Great article. I also sat on the sideline of the Jabez and Purpose Driven crazes. I think they did more harm than good. But anyway, I have this argument every year with Christians. I cannot understand why Christians celebrate Christmas in the manner that they do. Santa is horrible for the theological development of children. Not to mention I have never understood how a Christian parent could lie to their child's face for 5 or 6 YEARS...INTENTIONALLY! You are setting some (I said "some" no need to reply) children up for trust issues. I'll have to check out the book.

I still struggle with the performance issue during intensely difficult times, but I believe that this is something that most people who grew up with rejection have to work through.

As for the Santa thing, the other day I was remembering how many years ago my sister and I created t-shirts that urged people not to let "Santa (Satan) take credit for Jesus' birthday...[and that] Jesus is the reason for the season." But today I am a little wiser. As someone who also doesn't embrace fads, and wanting to settle the Santa issue for myself, a few years back I studied the history of Santa Claus, and was amazed to learn that the true uncommercialized Santa (which acutally means Saint) was a Christian who saved orphaned girls from a life of prostitution by giving them money to live on. Everything else taught to us about Santa Claus has been fabricated. He embodied the love of Christ through his ministry, and I'm certain he would be appalled to know how his legacy has been overshadowed by lies.

Thank you Lord for the opportunity to post this message. As Christian, do you really really think its ok to believe a lie that there is a Santa Claus. I really am astonished at the number of brothers and sisters in Christ that are conforming to the ways of the world and teaching our children that there is an easter bunny, santa claus, tooth fairy, that it's ok to celebrate halloween, and pretend to be something other than who the Good Lord made you to be. I posted before, and I will reiterate, the devil will use anything he can to take the focus off of the Lord Jesus Christ (which by the way is what Christmas is about) and divert the truth like always. John15:% "I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in me, and I in him will produce much fruit, apart from me, you can do nothing." Let us draw closer to the vine, and pray that the unbelievers and believers would celebrate the Lord everyday, not just Dec 25th

I agree with notrightorleft, the point of the article was about the common Christian perspective that we need to be perfect. Because we can't be perfect, we often deny our wrongdoing, which is even more destructive.

I don't think Santa in and over himself is bad, but the idea that he only rewards you if you're good is destructive. My kids certainly have cried and pouted this year, how about yours? :)

This is most unusual because just a few days ago I posted a blog entry having reread a sermon by Dr. John MacArthur that he delivered back in 1990. I was so taken by the very poignant example that he gave at that time that I entitled the blog entry, "The Dangers of Santa", and if anyone is interested the blog address is, http://maxaira.blogspot.com/
I believe it's about time that we as Christian parents and grand parents step apart from that rushing Christmas madness, and begin to tell our little ones about the real reason that IS the truth of Christmas. Share the love of Christ and Calvary and forget the baubles of humanism. It's a terrible thing to cause one of these little ones to stumble. In Christmas love, J.D.

We have no other hope but Christ...in us. And the assurance of that presence is the foundation of our "faith." We accept it by faith, experience it by faith, and live it by faith. Any attempt to put enough of our own effort and work into "creating" our salvation in order to meet some expectation that is so far beyond what we can fathom will always fall short.

Our only work is to continually live (by faith) an ongoing transformation of taking off the old clothes and putting on the new ones.

Perhaps it is just me, but it seems some are missing the point of the article. It is not so much about whether including Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas is detrimental to our faith, rather it is the notion that Christians need to at least appear darn near perfect. That certainly was my view and just like Dave describes, I learned to present a "holy" side to family and church. And the more I was able to fool others, the more I began to fool myself. But God was not and is not fooled. Eventually all of my hiding and preening caught up with me.

We need to be open with our kids and youth at church. We are all sinners, we all still have struggles. We are all clearly tempted. We are to exhort each other and help each other, as Paul talks about in Ephesians 6. If we spent more time doing as Paul encourages, I believe we would have stronger, and more committed believers. Believers who know, that they are saved by grace and not works.

Thank you Lord for the opportunity to post this message. We as Christians should know that Satan will use any ploy necessary to take the focus of what really matters, Jesus. Not just at Christmastime, but always. Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Fairy Godmother, tooth fairy are just a few lies that we teach our children.These people do not exist. Christmas and Thanksgiving Valentines Day and Mother and Fathers day should be celebrated every day.Let us not fall prey to Satans lies. John15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in me, and I in him will produce much fruit, apart from me, you can do nothing" Let us stay close to the fine, and seek the Lord in all things.

How more ridiculous can we get as Christians? I find it hard to believe that Jesus would protest to Santa Claus. No wonder non believers look at us as a people whose collars are too tight. We taught our children about St Nicholas and his legacy in Santa Claus when they were young. They don't see God as depicted in this article. Now college age, they worship in church, play in the praise band and love God. I know others who were raised in the church, taught to hold Santa in contempt, and later left the church. Is there a connection? I doubt it. Before we hold these theological discussions on Santa, let us ponder statistical research of believers and any impact of their childhood Santa.

My Mother and Father did not hold Christmas events. When I was growing I thought they were to poor but as I got older I started to agree with their thinking. If when a child find out that there is realy no Santa then they will think there is no GOD. Christ said that we will no more know him after the flesh I belive we should know as the risen Christ not as a helpless baby.

A link to this article has been posted on the website GoodNewsNow.com.

This is awesome. Truefaced is one of the most encouraging books I have ever read. I think it should be in the book store right next to "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell and "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. Look for it online, because you can't find it in any bookstore. But it is more than worth it.