We do Santa Claus at our house.
There. I admitted it. Online, in a Christian blogpost to be viewed by the cyber SWAT teams of theology police. And you can take away my John Calvin signature Reformed Theology card but it still wont change the fact that the guy in the red robe has a place in our home during the Advent season. Actually, it isn’t just during Advent—it’s all year long.
We don’t even call him St Nicholas, the one name that seems to put most of the hard-core Santa-demonizing-church-curmudgeons into a neutral state of “Well, at least you are referring to the Christian Santa Claus.”
We call him “Ho-Ho”. Sometimes “Ho-Ho-Ho”. At least that is how Jacob, my 20-year-old non-verbal son with autism, refers to him (and almost any other older gentleman sporting a white beard).
I suppose we could/should discourage this. After all, the last thing we want to do is take the emphasis off of Jesus during the Advent season and place it onto a pseudo savior with counterfeit omniscient-omnipresent capabilities, whose list checking message is practically the anti-gospel.
Not to mention the fact that Jake has a severe, almost bi-polar, love-fear relationship with this “Ho-Ho.” There are times when just the mention of his name fills Jake’s face with excitement like we have never seen before. And there are times when fear of “the man in red” turns his face white and sends him running to hide.
But before the theology police begin to judge too quickly, allow me to show you the importance of this Christmas character through the eyes of a man-child who, even in his very limited understanding, loves Jesus with a joy each of us would do well to emulate and envy.
Jake doesn’t talk, so when an actual word comes out of his mouth, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory to God. He only communicates a few words verbally. We cherish each one: “Momma, Dad-da, Maw-Maw, Granddad”, and—you guessed it, “Ho-Ho”. So, to take Santa Claus away from my son would mean taking away 20% of his vocabulary, unless you count the most recent word that spontaneously popped out of his mouth just a few weeks ago when I opened a can of cashews and spilled them all over the kitchen floor, “Nut!” (Although he could have been referring to his dad.)
Aside from encouraging his vocabulary, and at the risk of sounding heretical—God knows whether we are or not—we also think there could be a deeper, possibly more spiritual, meaning behind our son’s fearful fixation of the man in red.
We will never know, this side of eternity, Jake’s full understanding of Jesus—who he is, what he has done, etc. But we know he loves the Lord. Just ask him. Or better yet, worship with him. I often envy the shear unashamed excitement and love Jake brings when he comes to worship the One True King.
I have only seen my son display this kind of excitement in one other place—the movie theater or in front of a DVD player while watching “The Polar Express”.
I know. I probably just made a few people cringe with disappointment, but bear with me.
The animated movie is basically about a little boy’s crisis of childlike faith as he begins to grow older, finding himself at the precipice of unbelief. This may be his last Christmas as a believer in Santa Claus. He is picked up on Christmas Eve by a mysterious train and a no-nonsense conductor (Tom Hanks) that takes him, and a group of other children on the same faith journey, to the North Pole.
The train ride is filled with wonder, awe, excitement and danger. Strangely, the only part of the movie Jake gets excited about is the very end when “the man in red” finally makes his grand entrance (and it is grand!) to the shouts and praises of myriads of little people in a golden city. And he comes bearing gifts for all who believe.
It is during this scene that Jake falls to pieces. I’ve never seen anything like it. He laughs and cries and claps and sighs. And now that he has the movie on DVD he goes straight to that one scene and plays it over and over and over again. Hundreds of times! Play, rejoice, pause, rewind, repeat. He has continued this cycle of joy so often, that for the past five or six Christmases we have had to replace the worn out movie each year.
My point being: When Jake hides in fear from the mall Santa sitting on his throne or jumps up and down in excitement at the mention of his name, or streams tears of joy as he watches that climactic scene in The Polar Express, he isn’t excited for the latest version of Xbox or IPhone. He is excited for the man in the red robe. He longs for his presence, not his presents. He is simultaneously thrilled and exhilarated and afraid and cautious and filled with unspeakable joy, just to be near him.
The climactic scene in the movie The Polar Express, combined with the anticipation in my son’s eyes, remind me of another scene I myself wait for with an emulated, unspeakable joy:
“After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God! Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns!
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 19-21)
This is the scene I keep playing over and over in my mind. Sometimes it is so vivid that I am beside myself with anticipation. Play, rejoice, pause, rewind, repeat.
I honestly do not know what is going on in Jake’s mind as he watches the climactic conclusion from the Polar Express or when he emotionally comes undone at the mall as we approach the man in the red robe. But is it possible that my son, in his simplest understanding and longing for Jesus, is playing and replaying another scene? Instead of being in awe of Santa Claus coming to town, perhaps the “HoHoHo” spoken from the mouth of a disabled man-child—who desperately loves God—echoes with silent joy,
“Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come quickly Lord Jesus!”
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I think it’s wonderful that your Jake loves Polar Express and can express joy! I love Jesus and celebrate Christmas but I think that what you wrote here is so appropriate and from the heart.
Hey guys, I appreciate the passionate conversation and I respect all your views, but maybe we could trade emails and continue this dialogue in a more direct venue. Our main mission at Not Alone is to help families see more of the glory of God in disability. While these dialogues can move towards that end, you must admit there comes a time in the conversation when we are more passionate about winning an argument than ministering to each other. Feel free to email me at greglucas58@gmail.com if you want to talk more. Thanks.
PS. TJ, I love John Piper, and that last quote.
Sounds good brother.
This is so lovely. Thank you for posting.
“Why would we give our children Santa when we can give them the incarnate Son of God… …Santa has nothing to do with Christmas” –– John Piper
Maybe “HoHoHo” is just short hand for “Holy, Holy, Holy” and he’s looking past the man in red, anticipating the King in white.
With respect to the recent poster, and others of similar content, who have commented on this piece, you are acting shameful. I had a disabled brother who was called “profoundly r-” (I hate the word, so I don’t use it). Any of you who have disabled relatives you are caregiver to would know that to suggest we “use” our relatives is incredibly insulting to us and our loved ones.
I’m not arguing those who just disagree with Santa Claus stuff, but those who suggest the author here is using their son’s disabilities for some almost nefarious “Santa Claus” agenda. That is clearly from the article not what the person intends, and is an enormously condescending and self-righteous cruel remark.
Shame on you.
No shame. This is a public forum and it’s a weak (and may be slightly emotionally manipulative) argument to support a Christian view of Santa because of the reaction of his son. I’t m not saying he ‘used’ his son to he the view across, but I really don’t think this has been thought through to its entirety.
PS. I have a son with a disability.
Think you’ve completely missed something. Imagine a world where the Polar Express Santa existed but with no knowledge of Christ. Now imagine the vast majority of Asia. The reality is that Japan send more letters to Santa Claus than any other nation on earth and the Japanese are also classed as the world’s largest unreached people group. So, Santa may make a great allegory for Christ, if you really REALLY stretch it, but he also makes a great anti-Christ.
I think also that using your son’s disabilities is manipulative. Just because a child with severe autism gets excited about Santa and could possibly relate him to Jesus doesn’t mean the rest of the world is going to see it that way. In fact, mainstream popular culture doesn’t. Millions now see him as the centrepiece of Christmas.
I’m confused. If this were true — if Christians based what they did on what the Majority of People think or feel about it, or whether the Majority of People use/abuse that thing for sinful purposes — then you need to get off the internet right now. That’s sarcasm, of course. But seriously, what we Christians do need to get off of is this absurd tendency to look first to what The World is doing, and then try to do the opposite, instead of looking first to what Christ has done and is doing, and then try to do the same. Looking first to the world is not only pathetic, but undependable. Often The World will sin profusely, depending on where you look, in which case it’s absurdly easy to say “well, don’t do what the world does.” But then every once in a while The World may actually do something right. That will confuse and bamboozle only well-meaning but naive Christians, who must quit expecting The World only to behave sinfully 100 percent of the time.
I’m more confused than you. No idea what point your addressing.
I’m rebutting your comment that:
And in short, I’m saying: in this context, who in the ruddy heck cares what “millions” are doing? This author is saying that his child is not sinning. You point to “millions” of others (an easy generalization, by the way) and act as if this somehow discount what the author says. It doesn’t. Neither does the fact that “millions” of others abusing the internet mean that you or I are sinning in using it now. And then I said: Let us stop looking to what “the world” is doing (“millions”!) and instead look to Christ. The world may be right or wrong in its actions. But Christ is always right. And He charged us not with fearing the world or reactively trying to avoid what the world does, but to imitate Him.
Okay so what you’re saying is it doesn’t matter what the rest of the world believe about Christ, as long as we as individuals and our families believe the right thing?
//who in the ruddy heck cares what “millions” are doing?//
Erm, God.
May be you’ve missed my point. God’s plan is that all the peoples on earth be blessed and become worshipers of him (Gen 12:3, Ps 117), right?
So, if the majority of the secular world thinks that Santa is the centerpiece of Christmas and has relatively no knowledge of Christ and in some places, no knowledge at all, then it’s our responsibility to make his name known among the nations. To point people everywhere to Jesus.
That’s the big picture. That’s what life is all about. God. Not me. It’s a nice thing this guys son likes Santa but loves Jesus. It would be great if that was the case for everyone. But it’s not. Christmas has been secularized. Christmas is for most a materialistic celebration.
It’s our job (Matt 28, Acts 1:8, Luke 24, Mark 16, Romans 10:14 etc) to proclaim the gospel. That includes at Christmastime.
You’ve switched topics. I said: “in this context, who in the ruddy heck cares what ‘millions’ are doing?” Nowhere in my comment is any condemnation of evangelism. I’m not sure why you went there. My challenge is to tackle my actual argument: “if millions of people use X to sin, but one Christian uses X to (as he says) worship God, why should the Christian care what ‘millions’ are doing”? In the Santa situation, yes, we should rebuke people’s sin that uses that imagination. But the fact that they use Santa to sin has no bearing, absolutely none, on the believer who says, “I actually use that thing for good.” You are left with only two actions: 1) Reconsider your view, in line with passages such as Rom. 14 and 1 Cor. 8–10, 2) Call the other believer a liar and a sinner. Unfortunately you have, so far, opted for option 2.
Wow. Hostile.
Can you please help me ascertain where I’ve called millions of people believing in Santa a ‘sin’? How have you even got ‘sin’ from my comments?
Think you’ve completely misunderstood my comment. My point is about the ignorance of the real meaning of Christmas as opposed to the sin of Santa.
Understood?
No hostility. Just an attempt to stay on-topic. Though misunderstanding someone’s comment has happened before, this being the internet and all. … Again, I am speaking to what you said here, specifically:
I am reading your point as this: “Because millions of people are excited about Santa and not Jesus, it is wrong for you to ‘use’ your autistic son as a point in ‘Santa’s’ favor.” It sounds like this: “Millions of people who use ‘Santa’ as a means to idolatry means that you are disqualified for using ‘Santa’ as a means to worship. You can’t enjoy this practice or advocate for it in public.”
If this wasn’t your point, what was? Sincere question.
And my main point remains that it’s wrong to charge a fellow believer (even just some Christian blogger) with being “manipulative” about his own family situation. I don’t know this blogger, but I enjoyed this piece very much. It’s an excellent reminder that every child learns differently and we should not — should not — imply that they are all the same about any Thing, including “Santa.”
My problem is with comments like this:
‘So, to take Santa Claus away from my son would mean taking away 20% of his vocabulary’
What if Santa had never been thought up, surely Jake would have someone or something else that would stir his imagination so much?
It is SLIGHTLY manipulative to use an emotionally charged situation (such as a child who cannot speak very often) to make a point about a topic like this.
It makes everyone who challenges the view automatically guilty because they would be so rude to disagree in light of the situation.
I feel for this man and his son. I too have a son who is probably slightly autistic. He displays some of the signs, but I’d be very loathed to mention his quirkiness in my sermons or anywhere else simply because it could be used to emotionally manipulate people to agree with my point of view. Perhaps not on purpose. But that’s how this sort of thing works.
May be Santa is a great illustration of Jesus for Jake, perhaps other children with disabilities feel the same. Or may be Jake just gets excited like most people about the prospect of presents at Christmas.
Either way, that’s not how 99% of the world see Santa so why use Santa and the Polar Express as an illustration of the Day we’ll meet Christ face to face?
In of itself, I actually think the Polar Express is a terrible allegory for that Day. It’s very hard for people to see past the man in the red suit with the big beard.
I think a lot of what you are (accidentally) doing is projecting. You seem to think, “If I said that in my situation, I think I would be manipulating.” But why project that same motive onto someone else? My challenge is this: presume to take the other person at his word. If the perceived “sin” would only be in motive, not action, let’s not call it a sin.
I realize I’m sounding abstract here. But this does not a rebuttal make. All it says is, “In an imaginary version of the world, I would be right.”
Again, I think what this really says is, “If I did that, I would be manipulating.” But why project that wrong motive? All you can conclude is that you shouldn’t try it, then. The same is true with the “Santa” notion. This seems a very difficult concept to get across to you. So far. 😛
I don’t think so. It only means that people who say, “No one can do X” without sinning need to confront their over-generalization and perhaps their setting-up of a Rule for everyone that actually only applies to them personally (e.g., what Paul warned against in Rom. 14).
Meaning: … for you.
It could be. But now you’re trying another approach entirely: “There is another interpretation.” That is different from the approach of: “This doesn’t matter in this one case anyway because millions do otherwise.”
Asked and answered with my challenge that this has no relevance here. Time for some Scripture, brother. Versus passages such as Romans 14, 1 Cor. 8–10, show me one instance in which God’s Word comments that our starting point for determining whether it’s a sin should be “are the majority of people using it for sinful purposes”? Where is this opinion found in Scripture? By contrast, don’t those passages expressly say not to pass judgment on those enjoying a freedom that you personally could not use for the glory of God?
Actually this only means: “It’s hard [for me] to see past the man in the red suit with the big beard.”
Again with the imaginary backup choir, friend. Even if they do exist, I challenge again: who cares what all those people think about it? Do some checking into the actual motives the apostle Paul outlines in Romans 14 and 1 Cor. 8–10. The motive is not to avoid being stigmatized by others’ sins. The motive is to glorify God. To act as if the issue is about anything else is at best strange. At worst it’s ignoring parts of God’s Word.
//If the perceived “sin” would only be in motive, not action, let’s not call it a sin.//
I never said he was sinning.
//…who cares what all those people think about it?//
I care because this man cared enough about how people perceive Santa, to post it to a www blog. As did Challies. If they care enough to use this forum, accessible to every person on the planet with unrestricted internet access, then I care enough to challenge it.
//this has no relevance here.//
It has every relevance. We’re on the web. The world can access this Blog.
Rom 14. I’m not passing judgement on my brother here. You’re taking it too far by applying that passage to a Blog and me disagreeing with someone using their sons disability to speak positively about Santa Claus.
Not sure about the denial of passing judgment. I would surely think that if anyone was using his/her child for a manipulative purpose, to argue a point, that’s a sin.
Again you miss the point of my “who cares” objection. I am saying that all those (supposed?) amounts of people misusing a Thing does not relate to whether a person can rightfully use a Thing. To bring up All Those Other People is another issue entirely. I might as well object to you writing blog comments because All Those Other People write rotten comments, so therefore you’re suspect. 😛
Look, I find your comments hard to understand. They tend to digress, or, use wording that make your opinion feel like you’ve misconstrued other peoples comments. I think you read between the lines too much and make big assumptions. At least that’s what I’m assuming 😉
Fair enough. My hope, however, is to redirect any objections to Santa away from what I perceive are spiritual-sounding objections, and toward actual Scripture.
I should also add that when I read this:
//I honestly do not know what is going on in Jake’s mind as he watches the climactic conclusion from the Polar Express//
I was reminded last week when I watched PE for the first time with my 5 year old son, I was sickened to the core to see this part of the movie. I felt a bit like what Paul must have felt when he got to Athens and he saw all the idols. Gutted.
I find the materialistic Christmas sickening. I found this movie, the ending in particular, horrendous. I celebrate Christmas. We have a tree. Presents. Laughter. Movies. Tinsel. Food. The usual. But in our house everyone knows that Santa is made up and has nothing to do with the real meaning of Christmas. I work for a mission agency so it means I’ve traveled to a lot of spiritually dark places. Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Communist, Animistic, I’ve seen sacrifices, shamens, demon possessed people. I’ve seen millions lost in a world of materialism (china) and I can easily put watching that last scene in PE on the same par as my experience with spiritual darkness in Asia.
Why? Let’s move away from this guy and his son Jacob, can we. This guy has explained to his son about Jesus. This boy knows the truth about Santa (hopefully). Millions don’t. Millions of people will watch the PE and be like I was at aged 7, lost in a fake magical experience of Christmas: presents. me. me. me. be good. be kind for a season. All a big deception.
I went to a school that sang Christian hymns now and again. I had been to Sunday School once or twice but I had no idea that Jesus died for me nor would I have cared if someone had told me that was the real goal of Christmas. I was so wrapped up in a world of tinsel and Disney magic that it wouldn’t have mattered.
Have you listened to Piper’s soundcloud askpastorjohn on this issue? Well worth a listen.
I’ll go point by point and try to keep responses short.
Note that I’m working from a crucial assumption here. Since you are familiar with Piper, you’ll recognize how I frame that: that the chief end of a story (as with any Thing) is to help us glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
Conversely, the chief end of a story or Thing should not be to endorse morality, to educate, or to entertain. These can be good. But not “chief ends.”
And yet how did the Apostle Paul handle things when it came time to address the Athenians? Did the apostle 1) condemn their myths, 2) find examples of truth that God had sneaked into their myths anyway, 3) both?
By the way, the worst problem with The Polar Express was the over-sentimentality and the bizarre “uncanny valley” effect of the video-game-cutscene-style characters with ghostlike eyes.
Those eyes … those EYES …
But I was moved to tears at the account of a delighted child exulting in even a partly Christlike person, above and beyond the materialism (or animated ghostlike eyes). Those familiar with “The Chronicles of Narnia” will recognize this as similar to love for the Christlike character Aslan — ultimately for Christ.
I also find the materialism sickening. Lately my wife and I have been sticking with the Marvel series “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” on the internet. Hulu inserts commercials, which we have not seen in a while (our personal choice is not to have cable or satellite). And the promotion of materialism as a lifestyle is repulsive to us. (Some ads simply market the product for perceived needs. Others.emphasize shopping! as a lifestyle.)
Yet materialism is not the only potential sin here, is it?
Your reasons are all personal, though. I recognize and want to empathize with your personal decisions. Per Rom. 14 I would not tell you “this is wrong.” God leaves the celebration of holidays to His people’s consciences.
My point is only to say, “I think you miss that not all people have the same struggles and temptations as you.” Secondly I say: “You ought not condemn them.”
But even more, I’m glad you and your family enjoy the wonder of Christ’s birth. So many reject any of that joy.
And yet the Apostle Paul was able to be disturbed in his spirit, rightfully so, and yet point even to an idolatrous altar “to the unknown god” and use that as a conversation-starter (Acts 17). He also quoted pagan poets with approval, but then subverted the worldview.
Surely other Christians can be fine with exploring related topics. But it feels/felt like you were effectively saying: “I don’t care about this person’s personal scenario and ministry and how he is able to use this Thing to honor God in his own life and in his child’s life. I would prefer to talk about my own situation and experience, reinforcing the notion that this Thing’s use can only be negative.”
And I suggest we must thank God for our personal revulsion against actual sin and take safeguards against our own temptatoins. But then we must move on. For the sake of those many peoples so afflicted with abusing Things for idolatrous ends we must say: “What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”
You nearly lost me when you compared Narnia’s Aslan to Santa:
//Those familiar with “The Chronicles of Narnia” will recognize this as similar to love for the Christlike character Aslan — ultimately for Christ.//
CS Lewis wrote the Narnia series with an agenda, to point people to Christ. Aslan is an allegory of Christ. Santa is not. I think most Christians would agree on that. Again, listen to Piper on that soundcloud, he explains why and how the two can’t even be compared.
//”What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”//
Weak argument. Paul was able to use the ‘unknown God’ precisely because of two things. There was no idol and it was unknown –– it was an empty altar in a city full of literal idols/gods. In some cultures, like Borneo’s animistic tribes, or S.Korea’s Muism, missionaries we able to use an already implanted understanding of an unknown God. The tribes of Borneo knew of a great creator Spirit that was in charge of all other spirits hence why missionaries we able to fill that empty place with the God of the Bible.
This, and Paul’s experience in Athens, are vastly different from Santa Claus. Santa isn’t an empty deity waiting to be filled. At a stretch he could be used as an illustration for God (by knowing if we’re good or bad). But, Santa is more anti-Christ than he is Christ-like.
Again betraying your own stigmatization. In my “world,” the Santa myth can be abused but does not carry the automatic materialistic revulsion that you personally ascribe to the imagination. I’m asking you: come outside your own perspective, your own limits, and appreciate that God has given your spiritual brothers and sisters more freedom to enjoy this without sinful overtones.
Nope. Look up the “pure moonshine” quote from Lewis about his own motives for writing “Narnia.” That quote also touches on the motive behind Aslan. He’s not an “allegory.” He’s a “supposal”: what if the real Christ did this in a magic world? Small difference, big implications.
Meaning: To you he’s not. Why project your own opinions onto everyone else — all other Christians?
Brother, that’s merely your opinion. This is an issue of conscience about which you have no right, none, to declare what is and isn’t sinful for me or others. I haven’t done this to you; I’ve sympathized with your own personal scruples about this issue. But that’s what they are: your own scruples. Not a hard-and-fast rule.
I repeat my challenge about whether Rom. 14 applies to this issue, and if not, does it apply anywhere?
Anticipating this, that’s why I also pointed out that Paul was clearly familiar with, and praised, pagan poets for (accidentally) reflecting God’s truth. His line from a Cretan poet about “in him we live and move and have our being” was originally about Zeus. This false god does not exist. He is a counterfeit. He has nothing to do with the True Meaning of Christianity. And yet Paul used this pagan symbol/idol to point to the true God. That goes much further than merely the “unknown god.”
Brother, your repeating this over and over with no appeal but to an Unknown Book of the Bible doesn’t make it true. 😛 To me Santa is very Christlike. Strip away the materialistic abuses, the stigmas, the cheese, and you have at heart the older legend of St. Nicholas (specifically grounded in the early Church) and the newer legend of a derivative figure who distributes good gifts even to those who are “naughty.” (Does anyone actually get coal in the stockings?!) That to me is bursting with the possibility of a grace-reflection. And I am not saying: “You must believe as I do on this.” I am saying: “This is one direction one could go. Does it make sense? Does it challenge the ‘it can only ever be evil’ claim? Be open to this. Do not make up rules based on your own scruples and apply them to all others.”
No, sorry, you’re wrong. In a
letter to a girl in England who inquired about something in the books, he explains that the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tells the story of the “Crucifixion of Christ and the resurrection”.
Check it out on Google and BBC if this link doesn’t work.
I never said that Santa can only ever be evil. Again, you’ve lost me, not sure how you ascertain that. I see Santa as an anti-Christ like figure but since he’s mythical then who’s the actual anti-Christ?
Materialism. The god of mammon. Santa just happens to be spearheading this each Christmas.
Let me make this clear. Santa isn’t evil. We are (apart from Christ). Christians (at a BIG stretch) could use him to point to Jesus. But for the rest of the world that don’t know Jesus and don’t think about Jesus at Christmastime, he’s a big distraction.
Is that clear enough?
Longtime “Narnia” fan here. I never denied that “Narnia” retells the Gospel story (or at least the first story certain does). If you can point out that I did, I’ll retract. I denied:
The “pure moonshine” quote I suggested you find makes clear Lewis’s original “agenda.” At first he began writing the “Narnia” stories only as stories. Then Aslan took over. Moreover, Aslan is not merely an “allegory” but a “supposal.” Your Lewis rebuttal quote is not really necessary; it doesn’t contradict what I’m saying at all. 😛
Absolutely “Narnia” has Biblical themes. But it began as more than that and continues to be more than that. It’s an awakening of the child’s and open adult’s heart to a whole lifestyle of wonder and imagination, based on the core “supposal” of a magical world in which the real Jesus appears as a Lion to work His will. Note that you cannot press these into “allegories” because there is no Narnian “conversion” for every character besides Edmund, no sacrificial death for elect Narnians, no “church of Aslan,” etc. Not only “allegory.” (Seeing as how we’re both Piper fans, you would very much enjoy the recent Desiring God conference about Lewis and Narnia. Note especially N.D. Wilson’s short presentation about how “Narnia” rebukes our pragmatic “realism.”)
Moreover, many Christians have issues with Aslan representing Christ (as he does) in the exact same way you declare the modern Santa beyond redemption. I’m asking: “Note that similarities. Are you sure you’re not missing something others have found?”
Note also my comparison below to how Lewis redeemed sick, twisted pagan myths about fauns. He also redeems the drunken-orgy-prone figures of Bacchus and Silenus, and in Prince Caspian places these evil-made-good myths in service to Aslan. This I will compare directly to the cliched-but-true illustration (and ornament, etc.) of Santa bowing before the manger.
Does that help?
//Brother, that’s merely your opinion.//
Actually it’s the opinion of a lot of Christians inc. respected ones like Piper. Did you listen to the soundcloud???
//Strip away the materialistic abuses, the stigmas, the cheese, and you
have at heart the older legend of St. Nicholas (specifically grounded in
the early Church) and the newer legend of a derivative figure who
distributes good gifts even to those who are “naughty.” (Does anyone
actually get coal in the stockings?!) That to me is bursting with the
possibility of a grace-reflection.//
True, but your missing the point!!!! How can you strip away the ‘materialistic abuses, stigmas and cheese’. The St Nicholas figure has been repackaged as mythical flying figure that appears once a year that only gives gifts to good children. St Nicholas points to Jesus. Santa Claus 2013 sits on the throne of a anti-God view of Christmas (materialism is lit. a philosophy that only believes in what they can see/touch etc).
Easily.
If Lewis can strip away the stigmas of tiny furred creatures with “demon” horns who are pedophiles (with Mr. Tumnus) then the Santa legend is not beyond redemption. You overestimate the power of evil people to hold anything “hostage” and beyond redemption.
Once again, I’m asking you to cite Scripture about this issue, rather than appeals to authority (even John Piper!) or repetitions of personal moral outrage.
Methinks you need to see more Christmas movies. Many of them actually stress “believing in Santa even though you can’t see him.” It’s cheesy and often a Jesus-substitute. But then again, so is the pagan god Zeus.
Anyway, perhaps we’ve prolonged this discussion and you’re simply not (yet) able to perceive that a) sinful people are the ones hijacking a Church legend for their own sinful ends; b) Christ and His people are not held hostage by what evil people do.
“Greater is He Who is in you than he who is in the world.” I would highly recommend more reading about a Biblical view of culture and cultural redemption (one that does not fall for the evil notions of culture only ever being good): Popologetics by Ted Turnau.
Again, I must be clear. My concern isn’t really with this man or his son. Jake has a father to explain Jesus to him. Santa can take second stage. My concern is with the millions of kids worldwide who don’t have a Christian dad who can do that, who are blind to see that Santa is just another way we can worship mammon (material things) and not God.
Beautiful! We will never know, this side of heaven, just what is going on in our kid’s minds, but when you see this kind of joy, you know it’s God-given-good!
Beautiful. Just beautiful. Having a non-verbal son with autism myself, this was thought provoking and inspiring. God bless you.
You’ve summed it up beautifully. We have our Nick. He’s my “forever-five” child who has become a wonderful young man of 20 also. God has a special place for people like Nick and your son, those who worship God with all their might, uninhibited. And Santa, who cares! We do the Easter Bunny too! May God bless you this Christmas.
While I cannot imagine the many ways in which autism increases your parenting challenges (and I am a parent of 4 boys and 3 girls), I would still not indulge the secular Santa myth in a Christian home. I hope that respectfully sharing my disagreement with you encourages other readers who find your article heart-warming but unconvincing. Brother, I do share your longing for the return of our Lord Jesus, who will make all things new. db
This was beautiful. Neither of my children have special needs and we don’t really do much Santa at our house. But, I think you teach us all so much about parenting. It is about understanding what God is doing in our kids and not what we want our kids to be doing. Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing.
This sounds very similar to our daughter in so many ways. She’s not so much into Santa, but superheros. Little moments of connection and recognition bring pure joy. Behind it all there really must be a desire to connect, probably even praise and worship the super-natural. I don’t think it’s sentimental at all to believe that God is perfectly happy to receive it from them this way.
I hope you don’t get blasted from “Christians” who abhor Santa. We don’t “do Santa” with our kids, but we know some great families who do. I’m glad that you get a chance to see your son show such excitement.
Thank you for posting this, I have 24 year old twins who are verbal but are just the same as your son. They are both autistic with a syndrome. They love Jesus and have a simple faith, no hidden agendas every thing is black and white, no grey shades anywhere! But what excitement they show at this time of year, actually all year round, they listen to Christmas songs in July and just love to watch the “Santa Claus” move, over and over again. Your blog was so honest and I am very thankful that my friend posted it, Greetings from Scotland
So glad for the ways your son continues to teach me. Thanks for the honesty with which you share. Merry Christmas, Greg!
I love this post and I see absolutely nothing wrong with the role Santa has taken on in your home and in your son’s life. The thing is, these stories and mysteries and delights all point to the Greater Wonder that is Jesus. When we think of Santa giving us gifts, asking us what our heart’s desire is, that’s a reflection of our faith in God. Of course, there are differences: God doesn’t judge our “naughty or niceness,” and God’s focus in our lives is not to shower us with material possessions. But to see Santa as a joyful and exciting part of Christmas — to anticipate his coming and clap with delight when we see him — that’s a wonderful moment of faith that just points to something bigger. If we also celebrate that Bigger thing along with Santa then I think we have the best of both worlds.
Thank you so much for this blog. Although my son has language, it is still a question as to how much he knows and understands about God. He loves singing about Jesus, and his farewells always include “God bless you”. So, I always say he and Jesus know what he understands and comprehends, and that is okay with me. My greatest dream for my son was always that he feels the unconditional love of God. That when the world is a struggle and people are not as kind as they should be, God is always there.
We are Polar Express lovers in our house also. The Santa question is evolving. He is still around, but in our house, at 18yrs old, Mom and Dad take over so Santa has time for all the kids. His day program went to see Santa at the mall and he has already visited the center, so he will always be “in the picture”. We are trying to figure the balance between him being an adult, but also still a child. One thing for sure, we will never give up Disney, movies and the parks. Other things, we decide as they arise.
Again, thank you.
This is beautiful, Greg. Well written, articulate, and lovely. The passion your son demonstrates is the same passion my 15-year-old daughter with special needs shows for different things throughout her day (her vocabulary is also severely restricted). If only us adults would live with the passion our special children did–that is giving God the glory! Blessings! And bring on the HO-HO-Ho!