The Santa Claus Lie
How much of our time as Christian mamas is spent protecting our kids from the lies of the world? Teaching them about Jesus. Telling them that Jesus always sees them and loves them.
But every year at Christmas time a big lie rolls into our world, and I see so many Christian families accepting it, and even repeating it to their kids.
I’m talking, of course, about Santa Claus.
We were never taught to believe in Santa growing up. We didn’t get our picture made with him at the mall, or have any presents from Santa under the tree.
I always thought of Santa as a story people told at Christmas, but I knew the real reason for the season.
When I got older and had kids of my own, I was surprised how much emphasis people put on Santa. Kids actually believe he’s a real person who comes into their houses and leaves presents.
The naughty and nice list
You can’t escape Santa songs this time of year. And I don’t even try. I can belt out “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” with the best of them. But I’ve found out this year that even the most innocent-sounding words in a song, mean something. Jaxon asked me the other day, “Do I only get presents if I’m good?”
While telling kids that Santa has a naughty and nice list, and only brings presents to kids on the nice list seems like a good tactic to inspire good behavior, it’s not a great idea. Sure, telling your kid that they’re going on the naughty list when they’re in the middle of throwing a fit in December might be effective, what are you going to do the rest of the year?
I explained to Jaxon that his presents come from Mommy and Daddy, and we give them to him because we love him—even when he’s bad. We teach him that he should be good because that makes us happy, and it makes Jesus happy. He doesn’t have to work to earn gifts from us. (Doesn’t that remind you a little about how God treats us as His children?)
It’s better to tell our kids this truth through the whole year, rather than pulling out the elf or the Santa cam after Thanksgiving, and putting them away on December 26.
Also read: 3 Ways to Focus on Jesus During December
He sees you when you’re sleeping
Just a few days after Thanksgiving my boys and I were eating lunch at one our favorite restaurants, when a waiter came around and asked them, “Who’s coming to town soon?” They looked at him blankly.
When they didn’t answer, he kept going, “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows if you’re bad or good.” Still, no answer from Jax and Jase. When the man finally gave up and walked away, Jaxon whispered to me, “Santa Claus?”
Personally, I find it a little creepy to think that someone sees me when I’m asleep and awake. And it’s definitely not something I want to teach my kids. Can you say ‘nightmares?’
One thing that we stress to our boys is that Jesus is always with them. We teach them that He hears them when they pray. We remind them that Jesus sees them, and He is sad when they behave badly.
One day kids will find out the truth about Santa. They will learn that he doesn’t see them. He doesn’t know when they’re bad and good. He doesn’t bring presents. They will know that their parents lied to them.
What does that mean for Jesus? Will they start to wonder if Jesus is just a made-up fairytale, too? I don’t know about you, but that’s not a risk I’m willing to take.
The truth about Santa
If you are a Christian mama who allows your children to believe in Santa, you may be annoyed or even angry at me by this point. After all, it’s all just innocent fun, right? What’s the harm in teaching your kids about a fat man in a red suit who magically delivers presents to all the kids in the world?
After all, you still tell them the real story of Christmas, too. I believe there is a greater danger in the Santa Claus Lie than we even realize.
We know that from the beginning of time it has been Satan’s goal to be like God. We read in Isaiah 14:12-14 that he failed and was cast out of Heaven. He knows what his future is, and he does everything he can to draw attention away from God.
Satan tells lies, and even uses half-truths to destroy every part of Christianity and truth that he can. In fact, 2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us that Satan can transform himself into an angel of light. Anything to take people’s minds away from the truth of the Gospel.
When we allow our kids to believe in the myth of Santa Claus, we contribute to a lie of Satan. While it seems innocent, the truth is, allowing our kids to believe that Christmas comes from anything other than Jesus helps to remove the focus of the season from Jesus. However unwittingly, even Christian parents can fall into this trap.
It is difficult, because there is a lot of pressure at Christmas time. Grandparents, neighbors, family members, random waiters and even strangers on the streets ask our kids what Santa is bringing them for Christmas.
Shopping malls, chain stores, local business and (sadly) even some churches offer the opportunity to get your picture with Santa. He rides in every Christmas parade. Stores give free paper designed to write out your list to Santa, and some even offer special mailboxes to drop them in. But we cannot allow this to distract us from the true meaning of Christmas.
Believe in the true meaning of Christmas
I know that it is impossible to remove all references of Santa from our lives. He is literally everywhere during the month of December. However, we can take the opportunity to tell our kids that he is not real.
Teach them that he is just a story people tell. Remind them at every opportunity that Jesus was born on Christmas, and that’s why we celebrate. Take time to explain that we give gifts on Christmas, not because we’re good and deserve them, but because God gave the greatest gift to us, and so we give to others.
I see the phrase “In this house, we believe” floating around a lot during the month of December. While I know that it refers to the “magic” of Santa—a man who flies around the world in a sleigh, delivering presents to every good girl and boy—I like to think of it in another way.
In our house we believe that a King was born into a dark and dirty world. He was laid in a manger, surrounded by animals and lowly shepherds. He grew up, and healed the sick, and raised the dead. They cruelly beat and crucified HIm. He died on a cross for our sins, and rose again on the third day. His death made a way for all of us to go to Heaven with Him.
Only one of those stories is true. Only one changed the course of all mankind. Now, if you were Satan, wouldn’t you want to distract from it, too?
The other day we where in Kroger and a random person asked my little girl if she had been good enough for Santa this year . She looked at them like they had three heads and said “do you realize your lying to me right now ? He isn’t real ”
The adult was flabbergasted turned red and walked away from my petite 5 year old . It’s always made me uncomfortable when perfect strangers who won’t even glance at you the rest of the year feel comfortable walking up to you in December and asking about Santa . Now we have to work on correct responses when asked the question ??
It is weird. Some people lose all sense of personal boundaries during December! Good job for your little girl giving them what-for!
Love this! I agree with every word! When my little boy learned about Santa through cartoons and the world, he asked me if Santa was real. He firmly told me not to lie to him, but to tell him the truth! So, I told him the story of St. Nick and that that’s how it all got started. One day in Kohl’s, an older lady approached my son and asked him if he was excited for Santa to come. He looked her in the eyes and said, “ Santa is dead” (referring to St. Nick). She was speechless! ?
That’s so funny! I think it’s important to tell our kids the truth. They should never have a reason to believer their parents would lie to them.