9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (Colossians 3:9, King James Version)
I remember how Garner Ted Armstrong used to tell the story about the little boy who just found out that Santa Claus wasn’t real. He remarked to his friend, “I bet Jesus is a fake, too!”
Some are beginning to question this whole Santa Claus myth with good reason.
In Deuteronomy 5:7, the Lord says, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” But little children practically worship Santa. Kids pick up on things easily, though. By age 3 or 4 they are asking, “How does Santa get in our house if we don’t have a chimney?” or “How can a big fat man fit down that small opening?”
Answering with a lie means when that child is old enough to grasp the truth, he or she may think, “Santa’s a lie, so the stories about Jesus must be a lie, too.” In addition, lying violates the command in Deuteronomy 5:20 against bearing a false witness.
~ Copley, James. (n.d.). The Great Santa Debate: He Is a Harmful Myth. Message posted to http://www.christianity.com/Christian%20Living/Features/11622694/.
My friend tried to share the gospel of Christ with a guy he knew. That guy told him that he was really upset/hurt when he found out that Santa Claus wasn’t real, and that he could never trust in Jesus because he couldn’t go through that again if he found out that Jesus wasn’t real. Yes it’s a lie and should be taught as a fictional story, not fact. But as the guy before stated, it’s just my opinion.
~ Q: If Christian parents tell their kids that Santa Claus exists does this mean they are lying? (n.d.). Retrieved from WikiAnswers: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/If_Christian_parents_tell_their_kids_that_Santa_Claus_exists_does_this_mean_they_are_lying
Why should parents be surprised when children turn against what they were taught as though the moral teachings taught in their youth were all fables? Perhaps it is because they were intermingled with real fables!
The Biblical prohibitions against lying are many. Lying is called an abomination (Pr 6:16-19).
6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; (1 Corinthians 13:6, King James Version)
We have a responsibility to teach our children the truth.
6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, King James Version)
1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1 Timothy 4:1-2, King James Version)
6If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. (1 Timothy 4:6-7, King James Version)