Do you really think He wants this?

[Jaxxi]

Do you really think Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior wants us celebrating a day in His honor by giving worldly goods and lying through our teeth to our children? They think Santa is real, and they hear its Jesus Birthday- then they find out Santa is NOT real and subconsciously assume Jesus isn't real either. When do we stop this dangerous tradition of lying on Christmas? So the question is " Do you think Jesus would want us celebrating His holy birth by lying to our kids about Santa?

* this question is not to condemn anyone as I am guilty of doing this with my children until I thought about it and I am just wondering if any other Christians have thought about it! Do you think He would want this?

 

[Albion]

You're not obliged to lie to the children in order to celebrate the birth of the Savior. But before calling a harmless fairy tale told to the youngest of children a "lie"...consider all the other lies that are told them on a regular basis so that they will not suffer or will be happy.

The death of a beloved family member or pet, for instance, or the reason some long-expected event had to be cancelled, for another example. Or that nothing will change just because Daddy lost his job. That sort of thing.

It's interesting how those lies are told in order to shelter the children from the rough realities of life, but when it comes to Christmas joy...then everything must be exactly 100% true or else!!!

 

[Strathos]

Santa was real.

Saint Nicholas - Wikipedia

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Do you really think Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior wants us celebrating a day in His honor by giving worldly goods and lying through our teeth to our children? They think Santa is real, and they hear its Jesus Birthday- then they find out Santa is NOT real and subconsciously assume Jesus isn't real either. Satan and Santa look a lot a like on paper- Don't you think Jesus would much rather have your personal gift of holiness? A lie is a lie- isn't this wrong? When do we stop this dangerous tradition of lying on Christmas?

Christmas is of pagan Sun god origin and had nothing to do with the birth of JESUS. You may also want to google the pagan origins of the Christmas tree

The unexpected origins of popular Christmas traditions
Mithra, god of the sun, was born on December 25, day of the winter solstice
Why Christmas is held on 25th December
Mazda Publishers - December 25: The Birthday of Mithra and Jesus
Mithra: The Pagan Christ

Much paganism was introduced into the Roman Catholic Church under the guise of trying to reach the masses who were pagan. Today we have paganism under the guise of Christianity being taught in our Churches. This is only a glimpse. You can google a bit more if you like about the Easter bunny if your interested and the pagan fertility rites. BABYLON has fallen God is calling His people out from following these man made teachings and traditions back to the pure Word of God - Revelation 18:1-5

God bless

 

[Job3315]

Do you really think Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior wants us celebrating a day in His honor by giving worldly goods and lying through our teeth to our children? They think Santa is real, and they hear its Jesus Birthday- then they find out Santa is NOT real and subconsciously assume Jesus isn't real either. Satan and Santa look a lot a like on paper- Don't you think Jesus would much rather have your personal gift of holiness? A lie is a lie- isn't this wrong? When do we stop this dangerous tradition of lying on Christmas?

I stopped celebrating secular holidays years ago.
And the elf on the shelf? Teaching kids someone needs to be watching you to behave instead of behaving because that's their identity.

 

[Norbert L]

A lie is a lie- isn't this wrong?

I agree with your overall assessment except this question needs clarifying. Sometimes (rare occurrence) lying is a good thing. Take for instance during WWII and you're hiding Jews from being sent to an extermination camp. The Nazi's ask you the question, do you know anyone hiding Jews? Your answer is no but this would be a lie. Is such an answer right in the eyes of God?

 

[bèlla]

We celebrated Christmas but my daughter was aware that Santa wasn’t real. I told her the truth.

Yours in His Service,

~bella

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

Don't you think Jesus would much rather have your personal gift of holiness?

Sure, but the kids kind of get disappointed when they unwrap their “personal gifts of holiness”.

Probably get traumatized and all that yelling and crying.

 

[Albion]

I stopped celebrating secular holidays years ago.
And the elf on the shelf? Teaching kids someone needs to be watching you to behave instead of behaving because that's their identity.

The Nativity of Our Lord is not a "secular" holiday. The secular world has adopted it and made its own modifications that we aren't obliged to follow, but it's our holy day or holiday.

 

[Isilwen]

Do you really think Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior wants us celebrating a day in His honor by giving worldly goods and lying through our teeth to our children? They think Santa is real, and they hear its Jesus Birthday- then they find out Santa is NOT real and subconsciously assume Jesus isn't real either. Satan and Santa look a lot a like on paper- Don't you think Jesus would much rather have your personal gift of holiness? A lie is a lie- isn't this wrong? When do we stop this dangerous tradition of lying on Christmas?

Don't want to partake, the don't. Do you allow your kids to play pretend at all is what I wonder?

 

[tulc]

Here's the thing about Christmas: you want to celebrate it? Celebrate it and don't judge people who don't. You don't want to celebrate it? Than don't just don't judge people who do. You can have any or no reason for either one, where the problems come in is when you decide "I don't do that and I don't think you should either!" The first part is okay, the second part is not your job.
tulc(thinks it's pretty simple really)

 

[Jaxxi]

You're not obliged to lie to the children in order to celebrate the birth of the Savior. But before calling a harmless fairy tale told to the youngest of children a "lie"...consider all the other lies that are told them on a regular basis so that they will not suffer or will be happy.

The death of a beloved family member or pet, for instance, or the reason some long-expected event had to be cancelled, for another example. Or that nothing will change just because Daddy lost his job. That sort of thing.

It's interesting how those lies are told in order to shelter the children from the rough realities of life, but when it comes to Christmas joy...then everything must be exactly 100% true or else!!!

You did not answer the question. You danced around it with sarcasm but that is not an answer. It is a poor defense however.

 

[GirdYourLoins]

Santa was real.

Saint Nicholas - Wikipedia[/QUOTE

Santa was real.

Saint Nicholas - Wikipedia

St Nicholas was real, Santa as we "know" him today was invented by Coca Cola or rather popularized in this guise.

 

[Jaxxi]

Here's the thing about Christmas: you want to celebrate it? Celebrate it and don't judge people who don't. You don't want to celebrate it? Than don't just don't judge people who do. You can have any or no reason for either one, where the problems come in is when you decide "I don't do that and I don't think you should either!" The first part is okay, the second part is not your job.
tulc(thinks it's pretty simple really)

There is no judgement in this question. Not from me, but the One who is being celebrated will judge. Are you going to tell Him the same thing?

 

[Job3315]

The Nativity of Our Lord is not a "secular" holiday. The secular world has adopted it and made its own modifications that we aren't obliged to follow, but it's our holy day or holiday.

That's what I meant with secular. I still celebrate and honor Jesus birth. I thought christians would understand what I meant with secular. I guess not all do.

 

[Elliewaves]

It might be unwise to glorify Santa, but I don't think it's a path to eternal damnation for parents and children. If it convicts you; then don't do it.

 

[Ophiolite]

Do you really think Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior wants us celebrating a day in His honor by giving worldly goods and lying through our teeth to our children? They think Santa is real, and they hear its Jesus Birthday- then they find out Santa is NOT real and subconsciously assume Jesus isn't real either. Satan and Santa look a lot a like on paper- Don't you think Jesus would much rather have your personal gift of holiness? A lie is a lie- isn't this wrong? When do we stop this dangerous tradition of lying on Christmas?

If you perceive the concept of Santa as intended to be literally true then it is, as you surmise, a lie. Other members have suggested why that may not be as much of an issue as you suggest. I take a different tack.

If you take the concept of Santa as a metaphor then it is no longer a lie and has positive attributes.

• It teaches that positive behaviour may be rewarded
• It celebrates the wonder and innocence of childhood
• It evokes a sense of global connection
• Once the child becomes aware of the truth they can recgonise the selfless behaviour of their parents in passing the credit for the presents to another. (Or perhaps you see that as just another lie.)

If you had argued that Christmas is overcommercialised I would have grimaced and noted that any commercialisation is inappropriate for a Christian festival. I suggest that is an issue that should be of concern to Christians in relation to how it is celebrated, rather than worries about what @Albion called "a harmless fairy tale". (First time I've agreed with anything Albion has posted. Perhaps thinking about Santa has made me more agreeable.)

 

[Jaxxi]

Yes, and he died December 6th, 343 A.D. and was not resurrected. He hasn't left squat for any child for over 1500 years= lying to children.

 

[Jaxxi]

It might be unwise to glorify Santa, but I don't think it's a path to eternal damnation for parents and children. If it convicts you; then don't do it.

That is a fair answer. You don't see the danger in sinning to children on a holy day dedicated to the Lord? It won't affect me in any way if others do this. Could it convict them? Shouldn't we think about this a little more rather than follow traditions blindly?

 

[Jaxxi]

If you perceive the concept of Santa as intended to be literally true then it is, as you surmise, a lie. Other members have suggested why that may not be as much of an issue as you suggest. I take a different tack.

If you take the concept of Santa as a metaphor then it is no longer a lie and has positive attributes.

• It teaches that positive behaviour may be rewarded
• It celebrates the wonder and innocence of childhood
• It evokes a sense of global connection
• Once the child becomes aware of the truth they can recgonise the selfless behaviour of their parents in passing the credit for the presents to another. (Or perhaps you see that as just another lie.)

If you had argued that Christmas is overcommercialised I would have grimaced and noted that any commercialisation is inappropriate for a Christian festival. I suggest that is an issue that should be of concern Christians in relation to how it is celebrated, rather than worries about what @Albion called "a harmless fairy tale". (First time I've agreed with anything Albion has posted. Perhaps thinking about Santa has made me more agreeable.)

Ask any child how they took it when they found out Santa wasn't real. They will tell you they were lied to. Period. But that is a nice back peddle.