Santa Claus
Does the man in the red suit spell “Saint” or “Satan” for Christmas?
Introduction
1. Poll:Asachild,howmanypeopleheretodayrememberbelievinginSantafor anyperiodoftime?
2. Poll:Withyourchildren,howmanypeoplehave
a. allowedtheirchildrentobelieveSantawasrealwithoutreallyinfluencing themonewayoranother.
b. activelyencouragedbeliefinSantaandeverythingthatgoesalongwithit.
c. activelytoldtheirchildrenthatSantawasn’trealanddiscouragedall thingsSantaatChristmastime.
d. toldtheirchildrenSantawasn’treal,butallowedSantatobeapartof Christmasinafun,playfulway.
e. taughttheirchildrenaboutSt.Nicholas,theBishopofMyra.
What Are We Trying to Accomplish?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God. The Lord is one! 5Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6These words that I am commanding you today are to be on your heart. 7Teach them diligently to your children, and speak about them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as a sign on your wrists, and they will serve as symbols on your forehead. 9Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.
1. DescribetheresponsibilityGodgivesparentswithrespecttotheirchildren.
Mark 10:13-16
13Some people began bringing little children to Jesus so that he would touch them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said, “Let the little children come to me! Do not hinder them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Amen I tell you: Whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16And he took the little children in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
2. Asparentscarryoutthisresponsibility,whatcharacteristicofchildrenaids them?Whyisthatcharacteristicofchildrensomethingtobetakenseriously?
Luke 2:10-14
10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: 11Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.”
3. Whatistheangels’(andhumankind’s)responsetothegoodnewsofgreatjoy thatGodsenthisSontobetheSavior?
Romans 4:4-5
4Now to a person who works, his pay is not counted as a gift but as something owed. 5But to the person who does not work but believes in the God who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness.
4 InadditiontoteachingourchildrenaboutGod’sgreatestgift,whatdowe wantthemtoknowaboutthereasonforwhichthisgiftwasgiven?
How Do We Best Accomplish It?
Evaluate each argument in favor of and against allowing children to believe in Santa Claus. Which one presents the stronger case in each instance?
Santa=Satan
1. FocusonSantatakesthefocusoff ofJesusatChristmas.
2. Parentsshouldn’tlietotheir children.
Santa=Saint
FocusonSantaaddstothejoyof Christmasandmakesitmorespecial forchildren.
Parentslietotheirchildrenallthe timewhenitservesagoodpurpose. (Canyouthinkofexamples?)
3. TellingyourchildrenthatSantais realblursthelinebetweenfantasy andfaith.
EncouragingbeliefinSantafosters wonderandimaginationand encouragesbeliefinthesupernatural.
4. Santaoperatesonasystemof work-righteousnessthat underminesthegospel.
5. TheSantaissueallowsparentsto teachtheirchildrenanimportant lessonabouthowdifferentfamilies havedifferentrulesandcustoms.
ThestoryoftherealSt.Nicholasisa storyofunmeritedgenerositythat actuallyreinforcesgrace.
OR
Santaprovidesahealthy,annual opportunitytoteachchildrenthat, whilewedon’tsuffereternallyforour sinsbecauseofGod’sgraceandJesus’ work,ourbehaviorandactionsdo havetemporalconsequences.
ChildrenwhoaretoldthatSantaisn’t realwillinevitablyruinitforchildren whoaretoldthatheis.
6. RegardlessofthedecisionparentsmakeaboutSanta,whataresomewaysthat parentscanhelptheirchildrenstayfocusedontheimportantmeaningof Christmasinspiteofeverythingwemightbemoanabouttheholidayseason?
BONUS MATERIAL
1. Howwouldyourespondtothisstatement?“NotonlybecauseofSantabut alsobecauseofallthecommercializationandsecularizationofChristmas, ChristiansshouldpickanewtimeofyeartocelebratethebirthofChrist. December25hasnohistoricalbasisanyway.”
2. ResearchSt.Nicholas,BishopofMyra.Whatdidhe(reportedly)doatthe CouncilofNicaeainA.D.325?
3. DiscussamorerecentChristmastradition,ElfontheShelf.Howdoesthis traditioncomparewithSantaClaus?Wouldyourconclusionabouttaking partinthistraditionbethesameasyourconclusionaboutSantaClausor different?
4. Howdootherchildhoodmyths(toothfairy,Easterbunny)comparetoSanta Claus?Howisthediscussionaboutthoseexamplesthesame?Howisit different?