"Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20: 3-6)
Young children have never seen Santa Claus, but an image of Santa is all it takes for children to believe that Santa makes his midnight run out of the North Pole once a year, bringing toys and presents to children worldwide in a single night.
What a story!
When parents and grand-parents teach children to believe in Santa Claus, they are also teaching them to believe that the character from the Bible is just a fairy tale from ignorant people. And because Santa Claus brings toys and presents and candy, which one will they believe is real?
As parents and grand-parents teach, the children will learn.
As parents and grand-parents believe, the children will also believe.
Just as young children believe in Santa Claus because of his image, how many parents and grand-parents believe because of the images they see of their gods in churches and religious institutions?
If we should remove the image of Santa Claus, what would children do for Christmas?
If we should remove the images of gods in churches and religious institutions, what would adults do?
Have you ever wondered if 'Twas the Night Before Christmas is the Gospel of St. Nicolas?
St. Nick only visits once a year and always under the cover of darkness while children are sleeping, then escapes to the North Pole to be heard from no more.
And when the morning appears, parents and grand-parents are thrilled because the children believe in Santa Claus while believing that Jesus is still a baby in His mother's arms and unable to do for them all that Santa can do.
Young children do not know the difference between Santa Claus and Jesus. Somebody must tell them. And the story that gets to their minds first is the story they will most likely believe.
Jesus said,
"Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19: 14)
Young children can understand the Good News of Christ---if adults will tell them.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20: 3-6)
Young children have never seen Santa Claus, but an image of Santa is all it takes for children to believe that Santa makes his midnight run out of the North Pole once a year, bringing toys and presents to children worldwide in a single night.
What a story!
When parents and grand-parents teach children to believe in Santa Claus, they are also teaching them to believe that the character from the Bible is just a fairy tale from ignorant people. And because Santa Claus brings toys and presents and candy, which one will they believe is real?
As parents and grand-parents teach, the children will learn.
As parents and grand-parents believe, the children will also believe.
Just as young children believe in Santa Claus because of his image, how many parents and grand-parents believe because of the images they see of their gods in churches and religious institutions?
If we should remove the image of Santa Claus, what would children do for Christmas?
If we should remove the images of gods in churches and religious institutions, what would adults do?
Have you ever wondered if 'Twas the Night Before Christmas is the Gospel of St. Nicolas?
St. Nick only visits once a year and always under the cover of darkness while children are sleeping, then escapes to the North Pole to be heard from no more.
And when the morning appears, parents and grand-parents are thrilled because the children believe in Santa Claus while believing that Jesus is still a baby in His mother's arms and unable to do for them all that Santa can do.
Young children do not know the difference between Santa Claus and Jesus. Somebody must tell them. And the story that gets to their minds first is the story they will most likely believe.
Jesus said,
"Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19: 14)
Young children can understand the Good News of Christ---if adults will tell them.
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