My kids are all in on Santa. When I was their age, I was all in too.
I’m not down with those curmudgeon Christians who feel the need to destroy the folklore of Santa and flying reindeer.
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Saying this, I don’t want them to get lost when it comes to the meaning of Christmas. I love that my kids love Santa, but I want them to love Jesus more.
I wanted to explain this in a way that even my youngest (who is four) would understand. So, I began to think.
Santa comes once a year on magic reindeer, magically slides down your chimney and leaving presents—like actual tangible, ready to open and use gifts that fulfill a young child’s lusts. Plus, he does all of this while you sleep.
That is pretty hard to compete with when it comes to the mind of a young child.
I began to think a little more…
“You better watch out / you better not shout / you better not cry I’m telling you why?”
Basically, you better be on your best behaviour, or Santa will rescind your gifts! And that’s when I realized that Santa is the exact opposite of Jesus.
They both bring free gifts (unlike your inlaws). The difference lies here in the simple fact that Santa’s gifts are based upon your behaviour. Jesus comes to bring a costly gift that has nothing to do with my good behaviour. Instead, it has everything to do with whom I belong. Jesus took our place and took the eternal consequences of our misdeeds upon himself.
I like how the Apostle Paul put it in Romans 5:6-8
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
When we had no power to save ourselves, while still rejecting God, He gave his life for us. It is the often-overlooked verse 7 that really sets poor Santa up for the fall, though. This verse points out the harsh reality of sacrifice. You probably would never give up your life for another just because they are a really good person. However, you might if that person has been good to you.
Here is where Santa falls. Santa requires our belief. Santa requires us to be on our best behaviour before he brings us a gift.
BUT GOD.
That’s all that needs to be said. But God.
Here’s the thing. Santa is a lot like us. Do good, and you will receive good in return. Jesus gives good because it is outside his character not to be.
But God shows us that He loves by giving up His life in our place, not because we were right in our thoughts and deeds, not because we have done something for God.
No, while we rejected him, denied Him, were complicit or active in crimes against Him, He gave His life for us.
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Do you know what I said to me kids, “Do you know why Jesus is way better than Santa? Because it doesn’t matter whether I’m on the good list or the naughty list, Jesus loves me and gives grace to me no matter what.”
Yeah, there is more to it. But that is what is most important. Though I deserve a big lump of coal in my eternal stocking, I’ve been given unbounded relentless love. As the Apostle Paul says later in Romans.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
Sorry Santa, but it isn’t even close.
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