#664. Not knowing what to do with Santa.
Wow, just wow.
A few weeks ago, my four-year-old McRae and I were talking about God. We tend to have some fairly heated theological conversations because she’s Dutch Reform and I’m not. After discussing a few of the many things that make God awesome (He loves us, He gives us sunny days, etc.) McRae turned to me and with all the seriousness that a child can muster said, “God sure made Santa special.”
What am I supposed to do with that?
You have to admit, she has a point. Unless her father is a liar, then Santa is pretty special. Because based on what I’ve told her, he is able to deliver toys and treats to every person on the planet in one night. And he has reindeer that can fly. And he is some kind of omniscient because he knows if you’ve been good or bad. And to top it all off, he controls an army of little green elves who apparently love working nonstop in the North Pole.
But, as a Christian, where does Santa fall into our discussions of Christmas? I think we have 3 possible approaches:
1. We can welcome Santa with Creed like “Arms wide open.”
Pros:
It’s Santa! Who doesn’t love Santa? He’s jolly and comes bearing gifts and sneaks down you’re chimney at night while you’re asleep. He’s adorable. Come on! He loves Cokes and just wants to pat you on the head and give you the rock tumbler you always wanted as a kid but never got and are currently having a hard time justifying to your wife.
Cons:
My friends have a theory that if you tell a kid for 6-8 years that there’s a magical, semi all knowing entity named Santa and then pull the rug on them later, it will be harder for them to believe in God. The idea is that if I can’t trust that what you told me about Santa is true, why should I believe you about God. I think they raise a good point.
2. We can kill Santa
Pros:
It will be easier to focus on the true meaning of Christmas if you go ahead and pop the Santa sleigh into neutral, tie the gas pedal to the steering wheel with a bit of festive ribbon and ghost ride Santa over a cliff. Killing Santa would allow you to focus on Christ’s birth. Jesus wouldn’t be sharing the bill with a Santa Claus opening act.
Cons:
You’re probably going to judge every other Christian family who doesn’t kill Santa. Maybe not a lot, but I think at list a dollop of judgment is going to enter your heart when you go to a friend’s house and see a Santa calendar and think, “For shame, Judith. The Big Red Empire? For shame.” You also will miss out on several Christmas songs, like “All I want for Christmas” on the greatest album ever, Mariah Carey Christmas. (I might have mentioned that album once or 37 times to you before.)
3. We can combine Santa and Jesus
Pros:
Hey, best of both worlds! You can get one of those ornaments where Santa is inexplicably praying over the baby Jesus. (Matthew completely blew it on Santa being present in the manger by the way.)
Cons:
My fingers felt a tiny crackle of lightning just typing the sentence, “We can combine Santa and Jesus.” God is a jealous God. If you try to make Santa the fourth member of the trinity, or put a red hat on Jesus, please buy at least 10 copies of the Stuff Christians Like
I gave McRae these three options and she did what she always does when pushed into a debate corner, she quoted one of the forefathers of the Dutch Reform moment and then pulled her dress over her head and left the room.
How about you?
What do you do with Santa?
