Some Final Thoughts

You’d think I’d be finished defending my stance on Santa, and trust me, though I’ve thought of a lot more biblical principles that I’d like to “argue”, I am finished. The original post was never meant to begin an argument amongst believers; it was merely supposed to be a confession and spiritual check-up, of sorts, first for myself, and then for any others who may have been so inclined. The intent (and I apologize if I failed) was to get others to think and to figure out how to make the day more about Christ and less about other, insignificant, things.

The fact that it provoked such strong emotions struck me as very interesting, however.

Obviously, some of you have given great and thorough attention to your Santa decision. Others have not. It is decidedly your prerogative to make the decisions you feel best lead your family to have maximum output for the Kingdom of God, and if you can do that and still allow Santa to be such an integral part of your Christmas tradition, then you rank among the few.

And just to set the record straight, we are not anti-Santa in and of himself. We are simply opposed to setting him up as an iconic reality that takes any bit of focus off of Christ which includes, but is not limited to, leading impressionable children into belief in said reality. As my friend, Julie Brzozowski, so succinctly stated: “We can enjoy Goldilocks and the Three Bears without believing it really happened. And we can do the same thing with Santa.”

My blog and my thoughts are not The Gospel of Jesus Christ. My husband and I try to very carefully consider things for the ultimate glory of our Holy God in light of the Gospel, and though we will undoubtedly make mistakes along the way, our biggest prayer is that our lives pave the way for our children to one day accept Jesus’ loving atonement for sins and choose then to live a life that honors Him. I believe that as long as we learn to seek God first, before everything else, which is what Christ himself commands in Matthew 6:33, the rest will fall in line. If Christians would stand up in arms defending our Lord and Savior and His precepts like they defend their right to promote Santa’s presence at Christmas, neither would be an issue, for Christ would surely be exalted as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) and not simply become a chorus we sing once a year.

Almost dying and having my daily life so radically changed a year and a half ago has drastically altered (well, maybe more like ‘magnified’) the way I view life, my faith, and the convictions I consequently hold. I’ve also gotten quite a bit more verbal about those convictions, and I use my blog to work through those issues.

The lines between mainstream Christianity and the secular world are so blurry that the time must be coming where we will be forced to take a decisive stance one way or another on every single issue for when it comes to Christ, there are no gray areas. Either we are for Him or we are against Him. Flippant, careless Christianity is no Christianity at all. When we set something above Christ, we idolize it. When we place something on his level, we deify it, and so, in our house, we will not allow Santa to rule on Christ’s day neither as an equal nor as a superior.

Some may be tempted to get all up in my business and find inconsistencies in my walk and in the decisions Jeff and I make. If you’re coming at us from a place of loving concern, then come on. I don’t want to live a stagnant useless existence. I want to be challenged, every day, to be more like the Savior I serve. And maybe I’m extreme, but I don’t serve a pansy god. I serve the Master and Creator of heaven and earth, One whose

“wisdom is profound, his power is vast.

Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?

5 He moves mountains without their knowing it

and overturns them in his anger.

6 He shakes the earth from its place

and makes its pillars tremble.

7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;

he seals off the light of the stars.

8 He alone stretches out the heavens

and treads on the waves of the sea.

9 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,

the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,

miracles that cannot be counted.” (Job 9: 4-10)

This is the God I serve and I will do everything I can to give him proper recognition and honor.

Most gracious Heavenly Father,

I thank you for this gift of life I so often taken for granted, complaining about my ailments and troubles. I ask for your faithful forgiveness as I determine, with your aid, to accept my life the way you have directed it. I thank you for another Christmas to be with my family, sharing in the joy of your birth. As we seek to give you praise and honor, may our lives, our thoughts, and our decisions all reflect your presence inside our hearts. Holy Spirit, convict us where we seek glory for ourselves, guide us into your Spirit of Truth, and help us to truly remember that this season of gifts, giving, family, fellowship, and generosity is ALL because of your great sacrifice for us. Amen.