The world at large, myself included, has fallen for the antics of jolly ole St. Nick. What is the harm in a nice old fellow like that passing out presents while filling kids hearts with hope and holiday cheer? Let's take a closer look.

The world has given Santa all of God's traits. He's omnipotent in that most represent Santa as almighty. He can do anything and get you anything you want. Why Santa has unlimited authority and influence as to whether or not a child receives a present. Have they been naughty or nice? Have they earned any presents this year? Did they work hard enough to get something they really wanted? After all he's the one with all the power to decide who gets what, of course, the child does share in this power because they can change Santa's mind by how good they are. If they don't get what they asked for then it's their fault or Santa's fault and the parents fell guiltless. The child who strive all year to be good and do good things may feel it takes works to get favors from someone with such powers as we give to Santa. A child may grow up thinking he must not be good enough if he does his best and yet does not get what he asked for.

The second trait given to Santa is omnipresence. He is everywhere. He is able to go to every house on Christmas Eve and present millions of children with everything they ask for. He is everywhere listening to every child in the world. He flips all over, slides down chimneys, taking time to eat cookies all in one night. Amazing! According to parents he's everywhere checking up on them no matter where they are.

The third trait is omniscience. Santa knows everything. How does the song go? "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows when you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake." According to a lot a parents Santa knows everything about their child, their activities and even their attitudes. That's a lot of power to be given to one mere man don't you think?

Some say what harm can it do to pretend. Well for one thing the child does not know you are "pretending." They believe you are being honest with them. After all you are the parent certainly you would not lie to them. I found Webster's definitions of "pretend" and "lie" to be most interesting. Pretend = 1. Give a false appearance of being, possessing or performing. 2. A. To make believe. B. To claim, represent, or assert falsely. Lie = 1. To make an untrue statement with intent to deceive. 2. To create a false or misleading impression.

Let's consider the poor child whose family is doing everything in their power to just put food on the table. What about that child's Santa? Oh, sure we have good Samaritans who take gifts to some, but not all. Even the Good Samaritan doesn't know what a certain child might ask for. No matter how good that child is he or she is not going to get what they asked Santa for. How do you think that child feels when others they know were less than perfect come around after Christmas showing off all the stuff Santa got for them?

What happens in a child's life when they find out the truth about Santa? Most puts up such a fuss it is heartbreaking. Others get hardened against ever being tricked like that again. They begin to look at adults as not being truthful and mistrust anyone or anything they cannot see. Their faith is made weak. After all they had put their faith in Santa and look what he turned out to be.

Parents don't set out to hurt their children or to weaken their faith. Yet, when we set up a false trust in some make believe being with all the traits of God we are setting up our children for doubts as to Who God really is. God is not Santa. He does not reward those who have been good and withhold good from those that have been less than perfect. The professional, Satan himself has duped parents.

Have you ever notice that if you put the "n" in the middle Satan spells Santa? Is Santa satanic then? When we give anything, other than God Himself, the traits and characteristics of God, then yes it is satanic. This is especially true when this ideal will soon be brought to light as a fake. An ideal children had wholeheartedly put their belief system into only to see it was all for nothing. This sets the child up with the impression no one can be all they believed Santa to be. Thus it is hard for some to believe there really is a loving God Who not only created them, but Who also died for them. It all sounds like more fairy tails. It is hard for some to trust in God, as they aren't sure if He will turn out to be a myth also. No wonder God was so adamant when He put Isaiah 42:8 and Exodus 34:14 in our Bibles. "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." Why jealous; that seems like such a bad trait to have? Yet, God is jealous of His people's affections being turned from Him to idols. He knows the destructive power behind the idol worship and the heartache they bring. The inability to really trust again once the false god is found out. All this makes God jealous for His people.

Why can't we be as open about our Lord and the real reason for Christmas as we are about a false idol called Santa Claus? More and more Christ is being taken out of Christmas. People say, "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." God is removed from American society at every turn, yet Santa is still around. Billboards and cards say "Merry X-mas." No wonder God is a jealous God. How will people be saved if they never hear of His birth, death and resurrection? Satan sure had a good plan when he made up Santa Claus didn't he? He took our attention off God and transferred it to an idol. Santa soon became accepted and God is being rejected. Santa is brought in and God is cast out.
I believe it is time for us to tell the truth to our children. No, Virginia, there is not a Santa Claus, but there is a Satan who claws at our lives trying to get our attention away from a God Who loves us enough to be born so He could die in our place.

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