It's interesting to note the manner in which, over the years, the message of Santa has gradually eroded the meaning of Christmas. More and more people, when interviewed about what Christmas means to them, refer to the parties, the receiving of presents, the opportunities to eat more and drink more, time of work to be with their families, etcetera. Fewer and fewer even mention the birth of the Saviour or any aspect of it.
I can't help but notice that Santa is made up from the letters used for Satan. It's an anagram of that name. How much of a coincidence is that? After all, the one thing that Santa does more than anything else is focus people away from Jesus and towards themselves.
Perhaps it's time that the UK followed the example of America and celebrated Thanksgiving Day. That way we could, as they do, have a great time of family renewals, feasting and exchange of presents, all as part of our Thanksgiving for life itself, and all that it means. Those who wish to have a totally secular occasion would get their wish without causing offence to others. Christmas could then be celebrated much more quietly. Those who wished to celebrate it as the Christian Festival which it is could do so, whilst those who have a different faith, or perhaps no faith at all, can simply enjoy a day or a couple of days off from their normal work activity.
There would be no need for the Politically Correct gremlins to do their level best to destroy the true meaning of Christmas as they currently do, and for Christians everywhere it would be possible to celebrate the real 'Reason for the Season' without hindrance.
At present it often appears that S A N T A is winning the race for hearts and minds, or perhaps I should say that S A T A N is. Sometimes, when you look behind the red and white and the overt jolliness of the fat man, you see that everything is not quite what it appears, and that underlying it all is an attitude of selfishness and greed, neither of which is remotely what the message of Christmas is really about.
The Devil is a master of disguise. He can make it appear good, pleasant, and seemingly so innocent and yet it is deadly! The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 11:14, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" He does not appear with horns and a pitch fork breathing fire. He might just appear as a pleasant, friendly, fellow, with "a broad face and a round little belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. . ."
I can't help but notice that Santa is made up from the letters used for Satan. It's an anagram of that name. How much of a coincidence is that? After all, the one thing that Santa does more than anything else is focus people away from Jesus and towards themselves.
Perhaps it's time that the UK followed the example of America and celebrated Thanksgiving Day. That way we could, as they do, have a great time of family renewals, feasting and exchange of presents, all as part of our Thanksgiving for life itself, and all that it means. Those who wish to have a totally secular occasion would get their wish without causing offence to others. Christmas could then be celebrated much more quietly. Those who wished to celebrate it as the Christian Festival which it is could do so, whilst those who have a different faith, or perhaps no faith at all, can simply enjoy a day or a couple of days off from their normal work activity.
There would be no need for the Politically Correct gremlins to do their level best to destroy the true meaning of Christmas as they currently do, and for Christians everywhere it would be possible to celebrate the real 'Reason for the Season' without hindrance.
At present it often appears that S A N T A is winning the race for hearts and minds, or perhaps I should say that S A T A N is. Sometimes, when you look behind the red and white and the overt jolliness of the fat man, you see that everything is not quite what it appears, and that underlying it all is an attitude of selfishness and greed, neither of which is remotely what the message of Christmas is really about.
The Devil is a master of disguise. He can make it appear good, pleasant, and seemingly so innocent and yet it is deadly! The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 11:14, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" He does not appear with horns and a pitch fork breathing fire. He might just appear as a pleasant, friendly, fellow, with "a broad face and a round little belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. . ."
Could Santa Claus be a subtle, clever attack on our children to confuse, doubt and rob their God-ordained "child like" faith? Satan knows, if he can somehow get that child through those fruitful early years without trusting the Lord Jesus Christ his goal of eternal damnation in hell increases substantially.
1 comment:
We received quite a bit of criticism when we told our young girls the truth about Santa a few years back. We were taking away their joy! But besides the normal concerns about lying to them and taking their focus off the birth of Christ, we saw something that concerned us even more.
Our girls have incredible faith. And they pray all the time. We witnessed Alea praying to Santa for what she wanted for Christmas. Those lines between God and Santa were becoming blurred and we found it necessary to clarify things.
I think they have adjusted well!
Have a blessed Christmas, Rev. Colin!
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