Is This Helping? A Gen Y Christian's Thoughts on Santa

I don't know how long the debate on Santa Claus has been going on among Christians.  I am old enough to remember some of the battles of the 1980s, and the question of whether Santa Claus was evil - groups that promoted Santa and Satan having the same lettering in their names, or quoting passages like Jeremiah 10 to make the argument that Christmas trees are listed as pagan idols in the Bible.  Many of those battles have been fought, and probably are still being fought in some areas.  I think it is safe to say that most Christians have good reason NOT to view either Santa Claus or Christmas trees, or Rankin-Bass stop motion animation stories like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (thank goodness, it's a classic) as being evil.

That being said, there is no doubt that with all the good intentions of Christmas traditions, the message of Christmas has become so diluted that it is nauseating.  To a majority of the world Christmas is identified with Santa, reindeers, etc., which is a tragedy.  The message of Christmas- Jesus' coming to earth to dwell among us, and give His life as a ransom for many, is not only the most important, but the most entertaining and fulfilling part of this time of year.  That being said, this post is not about that specific subject.

As a parent, I have started to examine the role that Santa Claus plays in raising children from a new vantage point, and it has caused me to look at this more closely and carefully.  I'm cautious about appearing like a fanatic, but I think it is helpful for believers in Christ to examine what it is they do, and often tradition clouds the minds of people more than anything else.  We do it because it is just what we do.

I am really worried about some of the consequences that could take place in the life of a child who is told that Santa Claus exists, and that he brings presents for good little girls and boys on Christmas, and I want to briefly highlight why my wife and I are opting out of teaching our children about a literal Santa Claus, though allowing them to enjoy him as a fictional person (the same way they would enjoy Thomas the Train or Cinderella).

1. It's problematic for any person to teach their child something that isn't true, particularly about a matter that involves faith.  When my child realizes that mom and dad were helping them become part of a cultural myth, and essentially were lying to them, it creates in them some sense of doubting the unseen. As a pastor, I have seen a good deal of people walk away from their faith, and many times it is over a disbelief that something that good could be true.  I wonder if growing out of myths about the tooth fairy and Santa Claus has conditioned them to think that anything they are told about the unseen and supernatural is just too good to be true.
2. Teaching children to obey based on what gifts they will receive is detrimental.  There are a number of bad things in the parenting style of "Santa Claus is watching you."

• Christians are called to obey out of submission to authority and out of love, not based on what they will get in return.  Children who only learn to do good things to get something out of it aren't understanding their role in the world, much less the meaning of Christmas.
• Santa Claus is not the judge of human behavior, God is.  Establishing anyone as an all-seeing, all-knowing person is giving deity or godness to them.  Children who learn to behave well so the all-seeing, all-knowing being will reward them WILL struggle in some way not to treat God as the cosmic Santa who can't help but reward them based on their own merit.

1. (Number 3) I can't help but think it would be far more helpful for children to be thankful for the efforts of their parents and their families.  One of the central truths from the Bible is seeing God as the loving Father who gives good things to His children.  Would it not be helpful for children to appreciate their parents and see the love they have for them in the gifts they give?

I really hope our kids can enjoy all the fluff of Christmas, but my big desire is for their hearts to be softened by the true message of Christmas.  So here's to my kids not being invited to sleepovers at your kid's house (we ARE trying to navigate these things without being the ones who ruin Christmas for those folks who don't share our convictions).