This essay was inspired by a thread at
www.freerepublic.com:
Teacher defends
"Santa" remarks
As I was reading through this thread I was surprised by the number of folks who were so quick to defend the teaching of a "little fun" (AKA - A LIE).
I began to ask myself a few questions: "What DO we (my wife and I) teach our children, ages 6 and 3?" "What should our children tell other children about Santa?" "What should WE tell other children about Santa Claus?" And, "Did this teacher do the 'right' thing?"
I'll start out with some simple Bible verses. I would like you to keep these verses in mind throughout this essay. 1st Timothy 4:1,2 and verse 7 (emphasis mine)
1 Timothy 4:1 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
and
7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
In fact, it may be worthwhile to read through the entire chapter of 1st Timothy 4. It's only 16 verses. Go ahead...I'll wait.
Did you read it? If so, you should be able to see that this chapter is dealing with 2 things: The end times and day-to-day living within the Church. I think this fits quite well with the teaching of Santa Claus, as Christians, to our children.
Quite simply: We wait until they ask us about Santa.
Then we tell them the truth.
We don't even use the word "Santa" around the house as anything of discussion, so the only way our 6-year-old heard about it was from one of three ways: Other kids (most likely), TV (very possible), or other adults (unlikely, but still possible - I'll deal with this possibility later.)
When my (at the time) 4-year-old daughter came to us and asked us about Santa Claus we told her the truth. She was indifferent and apathetic. (NO BIG DEAL TO HER!) It was like her asking why snow falls from the sky? She asked, we gave her an honest, straightforward answer. She was about 4 at the time. She was satisfied with the answer...which was the truth. I want to make sure you all read this again:
She was satisfied with the truth.
Then came the school age. Or TV. Or other influences. No matter. She was bombarded with promises of "Santa coming to bring presents" from all sides. She turned 6. Her sister turns 3 in Jan. 2006. (The little one doesn't ask anything....yet.)
I want to end this section with the hardest part for me to write, especially if you choose the path we chose.
Matthew 7:14 - Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it
My 6-year-old little daughter coming to me, in tears, about the first week in December 2005. She WANTED a "Santa Claus" to come to our house. She wanted US to believe in Santa Claus!
I was hurt.
Here is my precious little girl, sobbing (with real tears), because Santa Claus would not be coming to our house. (Or ANY house, for that matter.) My wife was crushed and without a decent way to satiate the tears of her daughter. My wife came to me, explained the situation and GOD showed me what to do and say.
I started out simply by asking what was wrong? She sniffled, "Santa Claus won't be bringing any presents to our house!" I calmly replied, "That's correct. Mommy and Daddy give you those presents." The almost incorrigible reply was, "But I want SANTA to bring them...!" (More sobbing.)
Why Santa? I asked.
"....because...!?" (Ah...we're getting somewhere!) "'cause...cause..I WANT SANTA!"
Ah!
She didn't want "Santa" to bring her gifts...she wanted US TO BELIEVE IN SANTA!
Matthew 18:1-6 1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Please, let us all understand this desire of my daughter?
She WANTED, to the point of tears, to have US, her parents, to believe in Santa. THAT, my friends and readers is what I believe the above verses to mean. When we come to the Lord as a child. We not only WANT to believe. We are in tears for those who don't.
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
She knows there is no Santa, no Easter Bunny, no Tooth Fairy and so on. But she knows there is a GOD. And there is a Jesus. And there is a Holy Spirit.
We do not LIE TO OUR CHILDREN.
Honestly? We don't tell them to SAY anything.
That, is a tough one. We should not, as a rule, go around and tell the kids there is no Santa. But, IF YOU ARE ASKED....tell the truth.
Can you do that? What if your neighbor's kid came up to and you if there was a "Santa Claus"?
Would you lie?
Dwell on this:
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Then answer.
No.
She could have expressed her dismay to the principal. And, of course, the results would be in the hands of God.
1st Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
I, myself, need to be more quiet.
Don't you think?
Scott