This time of year is a real difficult time for young ones. Their parents tell them so many lies that they really don’t know what to believe. I’ll break down some of these “untruths” that are spread by their parents in hopes of giving them something to look forward to in happiness.
First this entire thing about Santa Claus! Really! A jolly, fat man who is going to break into their homes at night and leave THEM gifts without “taking” anything for himself? Well, maybe some cookies and a little milk to drink.
Where does all this nonsense come from? Pre-modern representations of the gift-giver from Church history and folklore, notably St Nicholas (known in Dutch as Sinterklaas), merged with the English character Father Christmas to create the character known to Americans and the rest of the English-speaking world as "Santa Claus" (a phonetic derivation of "Sinterklaas").
In the English and later British colonies of North America, and later in the United States, British and Dutch versions of the gift-giver merged further. For example, in Washington Irving's History of New York (1809), Sinterklaas was Americanized into "Santa Claus" (a name first used in the American press in 1773) but lost his bishop's apparel, and was at first pictured as a thick-bellied Dutch sailor with a pipe in a green winter coat. Irving's book was a lampoon of the Dutch culture of New York, and much of this portrait is his joking invention. But the belief and the “history” go back decades.
Let’s not even begin to discuss the “traditions” of the tree, the giving of gifts, and all the celebration and merry-making that has become synonymous with the Christmas season. However, not with these lies being serious enough, the parents have to “invent” their reasons based on their misunderstanding of misbelieves with the scriptures.
Then these “do-good” parents will try and exonerate themselves by telling their children various “stories” that are supposedly come from the bible to justify their reasons for this “holiday celebration.” Let’s look at a few of these fallacies and where we are going to have to correct this understanding.
To begin with the very conception that Jesus was born on December 25th has long been known to be incorrect. The early Christian church did not celebrate Jesus' birth. It wasn't until A.D. 440 that the church officially proclaimed December 25 as the birth of Christ. This was not based on any religious evidence but on a pagan feast. Saturnalia was a tradition inherited by the Roman pagans from an earlier Babylonian priesthood. December 25 was used as a celebration of the birthday of the sun god. It was observed near the winter solstice.
The apostles in the Bible predicted that some Christians would adopt pagan beliefs to enable them to make their religion more palatable to the pagans around them. Therefore, some scholars think the church chose the date of this pagan celebration to interest them in Christianity. The pagans were already used to celebrating on this date.
The Bible itself tells us that December 25 is an unlikely date for His birth. Palestine is very cold in December. It was much too cold to ask everyone to travel to the city of their fathers to register for taxes. Also the shepherds were in the fields (Luke 2:8-12). Shepherds were not in the fields in the winter time. They are in the fields early in March until early October. This would place Jesus' birth in the spring or early fall.
Also consider that it is highly suggested at the celebration of this season that 3 wise men visited the baby Jesus at the stables shortly after his birth. This can be easily shown as “untruth” simply by reading the bible account as recorded in KJV of Matthew Chapter 2 as follows:
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we
have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod
the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together, he demanded of them where
Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is
written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of
Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a
Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily
called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search
diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word
again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they
departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till
it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they
rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with
Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures,
they presented unto him gifts; gold,
and frankincense and myrrh.
You’ll notice from the above account that the “wise men” were lead to King Herod. He ascertained where the Christ was to be born and was told Bethlehem and then sent the “wise men” on their way. The “star” HAD NOT led them to the baby Jesus at all!
When they did get to Bethlehem they found Jesus, now a young child, living in a house with his mother. And you can see that we are not told there were 3 “wise men”, but that their treasure of gifts only mentioned 3 items.
I could continue with such facts that show without a doubt the pagan origins and numerous fallacies surrounding the holiday celebrations are ALL FALSE! But my point is that parents (and others) continue to fill the minds of children with these things.
Some will say it is only so they can have a good time. Lies and deceit NEVER result in a “good time”, only pain when the truth if finally discovered. While continuing over the years telling young ones these things, why are parents so surprised when they find out that their children have been lying to THEM is things about their lives?
If we fill the minds of our children with lies how can we expect anything but LIES to come out of their mouths at a future date? Why are we so surprised when (as adults) our children have difficulties in having honest relations with others?
Let’s put the blame where blame is deserved --- on ourselves if we have nurturing lies within our children!
QUOTE TO CONSIDER
THOUGHTFUL GEM
"If you have a choice to make ---
think very seriously before you make it."
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