Christmas Suggestions for Christians

Christmas is a time of many, many emotions.

We are within 72 hours of Christmas day. And, in that spirit of timeliness, I wanted to make a couple of suggestions to my brethren in Christ. Christmas is a time of many, many emotions. This is a time of stress and joy, happiness and sorrow, hope and despair, all depending on the person, and even the moment.

So, as we get ready to celebrate in our various ways, let me make the following suggestions for Christmas 2015, and beyond.

As a believer, please don’t buy into the detrimental spitefulness of the pseudo-anti-politically-correct nonsense of “We say Merry Christmas!” If you’re wished “Happy Holidays!,” respond as you like, but in joy and love. Being spiteful or acting as if you’re some Christmastime Rosa Parks taking a stand hurts your witness as a Christian. They will know we are Christians by our love…they will doubt our Jesus if we’re spiteful, vengeful, or hateful. Smile. Love. Accept the well wishes and then give your own well wishes. If someone is offended by your wishing them a Merry Christmas, love them anyway. The offense is their personal issue if your greeting was in joy and love.

Now let me also say that there is a political correctness agenda trying to limit the impact for Christ that Christmas can have. We know that. One whiner can ruin the fun for all. Love them anyway. Stand up for your faith and for your celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but do so in love. Don’t let their hard and dark hearts steal your joy and create an un-Christ-like attitude in you.

Additionally, in my opinion, a Christian mother and father do their children a great disservice by teaching them to believe in Santa Claus. First, it creates an idol for the children. It’s a mythical being that requires works and behavior to obtain reward. It also creates waves of tension and inner confusion. Why does Santa give much nicer presents to the rich kids? Why doesn’t Santa give the poorest child the best Christmas? Instead of potential confusion and having to answer these questions, I think it’s better to work in the truth.

Next, and I believe this is the biggest problem with followers of Christ teaching their children to believe in Santa Claus. As a Christian parent, how do you expect your child to follow God and Jesus Christ as you teach them, if they grow up realizing you lied about a magical man that can travel the world in a night? If you’re lying about one magical being, don’t you lose credibility when you then teach about Jesus? For a child who grows up believing in Santa then seeing that he’s not real, I believe that there is a potential foothold for doubt and disbelief in God. As a parent, you are responsible to bring your children up in the Lord. In that responsibility, you must not set up potential stumbling blocks for your children.

As a parent, you also do not want your child to cause trouble and hurt other children. Therefore, you must teach your children to honor and exalt Jesus and God as provider of all things, but also teach your children sensitivity for others’ beliefs. Explain to your children how to interact with other children. Teach them how to express what they believe without crushing the other kids. Teaching them that sensitivity will be invaluable in preventing trouble in school, and then it will be invaluable as they grow in their witness about faith in Christ.

When I have kids, I plan on teaching them that God is our provider. I don’t want to teach them lies that could potentially create a stumbling block in their walk. I want them to know I will always be honest with them. I want them to know they can trust in what I say and what I profess. I want them to know that Mommy and Daddy love them very much and that through God’s blessing, we are able to give them wonderful gifts. I want them to know love, truth, and joy.

Thank you for reading. This is not a rant and this is not an accusatory post. This is merely my opinion, shared to create thought and discussion.

Have a blessed day and a wonderful and blessed Christmas!

God bless!

Dave Ebert

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