parents and children. I believe that, if parents are willing to perpetuate a lie for so many years, they are sowing distrust into the lives of their children. The thing is, Santa is unlike every other fantasy that children come across. They know that the Power Rangers are not real. Or Oscar the Grouch or Mickey Mouse. But they are constantly told (by all the adults they know) that Santa is actually real. Thus it is no longer a harmless fantasy, but a serious deception. No amount of excitement on Christmas Eve can justify betraying the precious trust that our children place in us.There's so much more to say! But let me finish by saying that this is precisely the kind of issue we will face if we are serious about living a radical Christian lifestyle. When will Christians learn that Satan can present himself as an angel of light, in order to draw away the faith of men, women and children? The image of Santa is so nice and friendly but there can be no doubt. He is a substitute god and does not deserve all the attention he gets!
The Christian Subculture Concept Page - written and edited by Steve McNeilly

if you have any comments feel free to email me mommyofejandg@yahoo.com!