Many people seem to think that Christmas is the Savior of our economy. Already today (Saturday) we've heard the shopper reports about "Black Friday". People look to this time of year to pull our economy out of the doldrums. Of course the world misses the whole point.
But I like buying and giving gifts, so I'm not completely adverse to the commercial hype.
This is the part I hate: Santa Clause. I'm sorry that the legend ever got started, because it's been carried too far. I mean, Santa has the attributes of Jesus: he lives forever, he knows if you've been good or bad, and knows when you're sleeping or awake.
Alongside the stories and expectations of Santa we also teach the nativity story and all about Jesus. So on the one hand we tell them a fictional story about a character that has the attributes of God -- but one day we'll tell them that's a lie -- and on the other hand we'll tell them about a little baby surrounded by animals without really emphasizing His royal deity -- but that turns out to be the truth.
I even heard a commercial on TV that said (and I quote) "without Santa there would be no childlike faith." You've got to be kidding!!
I've known a lot of kids who grew up without the Santa myth. Their parents never did the "Santa is coming tonight" thing. I'm one of them. Dawn and I didn't bring our kids up with Santa. They were just as happy and surprised by what they received on Christmas, but they knew it from their dad and mom.
Santa is the part I hate about Christmas. The truth has been diluted with a cute little story that "harms no one." But why dilute the truth at all? It saves us from having to explain the difference and sort out truth from error.
May God bless your ministry today.
3 comments:
Thank you for giving me the courage to follow my conscience on this one. In the past I've listened to those telling me how ridiculous I'm being, but it's not about them now is it?
I could never help but notice how a simple switching around of letters could turn jolly old St. Nick into "Satan Claus(e)"
Oddly even the name "old Nick" is an early english slang meaning the devil. The "harmless" character of Santa Claus, so widely accepted by so many is nothing more than a counterfeit Christ intended to draw attention from the Real One...the whole lie likely started by the father of lies himself.
Guess you can tell that I don't think much of "santa" either!- neil
Pastor, I just want to give you a huge hug and high five right now. The whole idea of the jolly "santa" is corrupting the kids of this world and I was one of them. I'm not going to blame anyone because I chose to believe those things when I was younger, but when I started to know more about God I realized how confused our society is about Christmas and I totally changed my thinking towards Christmas. I have had a hard time getting into the so called "Christmas Spirit" because I see how alot of people look to this time as a time to max out credit cards, go further in debt just so they can buy Christmas gifts that are in most cases unnecessary items to be spending billions of dollars on. Each year Americans alone spend 850 billion dollars on Christmas, that is enough money to completely turn upside down the economy of Africa. Why cant we spend that money to help those that have nothing, but I'm not saying giving gifts is wrong. We were given the ultimate gift so we should show the love He brought to everyone. Just my two cents.
Good word Pastor
Post a Comment