Santa or Satan?
I had a discussion about this with some friends last night, and I’m interested to hear what some of you think.Â
We can all agree that Christmas is underattack all over the world, and to most of us, that’s an outrageous thing. So, don’t take this as another such attack but just a question.Â
This doesn’t really have to do with youth ministry, but does have to do with Christmas. Should we as Christians make Santa Claus out to be a real guy? I mean someone who’s actually alive and going to visit our kids? Should we tell them that?
I don’t think that Santa is Satan, even though they are both red and have funny things on their heads.
All joking aside, here’s the question. And, I’d love to read your comments supporting your view. Oh, and next we’ll be asking about Bubba Claus.
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Comments
thats a tough call. I like the approach of telling them about Santa as Saint Nickolas, who gave gifts (I think it was money) to the poor around this time of year, and his giving of gifts now represents taking care of those around us.
I was, too. But, I’m tending to side with the truth.
Here’s a question. If I tell my kids Santa is real, and they find out he isn’t. What will that say to them about God, who they can’t see, but I’ve told them is real?
Were you raised in a Christian home? If so, what did that say to you about God when you found out? I know I didn’t have any issues with it at all. The only time that would be an issue is if the kids haven’t experienced God, and knowing you and your kids, don’t think thats gonna be a problem.
I was raised in a somewhat Christian home, and I’m not sure what impact it had on me. I don’t remember when I realized he wasn’t real.
But, as a parent, I have to look at things differently and not so much say “what did my parents do”, but rather ask the question, “what’s the right thing to do, regardless of what others do.”
I just can’t get past the idea that telling my kids Santa is coming to bring them presents is not the truth. To tell you the truth, I’ve already made that decision. I just wanted to see what others thought about it.
I told Ashlyn that Santa is pretend & she’s fine with that. Kids have an amazing imagination. She doesn’t totally understand, because when we go to the mall she says, “Daddy, is that the real Santa or a pretend Santa?”
We’re still going to put out presents as if Santa brought them to her, but will let her know that it’s pretend, that Jesus is real, and that we’re celebrating his birth, which was real.
I just can’t get past lying to my kids. And call it what you want, telling them Santa is real is not the truth, so it is lying.
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Do we lie to our kids about anything else and feel good about it?