Santa Claus
I'm going to bring it up.
Santa Claus...I don't know if I buy into it. I don't know if it is at all beneficial for Christians to raise their kids to believe that there is a Santa Claus. I haven't made up my mind yet, and I'd like to hear some input from you guys.
Here are some of my issues - I think that we as a church try to constantly to get people to realize that JESUS is the reason for the season (Christian cliche number 1 for this time of year). But how is it that we always have Santa Claus visiting our churches...does this not seem strange to anyone else? I do realize that kids are often too young to see certain truths. And that it can be a seemingly innocent thing. But really...when kids come to realize that there is no Santa Claus, or Easter Bunny etc. what if they start to really wonder how Jesus is different?
Also, what about all the kids in Africa or even here in Canada who's parents can't afford to buy them gifts, and Santa who is "checking his list, counting it twice, going to see who's naughty or nice"... what the heck will those kids think? Or do rich kids in North America think that poor kids aren't special enough?
What are we to do as a church? What about someone dressing up as Jesus to give out presents? It sounds funny at first, but I am just trying to play with different thoughts...trying to wrestle over my own opinions. So let the deliberating begin...share your thoughts.
KiR xox
posted by KiR @ 10:31
3 Comments:
Since you asked... LOL.
I wasn't sure either.
Until I had kids.
By the time our oldest was 3 'Santa' just kind of happened. It was magical and wonderful... and completely seperate from Jesus and the religious part of the holiday. The lights, the twinkle, the carols, the decor and Santa just went hand in hand.
I'm 34. I have 3 kiddos and we did Santa. It's a tough decision... some of our friends did not. Some did. I remembered the magic and the feeling of Santa from when I was small and I ended up passing that on to my kids. It just happened. ;)
This is a very difficult one, and one I couldn't decide on until I had kids. The fantasy characters actually feed our kids a lie and totally distract them from the true meaning of both Christmas and Easter. We have never done the Easter Bunny, that's just crazy! We do however fill Easter baskets and hunt for easter eggs. They just know it is from us. They really don't care because they still get some candy.
Santa is harder because he is spoken of everywhere! Even when we have given them the impression that we are Santa, it is still up to them if they believe it or not.
More and more we have become so disheartened by the commercialism of Christmas that we have actually told them that Santa is just pretend. They believe it for a moment until the next commercial comes on or they see him in the mall. There is something very magical about it all, the anticipation and wonder. Even though we have told them the truth, they will say "There is a santa, I know there is" and that is up to them.
There are ways of making sure Jesus is exalted high above everything else at Christmas--it just takes a lot of effort. Thankfully our oldest has a firm grasp on what Christmas is about and why we celebrate.
You know I've struggled with this question as well... and since I played Santa at our last Church banquet, I guess I should through my two cents in.
For a while, when I was a young Christian, looking for the "devil" in all things not "christian", I was one who said that Santa and Satan are just a couple of letters misplaced. Could they be one in the same?
I've learnt the answer to that one: Of course not! Santa, no matter how commercial it has all become, was and is a true historical figure. He was Saint Nicholas, a bishop, who went around and left "gifts" for less fortunate families. You can check out this site for more info on him.
Anyway, the way I feel about it is that the onus is upon the parents to help their children know the true "reason for the season." Santa, or having "Santa" bring gifts, are just traditions... not doctrine, nor absolute truth. Traditions and customs ARE very important. They help mold us into the people we are. And just like with anything, traditions in themselves are neither evil nor good, it's what we do with them.
So really, Santa needs to be something your family decides if they want to do that or not. We do not have to make everything "super-spiritual"... we are allowed to have some fun.
Besides, most of the kids knew it was me playing Santa anyway :p
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