YEA Lesson Library

The Lesson

Did you and your family ever celebrate Christmas? If so, you may experience some pains of nostalgia when all the Christmas trappings show up in stores and everywhere you go there is a constant sound of carols being sung. You're a maturing young adult who desires things that are real. You may have seen old reruns of Dragnet on TV where Sargent Friday says, "Just the facts." That's what this generation of teens wants - you want the facts - what’s real.

You may analyze your YEA teacher and wonder is he or she real? Does he really believe what he’s teaching you? Being a part of this sophisticated generation, you should be objective enough to look at the most celebrated holiday of all and see if it's real.

Even before you celebrate Thanksgiving, you will likely hear this little Christmas song many times, "Up on the house top click, click, click. Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick." It's a catchy little tune that reflects much of what Christmas is all about: it’s mostly a myth! Some might say it is based on many untruths. So are the nostalgic things about Christmas real - factual and true? Let's explore some of the myths that go with Christmas to discover what is real.

What about Santa Claus? I think you would agree he doesn't exist. However, he is an imaginary person spoken of as though he exists. This jolly, imaginary, bearded, mythical character is depicted dressed in a red suit with white cuffs and a black belt and boots. He supposedly lives at the North Pole with his wife and elves who help him make toys for good children which he carries on a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. This caravan lands on roof tops and supposedly this overweight Santa goes down many hot, smoke-filled chimneys with a large pack on his back without even getting singed. He delivers gifts under Christmas trees around the world all in one night. Now that stretches my credulity. These are God-like characteristics a fraud is supposed to have. Does that somehow step out of the realm of being real?

How can most parents foster these beliefs on their gullible, innocent children and encourage them to believe that there is a Santa Claus? Yet it's done with devotion and virtual worship. But is it good for them? What is it teaching them? Is this biblical? Is it real?

Many parents try hard to keep the myth going. They hide presents from their kids and get up in the wee hours of the night to sneak bicycles, toy cars, and gifts too large to wrap under the tree to give the illusion that Santa is rewarding their child for being good.

How would you feel if you gave a person everything he has and he gave credit to some mythical being? James 1:17 clearly tells us that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Why don't parents teach their children to praise God from whom all blessings flow instead of perpetuating a total untruth and giving credit to a giver other than God?

Does leading a child to believe there is a Santa Claus prepare her for real life? We've come to the place where people expect our government to play Santa Claus and dish out entitlements that we've not earned. Proverbs 10:4 tells us that "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth" (NIV).

A small child had been taught from birth that there was a Santa Claus. When he was about seven he found the toys his parents had hidden to perpetuate this myth. Upon learning that there was no Santa Claus, he told his parents that he was "going to look into this Jesus Christ thing as well." He must have felt he could no longer trust his parents. If they would lie to him about there being a Santa Claus, it seemed to follow that they might just lie about Jesus Christ.

Being honest, real, and factual are things Christ would have you to do. The Christmas tradition breaks many of the Ten Commandments. The true God is replaced with Santa. It places Santa above the true God. That breaks the First Commandment. The person who tells a child there is a Santa Claus breaks the commandment not to bear false witness. The Christmas tradition teaches children and even adults to covet what they don't have - to lust after things in stores, things their neighbor has, and things they often shouldn't have, nor are they willing to work to have them. Shoplifting cases go way up during the Christmas shopping period. That is breaking the commandment “Thou shalt not steal.”

There are those who do good during the Christmas season by serving in soup kitchens, and donating to organizations such as Salvation Army. That's admirable, but it shouldn't be limited to only once or twice a year. James 4:17 says, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin." Doing good should be a way of life. So should putting God first and not substituting someone or something, such as a mythical character, for the true God. God is real! So if you want to Get Real! put God first in your life every day.