Should Christians Teach Their Kids About Santa Claus?

Before jolly old Saint Nick became the myth known as Santa Claus, he was Nicholas of Myra, a pastor in modern -day

Turkey. Nicholas was born into a wealthy family and gave his wealth away. In one occasion, he paid the dowries of three sisters by dropping gold coins in their window.

He had a reputation for giving gifts in secret, putting coins in the shoes of those who left them outside their door. When Diocletian became emperor of Rome, he persecuted

Christians severely, one of whom was Nicholas. In 313, when the persecution ended, Nicholas was released from prison, covered in his own blood, and the people called him

Nicholas the Confessor. There's a story of Nick attending the Council of Nicaea in 325. When Arius sang his blasphemous hymn about Jesus being created by God, Nicholas slapped him.

And that was the real Nicholas. Over time, legend turned to myth, and Saint Nicholas became Santa Claus. Now, surely you've heard it suggested that if you teach your kids that Santa is real, you're lying to your children.

But the Santa myth is also bearing false witness about a real person, a brother with whom we share our inheritance in Christ.

Nicholas gave what he had to help others. He confessed Christ and was beaten for it. He was zealous for sound doctrine.

Telling kids he's a magic man, watching their behavior from the North Pole with elves and eight flying reindeer distributing presents on Christmas Eve and eating their cookies is not a better story.

Don't take Christ out of the life of a man who was all about Christ. 1 Timothy 4 .7

says have nothing to do with irreverent silly myths. And folks, Santa Claus is an irreverent silly myth when we understand the text.