Over the last few weeks, I have wondered how much more I have to say about culture and how to engage it. I think I have now said about all I need to say on this topic.
As a result, I am "moving on."
While this will be my final blog post on this site, I believe that I still have plenty of things to say about the world, philosophy, theology, faith, social issues, and other such things. So I want to invite you to check out my new blog, at http://scottshiffer.blogspot.com/
The new blog will be called Scott: Moving On. It will be a place where I share my thoughts and feelings on a wide range of issues.
I also have one more announcement to make in this posting.
Over the last couple of years, I have been feeling God's call to more church ministry. I know that is quite vague and could probably be elaborated on, but for now I just want to focus on one detail.
My family and I are members of The Community at Lakeridge. That is a church in Mansfield Texas. The church is part of a network called "Growing Healthy Churches." That network is designed to support new church plants.
I am now helping the church develop a program for church planters. The program is the vision of the pastor, Paul Mints. I have the utmost respect for Paul and the work that he does in the faith.
I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to help him develop this program for church planting teams to go through as they prepare to plant churches in north Texas, throughout the US, and in other countries.
In addition to helping develop this program, I believe I need to spend more time with my family, and especially with the children as they are so young. My wife and children have already sacrificed so much to allow me to be less present in the home while studying through a PhD and writing a dissertation, in addition to working full-time, teaching for several schools, and running the Pop-Culture Ministry.
So here is the announcement, the Pop-Culture and Faith Ministries, started in April of 2005 has now run its course. The ministry will be shutting down, and the website will no longer be up after March 7, 2012.
As with the new blog, I have created a new website (though it is not a pop-culture site), but it is still being developed, so when it is ready to view, I will put the link on the new blog.
For all of you who have been a part of the Pop-Culture and Faith Ministry, who have read or contributed to the Newsletters, who have followed this blog, who have had me speak at your churches, or who have attended conferences where our ministry has given presentations--Thank you so much!!!!
While the ministry is coming to an end, I am still available for dialogue, so if you ever want to ask me a question or talk with me about anything, feel free to shoot me an email or give me a call.
You can email me at scott@shifferfamily.com.
In Christ,
Scott Shiffer
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The 100th Blog Post - Tell Me All Your Thoughts On God
For the 100th blog post, I thought it would be fun to discuss some, probably not all, of my thoughts on God.
So, here we go:
As a Christian, I believe that there is one Triune God. What this means is that I believe there is one God-essence that is manifest in three persons. In Christianity we refer to them as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father is a spiritual being who wills things to happen. The Son, is better known as Jesus Christ. The Son has existed with the Father eternally, but chose to act in history by taking on humanity and fusing it with his own nature. This happened at the birth of Jesus around 4 BC. Jesus was hung on a cross and his human spirit died, but his God-essence remained in tact. When he was resurrected, his human spirit was returned and now he remains in human form in heaven. The third character is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has existed with the Father and the Son eternally. The Spirit indwells believers and gives them comfort, peace, and purpose as he reveals to them what God wants them to do in life.
So there is one God-essence that exists equally and in unity between each of these three beings. That makes Christianity somewhat confusing. Christianity is mono-theistic, in belief about God-essence, but recognizes that three beings contain the one essence.
The Spirit is not the Father, the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, but they are each God. They also always work together in unity.
What the Father wills, the Son does, through the Spirit. For example, the Father willed that the Son save humanity from sin, so the Son added humanity to his divinity and was born of the virgin Mary. It was the Holy Spirit who opened her whom and allowed her to become pregnant as a virgin. So the Son saved came to earth to save humanity through the Spirit.
Ok, I promise it will get easier to follow from here.
Now that we have sort of defined who God is in Christianity, let's talk a little about what he does.
I believe that God knows all things actual and possible. He knows what life choices we will make and all choice we could make. He knows infinite numbers of paths that our lives could take given any decision we could make in any situation. God knows every thought every living creature has ever had, has, or will have. He knows the inner nature of the heart. This is what we mean by stating that God is an all-knowing being.
God also acts in time. God created the universe and holds it together, but God also acts in time and in events in history. Throughout history many people have claimed to do things in the name of God, that were not the actual workings of God. It is sad that people through their own selfish motives have been willing to raise the banner of holiness to justify evil. But when God works in history, it is for good. God is the friend of the down-trodden, the rejected, the orphans, the widows, the discriminated, the hurt, and the broken.
I also believe that God is consistent in his being. God does not change who he is; his nature is remarkably consistent.
God is also very situational. He chooses to act in the way that is best for his creation in every situation.
Sometimes people tend to describe God as if he is an emotionless killjoy. This is not the case. I believe that God created humans to have emotions as a reflection of himself. I believe that God perfectly expresses his emotions, and this is part of what makes him situational. Different situations warrant different emotional responses. God's emotional responses are always consistent with his nature and perfectly suited for the situation at hand.
God is not some bland emotionless being. He is not some deity that has stepped away from earth as an onlooker. God is active in human affairs daily. He delights in all he has created, and he desires for his creation to enjoy life to the fullest.
Because God desires his creatures to enjoy life, and because he is active in human affairs, God desires for humans to talk to God. Many people make prayer out to be a formal time where several basic statements are made, so that they can move on with life. But prayer isn't really about saying what your supposed to say when your supposed to say it. Prayer is about talking to God as if he is a friend and father. Prayer is about conversing with God throughout the day. It is about sharing your struggles, your pain, your sorrow, your accomplishments, any good news you receive, needs that others may have, and doing all of it with an attitude of thankfulness. I think we should be respectful of God when we talk with him, but we should also be relaxed and honest. We should also look for answers to our prayers. We should look for answers by observing things that happen around us, and by listening to the Holy Spirit as he prompts us.
I think God wants us to follow him and obey him, but he wants us to do it joyfully--not legalistically, not ritualistically, but consistently.
Don't get me wrong, I love the church and think that some rules must be followed and that some rituals are necessary. What I am saying here is that we do not follow traditions just to follow traditions. We should do things ritually, only when they are done from our heart for God.
God is also forgiving and empowering. God forgives us for a sin. We all have it. God empowers us to overcome sin and to accomplish things we could never do on our own. Accomplishing such things, of course, helps lead to enjoying a full life. God gives people joy. The joy God gives remains present. Sure, everyone has bad days, hears bad news, and goes through trials, but when we know God is walking through the trials with us, we have a joy that allows us to keep going even when we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.
While God allows us to go through tough times and experience pain, God never wrongs us or mistreats us.
God is perfectly good.
You may say..."ah yes, but if God were so good, why does he allow evil to exist?"
That is a good question. I could do a whole series of blogs on the concept of God and evil, but for today I will simply state that God allows evil to exist, and has a perfectly "good" reason for doing so. Being a finite creature, I cannot fully comprehend the mind of God, the mind of an all-knowing being, but knowing that he is a good being--based on what he has done in my life--I can trust that he is in control. If God were not, I think evil would be much, much, much, much, much worse. BTW--in the book of Job, God allows Job to lose all his possessions, his health, and his family, and when Job asks God why he allowed such things to happen, God did not answer his question, but instead told Job, I know what I am doing, and you need to trust me.
God is not just a cosmic being, he is my best friend, and he is a father to the fatherless, he knows me better than I know myself, and he walks with me daily. Or rather...I walk with him. Sometimes I get off the path and go astray, but his love for me is not based on condition, like the love of many people is, and so whenever I stray, it is always only one step back to him. God gives peace. The peace he gives cannot be found in anything else, and nothing else can compare to the joy that comes with God's peace.
I hope you will consider believing in God if you don't already. And by that, I mean having a daily relationship with him--talking with him in prayer, reading his word, learning about how you can better follow him each day and doing it. I don't mean saying, "Oh I believe in God," and then walking away and living like he is not with you every waking moment.
If you really want peace in life, if you really want a full life, if you really want to find meaning and purpose in all you do, believe in God, and invite him to be a part of your life, everyday.
If you feel led, share some of your thoughts on God with me in the comments section.
In Christ,
Scott Shiffer
So, here we go:
As a Christian, I believe that there is one Triune God. What this means is that I believe there is one God-essence that is manifest in three persons. In Christianity we refer to them as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father is a spiritual being who wills things to happen. The Son, is better known as Jesus Christ. The Son has existed with the Father eternally, but chose to act in history by taking on humanity and fusing it with his own nature. This happened at the birth of Jesus around 4 BC. Jesus was hung on a cross and his human spirit died, but his God-essence remained in tact. When he was resurrected, his human spirit was returned and now he remains in human form in heaven. The third character is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has existed with the Father and the Son eternally. The Spirit indwells believers and gives them comfort, peace, and purpose as he reveals to them what God wants them to do in life.
So there is one God-essence that exists equally and in unity between each of these three beings. That makes Christianity somewhat confusing. Christianity is mono-theistic, in belief about God-essence, but recognizes that three beings contain the one essence.
The Spirit is not the Father, the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, but they are each God. They also always work together in unity.
What the Father wills, the Son does, through the Spirit. For example, the Father willed that the Son save humanity from sin, so the Son added humanity to his divinity and was born of the virgin Mary. It was the Holy Spirit who opened her whom and allowed her to become pregnant as a virgin. So the Son saved came to earth to save humanity through the Spirit.
Ok, I promise it will get easier to follow from here.
Now that we have sort of defined who God is in Christianity, let's talk a little about what he does.
I believe that God knows all things actual and possible. He knows what life choices we will make and all choice we could make. He knows infinite numbers of paths that our lives could take given any decision we could make in any situation. God knows every thought every living creature has ever had, has, or will have. He knows the inner nature of the heart. This is what we mean by stating that God is an all-knowing being.
God also acts in time. God created the universe and holds it together, but God also acts in time and in events in history. Throughout history many people have claimed to do things in the name of God, that were not the actual workings of God. It is sad that people through their own selfish motives have been willing to raise the banner of holiness to justify evil. But when God works in history, it is for good. God is the friend of the down-trodden, the rejected, the orphans, the widows, the discriminated, the hurt, and the broken.
I also believe that God is consistent in his being. God does not change who he is; his nature is remarkably consistent.
God is also very situational. He chooses to act in the way that is best for his creation in every situation.
Sometimes people tend to describe God as if he is an emotionless killjoy. This is not the case. I believe that God created humans to have emotions as a reflection of himself. I believe that God perfectly expresses his emotions, and this is part of what makes him situational. Different situations warrant different emotional responses. God's emotional responses are always consistent with his nature and perfectly suited for the situation at hand.
God is not some bland emotionless being. He is not some deity that has stepped away from earth as an onlooker. God is active in human affairs daily. He delights in all he has created, and he desires for his creation to enjoy life to the fullest.
Because God desires his creatures to enjoy life, and because he is active in human affairs, God desires for humans to talk to God. Many people make prayer out to be a formal time where several basic statements are made, so that they can move on with life. But prayer isn't really about saying what your supposed to say when your supposed to say it. Prayer is about talking to God as if he is a friend and father. Prayer is about conversing with God throughout the day. It is about sharing your struggles, your pain, your sorrow, your accomplishments, any good news you receive, needs that others may have, and doing all of it with an attitude of thankfulness. I think we should be respectful of God when we talk with him, but we should also be relaxed and honest. We should also look for answers to our prayers. We should look for answers by observing things that happen around us, and by listening to the Holy Spirit as he prompts us.
I think God wants us to follow him and obey him, but he wants us to do it joyfully--not legalistically, not ritualistically, but consistently.
Don't get me wrong, I love the church and think that some rules must be followed and that some rituals are necessary. What I am saying here is that we do not follow traditions just to follow traditions. We should do things ritually, only when they are done from our heart for God.
God is also forgiving and empowering. God forgives us for a sin. We all have it. God empowers us to overcome sin and to accomplish things we could never do on our own. Accomplishing such things, of course, helps lead to enjoying a full life. God gives people joy. The joy God gives remains present. Sure, everyone has bad days, hears bad news, and goes through trials, but when we know God is walking through the trials with us, we have a joy that allows us to keep going even when we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.
While God allows us to go through tough times and experience pain, God never wrongs us or mistreats us.
God is perfectly good.
You may say..."ah yes, but if God were so good, why does he allow evil to exist?"
That is a good question. I could do a whole series of blogs on the concept of God and evil, but for today I will simply state that God allows evil to exist, and has a perfectly "good" reason for doing so. Being a finite creature, I cannot fully comprehend the mind of God, the mind of an all-knowing being, but knowing that he is a good being--based on what he has done in my life--I can trust that he is in control. If God were not, I think evil would be much, much, much, much, much worse. BTW--in the book of Job, God allows Job to lose all his possessions, his health, and his family, and when Job asks God why he allowed such things to happen, God did not answer his question, but instead told Job, I know what I am doing, and you need to trust me.
God is not just a cosmic being, he is my best friend, and he is a father to the fatherless, he knows me better than I know myself, and he walks with me daily. Or rather...I walk with him. Sometimes I get off the path and go astray, but his love for me is not based on condition, like the love of many people is, and so whenever I stray, it is always only one step back to him. God gives peace. The peace he gives cannot be found in anything else, and nothing else can compare to the joy that comes with God's peace.
I hope you will consider believing in God if you don't already. And by that, I mean having a daily relationship with him--talking with him in prayer, reading his word, learning about how you can better follow him each day and doing it. I don't mean saying, "Oh I believe in God," and then walking away and living like he is not with you every waking moment.
If you really want peace in life, if you really want a full life, if you really want to find meaning and purpose in all you do, believe in God, and invite him to be a part of your life, everyday.
If you feel led, share some of your thoughts on God with me in the comments section.
In Christ,
Scott Shiffer
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Online Piracy
Tomorrow marks the day for Wikipedia and several other big internet sites to go dark for the day in protest of the SOPA and PIPA bills. I too am in protest of these bills. I am not a proponent of stealing movies and music, but I do not believe that these bills provide the solution. Check out this article for more: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wikipedia-blackout-websites-wikipedia-reddit-dark-wednesday-protest/story?id=15373251#.TxW3i4E8fZ0
The fact is, the love of money is the root of all evil, and in this consumer driven culture there is no end to the greed that accompanies the love of money.
Most of the parent companies that are throwing a fit about piracy and claiming that profits are down because people are stealing the music or movies instead of purchasing them are at the very same time adjusting contracts in such a way that they are able to pay as few royalties as possible to those who are being affected the most by the pirating.
This is a really big debate. So let me just make a few quick summary statements.
1. If you like it, buy it.
2. If you want to sell it, make it affordable. McDonald's is willing to lower costs to sell more food items. It works. Follow their lead.
3. Pay the royalties that are due to all the people who work on films and in the music industry.
4. Stop being so greedy. Consumers, be willing to spend your money. Manufacturers, be willing to lower the costs of your products so that consumers will desire to purchase them.
Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. (Ecclesiastes 5:10).
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.(1 Timothy 6:10)
Money is not evil, but when we love it so much that we are willing to do evil things, such as overcharge people for goods and services, or steal from others because we do not wish to pay them, then our priorities are sadly out of order, and our integrity is placed into question.
The fact is, the love of money is the root of all evil, and in this consumer driven culture there is no end to the greed that accompanies the love of money.
Most of the parent companies that are throwing a fit about piracy and claiming that profits are down because people are stealing the music or movies instead of purchasing them are at the very same time adjusting contracts in such a way that they are able to pay as few royalties as possible to those who are being affected the most by the pirating.
This is a really big debate. So let me just make a few quick summary statements.
1. If you like it, buy it.
2. If you want to sell it, make it affordable. McDonald's is willing to lower costs to sell more food items. It works. Follow their lead.
3. Pay the royalties that are due to all the people who work on films and in the music industry.
4. Stop being so greedy. Consumers, be willing to spend your money. Manufacturers, be willing to lower the costs of your products so that consumers will desire to purchase them.
Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. (Ecclesiastes 5:10).
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.(1 Timothy 6:10)
Money is not evil, but when we love it so much that we are willing to do evil things, such as overcharge people for goods and services, or steal from others because we do not wish to pay them, then our priorities are sadly out of order, and our integrity is placed into question.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Project Inspired
Someone sent me this article this morning: http://www.christianpost.com/news/model-turned-christian-role-model-nicole-weider-reaches-out-to-young-girls-65131/
Which led me to this site: http://www.projectinspired.com/
Project Inspired is a website/blog created by Nicole Weider, a model, to help young girls and people trying to make it in Hollywood as a positive role model. Nicole is a Christian and has been working to help people find success without losing their Christianity. I think it is definitely worth checking out, especially if you have a teenage daughter to share it with.
I read a few things on the site and really liked some of the advice and topics covered.
It is difficult to do what she is doing, so please also remember to pray for Nicole in her efforts in this ministry and for the efforts of those directly helping her.
Which led me to this site: http://www.projectinspired.com/
Project Inspired is a website/blog created by Nicole Weider, a model, to help young girls and people trying to make it in Hollywood as a positive role model. Nicole is a Christian and has been working to help people find success without losing their Christianity. I think it is definitely worth checking out, especially if you have a teenage daughter to share it with.
I read a few things on the site and really liked some of the advice and topics covered.
It is difficult to do what she is doing, so please also remember to pray for Nicole in her efforts in this ministry and for the efforts of those directly helping her.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Worlds Smallest Vertebrate
This is a picture of what may be the world's smallest frog. It is sitting on a dime.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/slideshow/photos-amazing-animals-8537483
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/slideshow/photos-amazing-animals-8537483
Impressionability
I will be starting a new Blog post series today. I promise to finish the one on movies, but it will end after this one begins. I wanted to share a number of stories from my life and how they relate to faith and how they have helped shape what I believe.
So let us begin...
I think infants are quite intelligent in general. I think they have ideas and feelings, they just have difficulty expressing some of them to others. When I was 10 months old, I know I was saying a few words. When I was 1.5 I know I was throwing fits for attention. I don't remember either of these things, but my parents tell me I would do that. My mother also tells me that when I would throw a fit in teh store, she would just step over me and go on to the next isle. I would then stop crying, walk to the next isle, and proceed to throw the fit again. Again, I never remember this happening, but whatever. The things I was doing as an infant seems to be about average for most infants.
I also think infants, in general, are extremely impressionable. When I was two, I watched Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. That cartoon first aired the year I was born and continued airing until I was three. On character on the show was Ice-Man. He was voiced by Frank Welker (who has been a voice on G.I. Joe, Transformers, The Real Ghostbusters, and about a zillion other shows). The Ice-Man could turn himself from a regular person into a person made out of ice. He would then uses his hands to create an ice path to slide down.
Kind of hard to explain, but you can watch a clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EndvUr0Lcag&feature=related
So anyway, when he became the Ice-Man, he also lost his clothes. So as a two-year-old, I decided that I should be the Ice-Man, and I would lose my clothes and slide down my grandmothers slide wearing nothing but a smile. When my grandmother first saw me do this, she said, "Scott, what in the world are you doing? Where are your clothes?" I replied: "Granny, I'm not Scott, I'm the Ice-Man." I actually don't remember this event either, but I guess it happened.
Wow...what an embarrassing story...oh well.
So how does me playing a naked Ice-Man relate to faith? Well, as I stated above, I believe that infants are very impressionable. I was so impressionable that I wanted to be a cartoon character. I see the same thing happen with my daughter. She was to be Rapunzel with her long flowing hair, and her dress. What would happen if we as adults had that same desire to be like Christ? How awesome would it be if we allowed God to mold us so to his likeness?
This week, I want to encourage you to make yourself impressionable before God, so that the Holy Spirit can direct your path--your actions, thoughts, and attitude--in such a way that you are drawn closer to Christ.
Also, remember that other people are watching you. Some of them are young, but perhaps many of them are impressionable. What kind of person are you encouraging others to be? Remember, our actions often speak louder than our words.
So let us begin...
I think infants are quite intelligent in general. I think they have ideas and feelings, they just have difficulty expressing some of them to others. When I was 10 months old, I know I was saying a few words. When I was 1.5 I know I was throwing fits for attention. I don't remember either of these things, but my parents tell me I would do that. My mother also tells me that when I would throw a fit in teh store, she would just step over me and go on to the next isle. I would then stop crying, walk to the next isle, and proceed to throw the fit again. Again, I never remember this happening, but whatever. The things I was doing as an infant seems to be about average for most infants.
I also think infants, in general, are extremely impressionable. When I was two, I watched Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. That cartoon first aired the year I was born and continued airing until I was three. On character on the show was Ice-Man. He was voiced by Frank Welker (who has been a voice on G.I. Joe, Transformers, The Real Ghostbusters, and about a zillion other shows). The Ice-Man could turn himself from a regular person into a person made out of ice. He would then uses his hands to create an ice path to slide down.
Kind of hard to explain, but you can watch a clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EndvUr0Lcag&feature=related
So anyway, when he became the Ice-Man, he also lost his clothes. So as a two-year-old, I decided that I should be the Ice-Man, and I would lose my clothes and slide down my grandmothers slide wearing nothing but a smile. When my grandmother first saw me do this, she said, "Scott, what in the world are you doing? Where are your clothes?" I replied: "Granny, I'm not Scott, I'm the Ice-Man." I actually don't remember this event either, but I guess it happened.
Wow...what an embarrassing story...oh well.
So how does me playing a naked Ice-Man relate to faith? Well, as I stated above, I believe that infants are very impressionable. I was so impressionable that I wanted to be a cartoon character. I see the same thing happen with my daughter. She was to be Rapunzel with her long flowing hair, and her dress. What would happen if we as adults had that same desire to be like Christ? How awesome would it be if we allowed God to mold us so to his likeness?
This week, I want to encourage you to make yourself impressionable before God, so that the Holy Spirit can direct your path--your actions, thoughts, and attitude--in such a way that you are drawn closer to Christ.
Also, remember that other people are watching you. Some of them are young, but perhaps many of them are impressionable. What kind of person are you encouraging others to be? Remember, our actions often speak louder than our words.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Santa Clause, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, and Christianity
Santa Clause, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy (Not Dwayne Johnson), Imagination, and Christianity
Should Christians participate in traditions such as Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny? What about the Tooth Fairy?
I have heard a number of people say that they don’t think they should practice these traditions.
Here are some reasons pertaining to Santa Clause:
- Santa Clause replaces Christ as the focus of Christmas.
- Parents have to lie and deceive their children, over time, the lie has to grow.
- Santa is too similar to God.
- Belief in Santa promotes materialism.
- The Santa Clause of today has little to do with the real St. Nicholas.
The thing is, we can come up with many reasons for not participating in these traditions. But I wonder where we draw the line. Should we no longer allow our kids to read stories about fictional characters? Should we tell our kids not to believe in Elmo because Elmo is a puppet?
Should we worry that our children will think Harry Potter or Optimus Prime are real? It seems that the line between Santa and Dora the Explorer is very thin. We do not tell our children that Dora is not real, they come to discover that on their own, just as they do with Santa (and generally, about the same time).
One story I read from someone who did not like the Santa tradition stated that by lying to him about Santa Clause, he felt that his parents had broken his trust. Is that what parents are doing…teaching their children that they cannot be trusted? I don’t think so. And I don’t think anything is wrong with participating in these traditions either.
Sure, they could replace the focus of Christ, but they do not have to do that. Sure they can promote materialism, but they do not have to do that either. And are the beings like God, perhaps, but from that it is easy to talk about God. So I propose that we keep the traditions, and below are my reasons why.
- Belief in Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy promote the development of a healthy imagination. They also teach children that it is ok to believe in what you cannot see. This is a basic aspect of the Christian faith.
- As these beings give gifts, we can remind our children that the reason they bring gifts is to remind us that Christ is a gift. Santa brings gifts to remind us of the gift of Christ in the incarnation—the event where Christ took on humanity and was born in a manger. Santa reminds us that as he gives gifts to children, the magi gave gifts to the child Jesus. Santa reminds us that as he is willing to give freely to others, so should we just as Jesus calls us to do. Of course, for our children to understand these aspects of Santa, parents must discuss them with their children. The Easter Bunny reminds us with his gifts, that Christ gave his life for us so that we could have a more abundant life. And hay, what says abundant life more to a child than a chocolate cream-filled egg. The Tooth Fairy is a little different, but the child learns that by giving the tooth, they receive something special. In the same way, when we give of ourselves to God, he does special things in our lives (those things often do not include money, but they are more rewarding than cash).
- When children are old enough to learn about St. Nicholas from history and how he gave to those who were poor and needy, we can teach our children about the importance of being willing to do things for those who are less fortunate. This of course, is something Christ calls believers to do, and something the Bible describes as true religion.
- The Children cannot see these mythical creatures, but as parents, we can talk with them about the qualities of these creatures and through doing such, the children can relate what they have learned to their understanding of God.
- The traditions are fun. Most children are not going to feel deceived and when they figure it all out, parents have yet another opportunity to share wisdom with their children. There is joy that comes from giving gifts anonymously. There is joy that comes from seeing a sense of wonder in a child’s eyes. There is joy that comes from the excitement of rising early on Christmas morning to go to the tree and see what is there. Basically, the traditions are accompanied with lots of joy…for the parents and the children.
Not everyone will be convinced of these reasons, and that is ok. People have the right to practice what traditions they please in their own homes.
One of our traditions as a family is that every year at Christmas time, we watch the Charlie Brown Christmas, where the message of Jesus’ birth is clearly presented. We also read the account of Jesus’ birth from the Bible. Since our girls are both under 5, we read to them from our Children’s Bible. We do have Santa, but we also have Jesus. As we open gifts we remind the girls that we give each other gifts to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. We also tell them that by coming to earth, he gave us the greatest gift of all.
At Easter, we tell our children about the death and resurrection of Jesus. We look for eggs, because it is fun. We have an Easter basket from the Easter Bunny, because it is fun. But my wife also crafted an empty tomb. We let the girls look at the tomb and ask where Jesus is. Our 3 year-old can tell us, “he is not there because he died, but he is not dead anymore.” I know she does not fully comprehend the idea of death, but she does recognize that when people die, they are with Jesus, and she recognizes that if they were sick, they are not sick anymore.
So here are my reasons for keeping the traditions, and for showing that they do not have to replace Christ. Instead, I believe that we are redeeming the traditions and using them for the glory of Christ. We also let our children watch Elmo, and while they may think he is real now, as they get older, I think they will still see Elmo as a character that helped them learn many valuable lessons in life. The same can be said of other fictional characters that we find in story books and on TV. Parents, we can use culture to help our children develop their imaginations, we can use it to help our children learn about values, how to treat others, how to make good decisions, and how to think about God.
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