This week in our Youth Ministry, we’re talking about the annual Christmas battle between Jesus and Santa.
Within this battle, the debate over festive greetings also wages. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings?
However, the question remains, during this season of Jesus vs. Santa; how do we share our faith as Believers without offending others? Can we promote Jesus without ruining the family traditions and childhood memories? What about those who have not grown up with a true Christian faith?
INTRODUCTION:
Christmas is around the corner and we’re already in the first round of the annual scrap between Jesus and Santa. Sometimes I wonder whether or not this annual throw-down is more about us needing the drama? As a Christian, sometimes I’m embarrassed. I feel like everywhere I go, one of my brothers or sisters in Christ is giving people the third degree on why Santa is evil or why they shouldn’t be saying Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays.
I would ask us to stop for a moment and let’s just look at this logically. For those of us who are Believers, have chosen to follow Jesus and are currently trying to follow His teachings; let’s think about this scenario: With everything we know about Jesus, would He really give that check-out girl a piece of His mind because she accidentally said Happy Holidays?
We so easily jumped to conclusions. Perhaps, her employer has asked her to greet people in way? Perhaps, it’s a higher directive, as a company policy for that chain of stores? Maybe it’s just me, but I think Jesus would be far to concerned with the young gal’s well-being, to even acknowledge how she greeted Him.
Now granted, I’m not saying it’s wrong to reply with a hardy Merry Christmas. Leaving the check-out girl to ponder her initial greeting is not going to hurt anything. But in reality, she likely won’t give it a second thought. Maybe she has no idea about the connection between Jesus and Christmas? Maybe she doesn’t even know the connection between Jesus and Christ?
We’d be far better off bringing her a pastry from the bakery, that she can save for her next break (from the Christmas chaos). Inside the bag, maybe leave a card or note, explaining a bit about the true Christmas story. Say ‘Merry Christmas‘ when you hand that to her! You might just see far greater results in battling Santa Claus and his dreaded ‘Happy Holidays‘!
VIDEO:
“Jesus And Santa” by IgniterMedia.com
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION:
1. What initial thoughts come to mind after seeing this video clip?
2. How does your family incorporate Jesus and/or Santa Claus as part of your Christmas traditions?
3. What do you think Jesus thinks of Santa Claus?
4. How can we best tell others about the true meaning of Christmas without disregarding their family traditions?
5. As a group, try to recite/recount the true Christmas story as if someone had never heard it before.
6. Look up Luke 2:1-20. How did you do? Did you forget any details?
QUESTION:
What’s your opinion on the cultural battle between Jesus and Santa?
VIDEO SPOT:
Here’s this lesson’s video clip by Igniter Media titled “Jesus And Santa”.
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Wow! Great feedback on this post! Big thanks to Kristie and Robert for taking the time to write out some of your thoughts, opinions and family traditions/values. It’s encouraging for me to read where other families are basing their faith-teachings surrounding the Christmas season. Thanks so much for your comments!
Jeremy
We completely agree with all said so far. Liane and I made it clear to our children than Santa is a character of the Christmas season and that he IS NOT real, kinda like the Great Pumpkin from Charlie Brown. We did not want the disillusionment in us nor the people that we believe in but cannot see.
There is many other similarities that we usualy don’t come accros ie; ‘he knows when you’re sleeping and he knows when you’re awake’……vs “He knows my going out and my lying down”
If we don’t get the automatic ‘liar’ accusation, then the seed of doubt is still planted. We do not need any help in the doubt dept.
Hey Jeremy…
From the very get-go of having children, we made it clear that we give presents to celebrate Jesus and symbolically similar to the wise men brought gifts to Jesus….Santa Claus wasn’t a very big part of Christmas. When Whit was little, like 4-ish? I think, we told her the truth about Santa. We told her it was part of a “game” at Christmas and she could still help us pretend for Joel, then we told him at the same age with the same instructions to play along with the twins. However, when we decided it was time to tell Alex & Zac, Zac burst into tears. I didn’t think he was really that invested in the whole Santa bit, so we asked him why he was so upset. His reply was, “If you lied to me about Santa and he gives us things and we can’t see him, then did you lie about God too, because I can’t see Him either and He gives us things.” Shattered my heart and made me wish we’d never done the whole Santa thing.
All of that aside, I agree with your post here and that as Christians we can do more actions to show our faith. I’ve decided to make that a very large part of this Christmas with the kids. I’ve planned out random acts of Christian kindness to do every few days while the kids are on break.
Merry Christmas!