SANTA!?!
Why do you tell your children to be good because Santa is watching, and when they find out that Santa is not real, you then tell them to be good because Jesus is watching? Besides the fact that you are lying to your kids, you are teaching them NOT to believe in God.
Mathew 6:24, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. ..." KJV
2007-12-06 11:05:20 · 33 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Teaching your children the truth does not deprive them of anything. I was never told that Santa was real; I always knew the truth, and I do not consider myself to have been deprived of my childhood either.
2007-12-06 11:35:20 · update #1
If children behave because they think Santa is watching them, then they are indeed serving Santa as a master in much the same way Christians should serve Christ. The mind of a child is very simple, and I see sometimes that the minds of adults can be likewise simple.
2007-12-06 12:01:14 · update #2
Mistine G, I'm sorry you had such a rotten childhood, or perhaps you just don't realize the gravity of the effect this could bring to children who have any form of reasoning ability.
2007-12-08 16:24:46 · update #3
I have wondered this myself. My family and I are Christians and I have always told my son the truth about Santa. He was fine as long as he still gets presents at Christmas. Ha
But you would not believe the flak I caught from the church and family about ruining his childhood. Like a father lying to his child is good!
I will not tell my son to believe in two things he cannot see only to have him find out later I lied about one... why not the other?
2007-12-06 11:21:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
We teach the kids all about Jesus' birth and study Matthew and Luke . Santa is just all about fun.I love the tree,the decorations the outdoor lights.It is just a ball during the winter when everything else is cold and drab.
Santa is hardly a "master".Besides it is based on the true story of St. Nicholas a real person.
2007-12-06 11:13:37 · answer #2 · answered by AngelsFan 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can't speak for Christianity as a whole, but I have never taught my kids to believe in Santa. They know that Dad and Mom buy the gifts, and they are appropriately thankful to Dad and Mom. They also understand that some years we can afford less than others, and that Christmas is time to give not get.
I have allowed them to watch Rudolf, and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and other things like that, but they know Santa is just a made up story. They also know that other kids believe it, and I've explained to them that its not their place to tell them otherwise, they'll figure it out eventually.
Basically, I agree with you.
2007-12-06 11:10:09 · answer #3 · answered by Thrice Blessed 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I agree. And IMHO, celebrating "Santa" at Christmas instead of focusing solely on Jesus' birth has added to the confusion about Christmas and what it is all about.
Why? As you mentioned, instead of focusing on the gift of Jesus--we focus on material things. Also, if we lie to our children about Santa being real...when they find out the truth about Santa, will they think/believe that we are lying about a Savior being born and dying for their sins as well? If you compare the two, both Jesus and Santa are unseen. Both are celebrated at Christmas. If our children are told to believe in both--then later are told we were only *pretending* that Santa is real—he’s really not… What about Jesus? They may think he's just pretend as well. It can be quite confusing to a child who thinks logically.
Instead we should explain to them that God the Father sent the best gift in the world--Jesus our Savior--to us at Christmas. That is the reason we celebrate by giving others gifts as well. We are doing our best to imitate our heavenly Father.
For those who think this idea deprives children--I grew up with parents who told us the truth about Santa and Jesus. Instead of feeling cheated and/or deprived that we didn't get presents from "Santa", I felt privileged to be in on the grown-up "secret" of the truth. I also happily told any grown-up who asked what I was getting from Santa; that I didn't believe in Santa... But I believed in celebrating Jesus being born to save us from our sins. :-)
Finally...I hate to even mention this...but in today's society, it's important to consider the ramifications of our actions as parents. So, I wonder why any parent would willingly put/force their darling child to sit on the lap of a complete stranger (for Santa pictures etc.) and think that it's okay. What exactly are we teaching our children by this?
Blessings this Christmas to all! :-)
.
2007-12-06 11:25:01 · answer #4 · answered by oooooolala! 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You are right that it's not a good idea to teach about Santa, the Easter bunny, or tooth fairy etc. because then why should they believe us if we tell them about Jesus. I totally agree. I have no intention of teaching my son or future children to believe in anything that is not real. Jesus is real and he is who I will be teaching my children to believe in.
2007-12-06 12:32:21 · answer #5 · answered by Dani Marie 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm so glad I did not get married or have children until I had a strong walk with the Lord. I agree with you 100% on this, and my children have never been told that Santa is any kind of real. Same with the easter rabbit and the tooth fairy.
2007-12-06 11:14:23 · answer #6 · answered by teran_realtor 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I have never done that and I was never told that by my parents. As a matter of fact that is one thing my parents made sure I understood, that there was no such thing as santa. All in my family know there is no such thing as santa.
2007-12-06 11:19:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
GOOD question, i dont know, i was in church and one of the member started telling her daughter to behave or Santa wont come!!. they don't realise what they are doing.
when the child finds that Santa is false then why wouldn't they think the same of Jesus seeing that they have been deceived.
2007-12-06 11:09:38 · answer #8 · answered by mg© - anti VT™ MG AM© Fundi4Life 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Because for little kids the thought of a man bringing them gifts (as perverted as that sounds) is kinda exciting! I remember as a kid i was SOO excited at Christmas, At that young age, alot of children have imaginary friends, Santa ia just one of them. Why ruin their childhood. It's nice to have something to believe in that makes you happy.
2007-12-06 11:11:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't tell anyone to believe in Santa.
Santa isn't real.
He is glorfied and he should not be.
God is to be glorified. On Jesus's birthday, not Santa.
In Japan, they once put Santa on a cross.
I guess they were confused on what the US shows.
2007-12-06 11:11:44 · answer #10 · answered by * 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋