Besides the paper and bows and boxes in disarray, there's the rank commercialism, the selfishness, and the quickly developing dissatisfaction with the gifts.
But don't forget the Santa Claus myth, which describes how little children will receive gifts based upon their good works. He's making a list, finding out who's naughty and nice, he sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you've been good or bad.
Santa Claus theology declares that good gifts are contingent on good deeds, and keeping the law.
This children's myth models every one of fallen mankind's false religions - always works based, always seeking a way to appease the gods, so that their power might be bent toward man's pleasure.
Now we have even more additions to the mythology - the so-called "Elf on the Shelf," Santa's snitching elves reporting back to the North Pole each night, as parents search frantically for ways to keep the kids under control during the holiday season.
Santa Claus theology teaches children that grace is earned by their obedience. It teaches them that their good deeds ought to earn gifts. It teaches them that, when they receive gifts, that shows they have been good.
Worst still, in the end, they figure out that they receive gifts no matter how bad they've been. The rules, it seems in the end, are not to be enforced after all!
So fallen, lost men think of God. We can earn His favor by doing good. God owes us good things when we obey Him, and when He does not, we grow angry and question His goodness or even existence.
But in the end, God will just let us by, whether we've obeyed or not, just like Santa Claus does.
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Children not Kids Children. Not kids. ๐๐๐
5loaves2fishes (1/7/2020)
from Mississippi Delta
God's glory is seen to be more glorious Some of the folklore that has grown up around Christmas is not harmless. Consider Santa Claus and the Elf on the Shelf. Men ascribe god-like powers to these pet icons. Folks vest them with superstitions. They embody man-made religion.
Why does God tolerate competitors who siphon off glory that belongs to Him? If it is to spark a sermon like this, that would be reason enough. How far more glorious the true God is in contrast to manโs best imaginary replacements.
John Pittman Hey was born in 1961 in Jackson, Mississippi, to Godly parents who from the beginning raised him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. With child-like faith he came to Christ on his fourth birthday at his mother's knee. He received his education at church...