It saddens me that I need to say this, but someone must.
Jesus is absolute truth. Santa is fiction, just as Cat in the Hat and Barney the purple dinosaur are fiction. Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not against Santa Claus. I'm simply for Jesus.
I'm an avid supporter of fiction. I relish the way truth can be taught with stories, but blending truth and fiction serves only to create confusion.
Yes. I read Santa stories to my son when he was small, but I made it clear that Santa was fiction. I explained it as a game adults and children play. A sometimes confusing game.
I know most parents don't tell their children this, but I told Ryan it was easier for people to embrace Santa than to embrace Jesus for one simple reason. The mythical Santa gives presents and temporary happiness. Jesus gives us Himself and expects us to obey Him. He brings joy that lasts.
It's easier to accept presents from Santa than to give ourselves to Christ, even if Santa is not real.
It's no wonder the world is confused about Christmas. We, the Christians who should know better, have played the Santa game with such enthusiasm that we've convinced the world Christmas is as much about Santa as it is about Jesus.
The world has happily accepted Santa. I wonder, though, if we'd spent as much time and money celebrating Jesus as we have Santa, would the world understand Jesus a little better? Would they be drawn to Him?
It is El Roi, The God Who Sees, who is watching, and the Son of God, Jesus, who is the greatest gift-giver, for He gave Himself.
Mary recognized the watchfulness of God. He had seen her poverty, her low status as a woman in a male-dominated world, her seeming insignificance. He had taken note of her and He entrusted her with the gift of His Son.
"For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave..." (Luke 1:48 nasb)
He knows us, too. He has taken note of us, our status, our insignificance and, incredibly, He has entrusted us with the gift of His Son, too.
It is our job as disciples to communicate that truth of Jesus with clarity to a world that has basked in its confusion.
God wrapped Himself in flesh, squeezed all His God-ness into the form of a baby, and came to live with us, walk with us, laugh with us, weep with us. Before He left, He died for us and rose again. He sent His Spirit to stay with us and help us through this mixed-up, confusing world.
We have great news, and it's much better than a fat man in a red suit with a bag of toys. We have news that can change the world. It would change the world, if we would only tell it.
This Christmas, let's get our stories straight. Accept fiction as fiction and celebrate the Truth as never before. Celebrate the Savior who can not only save us from our sins but redeem a world that is filled with darkness and hate.
Christ has come and He is love. It's the best truth of all. Let's tell the world, especially at Christmas.
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In case you missed any of the past week's posts, here are the links: Finding Christmas: When Life is Less than Perfect, Finding Christmas: Clear Vision, Finding Christmas: Making Choices that Count, Finding Christmas: Truth, Tradition, and Choice, Finding Christmas: The Joy of Relationship, Finding Christmas: The Word of God, and Finding Christmas: The Importance of Surrender.
The most read post of the last week: Finding Christmas: When Life is Less than Perfect
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#Advent #keepChristinChristmas #MerryChristmas #JesusChrist #disciple #Santa #truthorfiction
I agree! Santa is a wonderful part of Christmas, if he's kept in perspective. We didn't tell our he wasn't real but we made sure to focus on Jesus. Santa was a sideline story. We did teach them, from the beginning, that parents had to pay Santa for the gifts he brought. A few days before Christmas, we would go through their toys and they'd choose one to take to a collection point for kids whose parents couldn't afford to buy anything from him.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sherry. That's a good tradition.
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