“Mom, Dad, Billy said there’s no such thing as Santa. He said I was a dummy for believing it that stupid stuff. Is Santa real?” 

Jeff, a second grade boy is having a crisis of faith. For as long as he can remember, his parents have told him that Santa brings his presents on Christmas Eve every year. There is an elf on the shelf keeping watch to see if he is being good enough. He has thoroughly enjoyed this tradition until recess time at school that day. Several of the other boys told him Santa was fake, and they made him feel like a fool. 

Well, Mom & Dad? What do you say to Jeff at this point? 

I have read & heard several strategies for parents to let their kids down gently at this point. The problem here is that it never should have gotten this far. As a father, a pastor, and most importantly, as a Christian, I believe parents should never tell their children that Santa is real — or even imply the idea. Let me explain. 

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT TELL YOUR CHILDREN SANTA IS REAL: 

It is a lie. 

Santa is not real. To say otherwise is to lie directly and intentionally to your children. We all know that Christmas is about Jesus (and I’m sure Christian parents who disagree with me about Santa are not trying to denigrate the real meaning of the season). That being said, even a well-intentioned lie is still a lie. 

It seems a strange twist of irony to celebrate the birth of Truth Incarnate with lies. 

(John 14:6) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one 

comes to the Father except through Me.

God directly commands us to put lying out of our lives and speak truth — especially to those closest to us. 

(Ephesians 4:25) Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak 

truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

(Ephesians 4:15a) but, speaking the truth in love . . . 

(Colossians 3:9) Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old 

man with his deeds,

It makes you a hypocrite. 

Do you tell your children it is wrong for them to lie to you? What kind of punishment do you impose on them for lying to you? Are you disappointed in them when they lie to you? 

Is it not hypocritical to tell your children it is wrong for them to lie to you, but you have free license to lie to them? Christian parents must lead, not just in word, but in deed.

If you tell your children it is wrong for them to lie, then don’t lie to them. 

It damages their trust. 

(Proverbs 26:18-19) Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and 

death, Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!” 

Have you ever known someone who would fool you and do little tricks, and then tell you it was “only a little joke”? In other words, he is saying, “Don’t worry. I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I planned to tell you the truth all along.” That person is like a madman to you. 

You cannot trust a madman because his actions and words are unpredictable. He might tell you the truth. He might not. You don’t know. So you don’t trust him. 

Parents, you should be predictable in the eyes of your children. They should be able to see your consistency, especially in matters of truth vs. make-believe. The trust-factor is directly tied to my next point . . .

It confuses their concept of faith. 

You told them Santa was real for years only for them to find out (possibly in an embarrassing way from friends) it was a lie. You also tell them that Jesus Christ is real, that He is God in human flesh who died for our sins, rose from the dead, and is coming again. Will they remember how you lied to them about Santa when a friend tells them that Jesus is not real?

It is true that many children who believed in Santa grow up in the faith and become strong Christians. That’s the power of the gospel! But your children should not have to overcome an unnecessary hurdle that you cast in their path. They should believe in Jesus because of your Christmas traditions, not in spite of them. 

Truth does not damage imagination, it clarifies it. 

Parents of young children love to see the wonder and the imagination of childhood (these are beautiful blessings indeed!). We don’t want to damage that. They will have to face the cruel world soon enough! 

This is perhaps the most compelling argument in favor of promoting Santa to children. The emotional appeal makes is powerful. But is it a good argument? The argument implicitly states that we have only two options: (1) tell the truth and destroy the kids’ imagination, or (2) tell them Santa is real and allow their imaginations to flourish. This is a bifurcation fallacy (because it assumes there are only two mutually exclusive possibilities when, in fact, there is a third option). 

When it comes to Santa, there is a third option. You can tell them the truth AND their imaginations can flourish. Children need to know the boundaries between imagination and belief. C.S. Lewis did. His imagination produced Narnia — an amazing land of fantastic creatures and harrowing adventures. But C.S. Lewis did not believe Narnia actually existed. Adults and children alike need not believe in what they imagine in order to enjoy what they imagine. 

Truth does not damage imagination, it clarifies imagination. 

I grew up on a property that had access to a lake. In the summer, I would don my snorkel and dive mask and float along the surface, looking down at the sandy lake bottom 20 inches below. I would imagine I was flying a bomber high over enemy territory, using my fingers to make little clouds of dust on the “ground far below.” In my mind, I saw the explosions of bombs hitting the surface. I would even make “pew-pew” sounds through the snorkel! I would be lost in my own little world until my fingers looked like prunes! 

Though totally immersed in that imaginary world, at no point did I ever believe that I was really flying a bomber over Berlin in 1944! I knew the truth. I still enjoyed the fantasy. If, however, I DID believe the fantasy, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it so much. Instead, I would have to wonder about its ramifications in my real life. 

Children need to know the difference between belief and imagination. It takes a load off their minds, and it does not destroy imagination. Rather, it sets imagination free. 

Your children want you to tell them the truth. 

That’s why they asked you! They asked you because they are unsure of the truth, and you are the one source of information that they implicitly trust. If your child asks you the question Jeff asked, he/she does not want to be deceived. Your child trusts you and wants to know. Give your child what he wants: Truth! 

HOW SHOULD PARENTS HANDLE THE SANTA QUESTION WITH THEIR KIDS?

Tell them from their earliest memory that Santa is make-believe, but teach them about the real St. Nicholas. Santa can still be fun. Imagine, but don’t believe. Read the “Night Before Christmas” poem together. Watch the Rudolf movie, etc. But let them know that this is make-believe and just for fun. Make sure to teach them the boundaries between imagination (Santa) and belief (Jesus).

The Santa fantasy actually comes from a real source. Learn about St. Nicholas and share that story with your kids. It will strengthen their faith! 

Teach them that all their gifts come from God (James 1:17). 

Tell them to be sensitive toward their friends who have been told that Santa is real.

Teach them to focus on Christ, family, and giving to/serving others at Christmas time.