Letters from Santa

[kevinmiller]

I don't care for the idea of santa because it takes away the focus from being on Christ. There are already so many things competing for our focus on Christmas and I don't want to encourage something that has become the primary focus of most people today. Of course, my primary reason for not encouraging my kids to believe in santa is that it is lying to them and I want my kids to always be able to trust me. I've seen how oftentimes, even when parents are just teasing their kids, it becomes difficult for them to discern when their parents are telling them the truth or just "playing with them."

[Anon]

I agree with Kevin, I want to be truthful at all times with my kids.

[Colin Stolzer]

You could just tell them the historical truth about Nicholas of Myra, although he has been adopted as a catholic saint he was a real person who was generous and charitable. And yes he is dead and the rest (santa claus, kris kringle, chriskind, etc..) are just fairy tales built off of his life, but his real life of charity is a good christian example.

C

Nicholas was born in Asia Minor during the third century in the Greek colony [2] of Patara in Lycia in the Roman province of Asia- today Antalya, Turkey ? at a time when the region was Hellenistic in its culture and outlook. Nicholas became bishop of the city of Myra. He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. According to legend, Nicholas was said to have rigorously observed the canonical fasts of Wednesdays and Fridays, even when an infant, by abstaining on those days from his mother's breasts.[3] Nicholas is said to have been born to relatively affluent Christian parents in Patara, Lycia, where he also received his early schooling.


As the patron saint also of sailors, Nicholas is claimed to have been a sailor or fisherman himself. More likely, however, is that one of his family businesses involved managing a fishing fleet. When his parents died, Nicholas received his inheritance but is said to have given it away to the poor. So was St Nicholas a working, albeit wealthy, man who complemented his day job with caring for his congregation, or was he a full-time bishop? The impressive list of deeds of Nicholas seems to point to the latter. This does not mean, however, that his appointment to priest or bishop meant a complete rupture with his former life. More likely this was a gradual process.

Nicholas's early activities as a priest are said to have occurred during the persecution of Christians under the reign of co-ruling Roman Emperors Diocletian (reigned 284?305) and Maximian (reigned 286?305) In the Eastern Empire Galerius (reigned 305?311) continued the persecution until 311 when he issued a general edict of toleration from his deathbed. Nicholas survived this period, although his activities at the time are uncertain.

Following Galerius' death his surviving co-ruler Licinius (reigned 307?324) mostly tolerated Christians. As a result their community was allowed to further develop, and the various bishops who acted as their leaders managed to concentrate religious, social, and political influence as well as wealth in their hands. In many cases they acted as the heads of their respective cities. It is apparently in this period that Nicholas rose to become bishop of Myra. Judging from tradition, he was probably well loved and respected in his area, mostly as a result of his charitable activities. As with other bishops of the time, Nicholas's popularity would serve to ensure his position and influence during and after this period.


St. Nicholas preventing the falsely accused from being executed, as represented by Ilya Repin.The destruction of several pagan temples is also attributed to him, among them the temple of Artemis. Because the celebration of Diana's birth is on December 6, some authors have speculated that this date was deliberately chosen for Nicholas's feast day to overshadow or replace the pagan celebrations.

Not only was Nicholas intolerant of pagans, he was also intolerant of Arianism. Nicholas is listed as a participant in the First Council of Nicaea. There according to legend he became so angry upon hearing the views of Arius that he rushed over to the heretic and gave him a tremendous box on his ears, sending him to the ground.

Nicholas is also known for coming to the defence of the falsely accused, often preventing them from being executed, and for his intercession on behalf of sailors and other travelers. The popular veneration of Nicholas as a saint seems to have started relatively early. Justinian I, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (reigned 527?565) is reported to have built a temple (i.e. a church building) in Nicholas's honour in Constantinople.

[tabsmom]

I want to thank everyone who replied to my post, whether you agree with me or not. At least it got us all talking, and that's good. And whether you do the "Santa" thing or not, I wish you all a very merry Christmas!

[HappyChristian]

tabsmom - I just wanted to insert here that we didn't teach our son about Santa, but it wasn't because we were afraid he would grow up to doubt that Christ is real. We didn't want to promote a person as having the same attributes of God, which we all know Santa has been given. We also didn't want Josh to give Santa credit for presents that we worked to buy. We didn't want him to give his affections to something that was false. We also didn't want to be in the position of having lied to him.

I do understand what you say about seeing your daughter's face. I remember one time when my son was about 10, he made the comment that, after listening to a bunch of "letters to Santa" on the radio, he almost wished it were true. I told him he could talk with God, or even write Him a letter and that He would truly hear Josh.

I do think, Sean, that you have a good heart, and I am glad to see that you don't want to abide falsehood. But I have to agree with Kevin and Kathie. The Bible tells us that we are to use our words to minister grace to the hearers. When we address fellow Christians (and for that matter, the lost, unless it comes to the point where you can't), we are to minister to them...not beat them over the head with scripture. Everyone of the verses you quoted were accurate...but could've been couched in a less harsh way.

I agree that we shouldn't teach our kids about Santa, but at the same time, that is a decision that the husband and wife need to make together.

And I want to add my "Have a wonderful Christmas!"
(I did the birthday cake for Jesus story for my Bible Club one year - they loved it. Am thinking about doing one for Christmas at my folks'. My bro-in-law should be there, and he was raised Mormon - won't let anyone talk about the Lord to him...maybe he would listen to that!)

[John81]

I want to thank everyone who replied to my post' date=' whether you agree with me or not. At least it got us all talking, and that's good. And whether you do the "Santa" thing or not, I wish you all a very merry Christmas![/quote']



Merry Christmas!!! :clap:

[Trish]

We have never made a big deal out of santa, and never told them he's given them stuff, but the girls have pretended he's come. I did too growing up and he was the 'bad man' in our house. My older ones have figured out on there own that only God can be everywhere at once and that it is impossible to deliver all those presents in one night. My 3yr old is trying to sort it all out. We've told them not to say stuff to other children and just to tell them the true meaning of christmas. With all the comercialism these days our kids are saturated in santa and if you have any kind of a life your going to see him. In our house he's like cliford. The guy who does nice things for kids. Those of you without kids yet have great intentions, but remember that parenting brings with it its own wisdom and that if kids are taught basic characteristisc about God they will figure things out for themselves. We do the birthday cake thing and what kid dosen't like to celebrate a birthday. Merry Christmas to you All!

[HappyChristian]

Those of you without kids yet have great intentions' date=' but remember that parenting brings with it its own wisdom and that if kids are taught basic characteristisc about God they will figure things out for themselves. [/quote']

:thumb

[IM4given]

:thumb :coffee

[John81]

We have never made a big deal out of santa' date=' and never told them he's given them stuff, but the girls have pretended he's come. I did too growing up and he was the 'bad man' in our house. My older ones have figured out on there own that only God can be everywhere at once and that it is impossible to deliver all those presents in one night. My 3yr old is trying to sort it all out. We've told them not to say stuff to other children and just to tell them the true meaning of christmas. With all the comercialism these days our kids are saturated in santa and if you have any kind of a life your going to see him. In our house he's like cliford. The guy who does nice things for kids. Those of you without kids yet have great intentions, but remember that parenting brings with it its own wisdom and that if kids are taught basic characteristisc about God they will figure things out for themselves. We do the birthday cake thing and what kid dosen't like to celebrate a birthday. Merry Christmas to you All![/quote']

:amen:

[war_eagle]

I know this is going to go over like a lead balloon, but we've always allowed our children to believe in Santa Claus and (this is the part where I know I'm going to be called every name in the book) I've even played the part of Santa Claus several times in different parades and children's hospitals (I'm not fat, but evidently, being 6'4 helps a lot).

I consider it an honor to have been asked and, as for my children, there was never any confusion among the older two who no longer believe in Santa as to whether or not Jesus Christ is real.

[Jerry]

I know this is going to go over like a lead balloon' date=' but we've always allowed our children to believe in Santa Claus.[/quote']

Why raise them on lies? Do you teach them about the tooth fairy and the easter bunny too? The Bible teaches the believer is not to use guile, not to bear false witness, not to deceive others - but yet, when it comes to our children, somehow it is justified...

[dwayner79]

I grew up believing in Santa. In our house, Santa is the guy who Rudolph saves the day for. He is as real as Nemo, or Manny, or any other character in a movie. I say that to say, I do not think that its that big of a deal. Kids end up thinking all kinds of things. When our daughter's imaginary friend comono comes to visit, we play along. Is that perpetuating a lie... yes. Is it wrong, no. Kids have active imaginations. Encouraging those can become overboard, or, done within reason, are just kidplay. Oh and for what its worth, seanpayne should be taken out back and shown the long end of a switch for talking like that to a newcomer.

[Jerry]

There's a difference between teaching them to use their imagination and think of stories, playing games, etc. or teaching them that myths, fantasy stories, etc. are real. That is deception.

[Jerry]

Seasoning is sorely lacking among some.

I've never worried that a child might confuse Santa and Jesus and have thus far never encountered anyone who had trouble believing in Jesus because they were told there was a Santa when they were young.

Of course, that's not to say it couldn't happen and I have no problem with those who prefer to be cautious in this area.

Our youngest enjoys the fun of pretending there is a Santa and he knows that Jesus is real and has never made any false connections between the pretend Santa and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

For the sake of the argument, let's say there was no one whose faith in Jesus was ever affected due to believing in falsehoods as a child - does that still mean it is okay to tell those falsehoods to children? Not according to the Bible.