Full Disclosure: I’m assuming that anyone who would make it to this blog page is old enough to have learned the truth about Santa Claus.

So here’s the truth. We do the “Santa thing” in my home. Like most children growing up in America, my wife and I both had the Santa experience as a part of our childhood Christmas. That is not to say that it has been easy. I have struggled for a lot of years over the wisdom of making Santa a part of the Christmas season in our home. My wife could not see why I was making such a big deal about the whole mess. Needless to say, someone had to give.

Instead of complete giving in by one or the other, we decided on a compromise. I agreed to Santa at Christmas, and she agreed that once each child was old enough to ask the question, we would not lie. Rather than continuing to perpetuate the myth, we would be honest with them, explain the tradition and its part in our own childhood.

Over the years, I have noticed a remarkable thing. As I have seen my children grow – and thankfully, graciously seen some responsiveness to the Gospel from our oldest – I have seen a diminishing of Santa focus. That’s not to say they don’t enjoy the spectacle of it all, but, beginning with the oldest, they are far more likely to suddenly bust out with “Joy to the World” rather than “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

These days, what bothers me about Santa isn’t the concept of it. Rather, it’s my own sinful tendency with it. We strive to be the Christian parents that God has called us to be in Scripture. And a part of that is exhibiting a reflection of the amazing grace that he has lavished upon us through Jesus Christ. But the overwhelming temptation as Christmas draws near is to use “Santa” as a means for inducing good behavior. If done poorly (let’s face it most of the time it IS), Santa isn’t about grace. He’s about legalism. “You’d better watch out, you’d better not cry, you’d better not pout, I’m telling you why. Santa Claus is coming to town!” Read those lyrics again and this time instead of saying “Santa Claus” say “Mommy” or “Daddy.” Now ask yourself if that would elicit joy or fear in the heart of your child.