Believe in Who?

by Tiffany S.
from Virtuous Daughters, December 2008~Volume 8, Number 9

Recently my mom and I were doing some shopping a couple days before Thanksgiving. As to be expected, the store had many Christmas decorations and advertisements on their shelves. As I waited for my mom to finish looking over some dishes, a computer screen caught my eye. It was brightly lit with the usual beautiful Christmas colors. Snowy white words covered a rich red screen. I began to read.
   
​“BELIEVE.” How many times had I seen that word elegantly displayed in the store? It hadn’t meant much to me before—believe what? Further reading provided an explanation.

“Without Santa Claus, there would be no childlike faith.” “Santa Claus must live on forever and ever.” “My heart belongs to Santa.” “Everyone should believe in Santa Claus.” There were photographs of grown adults with letters to Santa and adoring smiles on their faces. I did not read all the articles that scrolled across the screen; the words seemed more like blasphemy to me than silly or ridiculous. O Lord, I prayed silently, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
   
I suddenly realized that every time that word, believe, was displayed in this store, it was Satan’s way of blaspheming our God. I discerned that by stating Santa would live forever, these people were applying God’s attribute of eternity to a false figure. By denying childlike faith without Santa, God’s Word and our Savior Jesus Christ were being rejected and scorned. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10). It also tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen; and without faith (in God) it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11).
   
I once saw a Santa Claus sticker that said Believe on his belt buckle. This is not funny. This is very serious. This is blasphemy. And we Christians are not to treat lightly such an appalling sin. “But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.”—Matthew 10:33
   
The song that says Santa “knows when you are sleeping, knows when you’re awake, knows when you’ve been good or bad . . .” applies God’s attribute of omniscience to Santa. Satan has taken some truths (i.e., God’s attributes) and applied them to Santa Claus. I believe that this innocent-looking character has been elevated as a god and that many people are committing idolatry when they find it so “magically” cute and entertaining.
   
As I read the computer screen about Santa, the Lord brought to mind a verse in Isaiah 45. I looked it up when I got home and found the two preceding verses to be very fitting as well: “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time, who hath told it from that time? Have not I the LORD? And there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”—vv. 20-22
   
Another point is this: is Santa Claus real? We  know the answer. Therefore, spreading the “fun” and “excitement” of Santa is really just encouraging a lie. The Bible tells us that Satan, who abides not in the truth, was a murderer from the beginning and is the father of lies (John 8:44). This brings me to a startling conclusion: Satan is indeed involved in the “work” of Santa Claus. He is thwarting true childlike Christian faith.
   
Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Christ. But would you believe that I can hardly find any Christian clip art to include in this issue of Virtuous Daughters? Oh, there’s plenty of stockings, cookies, candles, gifts, and candy canes; and there’s lots of Santa and elves. But nativity scenes, baby Jesus pictures, etc. are few and far between. Our family tries to compliment managers of stores that play Christian Christmas songs. We also complain to the stores that have nothing (literally) to do with Christ in their decoration aisles. I would encourage you to do the same.
   
Satan does his work subtly. I believe that he has caused many children (and apparently adults as well) to adore and praise one besides the great I AM. We Christians need to be constantly on guard against the wiles of the devil. We should be sober and vigilant, because he goes about seeking whom he may devour.  Please pray this Christmas that eyes will be opened to the truth. Our Savior Jesus Christ said:“. . . I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”—John 14:6​