Question:
Hi Rich,
My husband and I have a question that we would like your comments on, as we highly value your opinion. What should two Bible believing parents tell their children about Santa? Thank you!
J____________
My Answer:
Dear J__________,
Thank you for valuing my opinion. I wish I had more to offer you in this area. Elizabeth and I are still thinking about this. I imagine we will handle it in this way:
I don't think Santa is "evil" as some Christians do. I think there is a value to being culturally aware, otherwise we will have no common ground to engage our culture. We will probably teach Carmen that Santa is a fun legend that people use to make Christmas fun and exciting. Of course, we will emphasize the coming of God in Christ, the miracle, mystery, and necessity of the incarnation, and the significance of the glorious gospel announced by the angels, but I hope to do this more than once a year at Christmas time! Hopefully, the incarnation of Christ and good news of the gospel will constantly be celebrated in our home!
I think we will let Carmen have fun with the idea of Santa Claus. We will not go out of our way to convince her that it is true, since it is not. But we do want her to know that it is a fun legend that Americans have devised to make Christmas fun for everybody, since everybody doesn't believe in Jesus. That's probably how we'll present it. That way she will realize that Santa is a harmless substitute in some way for those who reject the celebration of Jesus. In the process, she'll also learn that not everybody believes in Jesus. She will also learn that Santa is not real, but that he is fun, and that fun is not always bad if it doesn't eclipse the truth.
Anyway, those are a few random thoughts. Elizabeth and I will continue to work on how best to present this. We are working together in this thing. By no means, do I think that this is the big deal that some Christians make it out to be! Santa is not Satan! He is merely a harmless diversion. And like all diversions, a focus on Santa can, at the very least lead people away from the truth. But this by no means is the intended purpose of the legend.
Finally, at some time or other, it might be an enjoyable exercise to study the kernel of truth that underlies the legend of Saint Nick. We may very well find a man who was committed to Christ and thus committed to serving and loving others as well.
Your brother in Christ,
Rich
Postscript: Upon further thought, we should probably be more concerned for the rampant consumerism of Christmas than we are for Santa. What good is it to be hyper-concerned that our children don't embrace Santa if they subsequently embrace selfishness and consumerism through our multiplied gifts and toys? A focus on the poor and needy might be of more importance, therefore, than debunking the myth of Santa!
© Richard J. Vincent, December 30, 1999
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