God of Creation or
"god" of Christmas?
by Ken Ham
WHO IS IT?
He is known throughout the world; he is alleged to be omniscient (all-
knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), omnipresent (he can be everywhere at
the same time). He is said to know our needs and gives us the gifts we
need and want. He knows when children have been bad; he rewards good and
punishes evil. He has many helpers.
Children sing a song each Christmas about him.
You better watch out, you better not cry;
Better not pout, I'm telling you why--
He's making a list and checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice--
He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good--
So be good for goodness sake!
Oh! You better watch out, you better not cry;
Better not pout, I'm telling you why--
Santa Claus is coming to town!
Of course! It's Santa Claus -- that fictional being that has become the
god of Christmas. Even many Christians see nothing wrong with telling
their young children have faith in Santa Claus, that they might "enjoy"
this "joyous" experience. But what does the Bible tell us about faith?
Hebrews 11:6 states that "without faith it is impossible to please Him:
For he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." In the creation ministry, we
spend a lot of time giving scientific evidence for Creation and the
Flood, but, ultimately, one cannot scientifically prove the Bible --
ultimately, it must be accepted by faith. The Scripture also tells us
what sort of faith we need. "And Jesus called a little child unto him in
the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the
Kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this
little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven" (Matthew
18:2-4).
Jesus told us we need to have simple child-like faith. And when training
children, we need to take advantage of that faith in teaching truth. When
parents let their children believe in Santa Claus, the simple faith of
the young child accepts this deception. The child accepts by faith that
Santa can see him through walls. Santa Claus can see and know a child's
behavior, and rewards the child based on that behavior. Santa can leave
presents in every home the world over in just one night. Even though the
parent knows this is a myth, the mythical becomes real for the child.
As time moves on, the child begins to see flaws in this god-like person
and in his parents' attempt to continue this deception. For the most
part, the child dosen't mind playing the game, for he is well rewarded.
Does this "game" really affect children? I know a minister in Australia
who conducted a survey in a school, and one of the questions he asked was
what was the cause of the students' mistrust of parents. The majority
answer was "Santa Claus."
I was saddened one day to read a letter against Christianity that
appeared in the "Letters to the Editor" section of a newspaper written by
a man who said, "I began to mistrust my parents when I found out Santa
was a myth."
What else does the Santa Claus story teach?
1. Even though a child's behavior is not perfect, he is acceptable to
Santa as is. The child knows he has not been perfect, but he
remembers last year, and thus he has faith in his own goodness.
2. No matter what Santa says or what the child does, in the end,
Santa will reward him anyway.
3. Santa spends most of the year in meaningless activity, getting
presents ready.
4. Santa keeps a record of the childs behavior. The way to be
acceptable in Santa's sight and to be rewarded is to be good.
At this time, how does the child cope with being taught about the Creator
God who sees all, knows all, is everywhere at once, and knows everything
the child does. This God also has the rewards and punishments. How
strikingly parallel is this discription of God to the nature of Santa
Claus! And the child is also told to have faith in God.
However, as the child discovers the deception his parents played on him
regarding Santa Claus (and should he expect other than the truth from his
parents), will he not devaluate his parents' whitness to the true God?
After all, who wants to make the same mistake twice? Surely the child has
learned not to give credence to a way of life that demands faith.
Are we not as parents commanded to teach truth to our children? "The
father to the children shall make known thy truth" (Isaiah 38:19).
A lot of people in our culture today sadly have a "Santa Claus"
understanding of God. Many believe in God -- but what God? A God who will
not keep them out of heaven because they think they are basically "good"?
A God who may warn them of heaven or hell but who will accept all men in
one way or another in the end anyway? A God who does not see us a sinners
needing redemption?
At this Christmas time, we need to tell our children and the world who
the true God is."For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God
Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He
created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and
there in none else (Isaiah 45:18).
"Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the
LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is
weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the
faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the
youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and
they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:28-31).
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God... All things were made by him; and without Him was not anything
made" (John 1:1,3).
THE TRUE GOD IS THE CREATOR
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us
into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His
blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13,14).
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of
water and of the Spirt, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John
3:5).
"For God so loved the world, that He Gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not parish, but have everlasting life"
(John 3:16).
THE TRUE GOD IS THE SAVIOR
Christians will not spoil Christmas by omitting Santa Claus. By teaching
the true meaning of Christmas centered around the birthday of Jesus,
parents will not only be giving the reason for Christmas, but they may
use it to build the basis for the child's ability to trust God in his
later life -- the basis of true faith in the true God.
The story of Santa Claus is myth -- it is a fairy tale. Let it stay
there! Let us as Christian parents make sure that the earliest
information children here concerning an omniscient, omnipresent, and
omnipotent being is the true story of Jesus Christ, the Creator of all
things. ***
Copied by Ed Breunig with premission from the:
Institute for Creation Research
P.O. Box 2667
El Cajon CA 92021
