Are We Celebrating Christmas or Clausmas?

Well it's just a week away from Christmas and there's no doubt about that but is Christ in their Christmas or it is a Christless Christmas? Most of the time I go to the streets or to the mall, there's the holiday shopping rush and most of the decorations that can be seen are well, Santa Claus. The music is mostly about Santa Claus like "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" rather than the classic Christmas carols like "Hark the Herald". Going from one place to another, I can see more Santa Claus decorations than the Nativity set, I can see more Santa Claus decorations than John 3:16 and Isaiah 7:14 banners and yet it says, "Merry Christmas." Just as what is need to be said, Santa Claus has really become the reason for the season and it's one huge big fat lie. As a child who used to believe in Santa Claus, I found myself more focused on Santa Claus than the Lord Jesus Christ which was only natural because I was still unsaved back then. I felt like writing this article because children need to know that there is NO Santa Claus but there is the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

It's pretty hypocritical how Christmas can go with parents starting to tell their children of the Nativity story and then they insert Santa Claus into it. There are many versions of it but the one I grew up with was confusing the myth of Santa Claus with the historical person of Nicholas of Myra (who some even say doesn't even exist), that was I believed that it was Nicholas of Myra who gave the presents. According to parents, it's just a white lie and they don't deserve punishment as much as their children who lie to them. That is where they are dead wrong.

What they don't realize is that little ones take whatever their parents tell them seriously and they really love their Santa Claus and truly in their hearts, they believe that he is real. While the children sleep and they slip the presents as the parents to play that game, the child wakes up one day to think Santa Claus did come and their common sense is challenged. When they discover their parents trick them, it could turn rather lethal because their parents said, "Well we'd never lie." Also it's very easy to play the Santa Claus prank considering the Christmas bonus is arriving. I really hate it whenever parents lie to their children about Santa Claus. As said, childhood years are very crucial. They ought to learn the truth as early as possible, not believe in some lie that renders a smile now only to hurt them much later.

What is realized also is that Santa Claus really teaches works salvation at an early age. The character of the mythological figure is quick to cross the naughty and reward the nice. First, how can it be a gift if a child needed to be good for the whole year to get it? It's already a reward. And in fact, come Christmas morning and some will say, "I've been so good Santa Claus gave me this." and if they are quarreled by other kids, they might even say, "Well next Christmas, Santa Claus won't give you anything anymore!" Now the problem of Santa Claus taking the place of Jesus has already arrived in the child's heart. without them knowing it This is really the root of the whole problem. Children will think that they are good enough for Heaven just because mommy and daddy (or to them Santa Claus) says so. It should be interesting also that many times, the Santa Claus myth is derived from Nicholas of Myra whose feast day happens on December 6- and here we have 12/6 which is also a 6 + 6 + 6.

So what about Christmas and what I will have to say? While I would never say Jesus was born on December 25, in fact nobody knows the exact date but one thing is certain, Christmas is the best time to share the salvation message. While Santa Claus is quick to cross out the naughty ones, the Gospel provides a different picture. Jesus died for the naughty ones and we've all been naughty (Romans 3:10-23) and there is nothing we can do but He offered forgiveness for the naughty ones. Salvation is for free, it cannot be bought by merit like Santa Claus only giving toys to those who have tried their best to be good, Jesus paid the cost for salvation. Right now, if you are not saved I urge you to repent of sin and receive Him as Lord and Savior.

As said, it's time to put Christ BACK into CHRISTmas.