If I understand your question, no, merely believing in a diety is not necessarily worship. Many people believe in God, but they do not worship Him. The devil believes in one God, but he does not worship God. There are a great number of things that I believe in, but that doesn't mean I worship them.
But, and I think this is where we differ, we aren't talking about idols and deities here. We are talking about Santa Claus, an invention of man. A fictious character. Thats what I meant earlier when I spoke of the difference between real and unreal. Santa Claus is not real (I can't believe I'm actually saying this), he has never been real, and never will be. True, the Santa character is based on a Catholic monk, but the character itself was invented so that non-religious families could have a reason to celebtrate Christmas.
In regards to Santa Claus, there is nothing to worship or believe in (unless your name is Virginia).
All idols are not real, right?
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Today pull up the little weeds,
The sinful thoughts subdue,
Or they will take the reins themselves
And someday master you. --Anon.
The most deadly sins do not leap upon us, they creep up on us.
And the Easter Bunny will leave a basket of candy on Easter morning!
AND YES, we will HUNT EASTER EGGS!
We hunted for Easter Eggs without ever believing that an Easter Bunny actually laid and left them.
My point was not that it's evil to tell your children there is a Santa... or to assert that my decision not to let my children believe in some other being who has power a lot like God's somehow made me better... but to state my decision and how it affected.. or rather didn't affect ME as a child not believing in Santa.
Christmas was.. and still is, my favorite season.
I voted No, for the idolatry question, mostly because I believe idolatry is a sin that will send you to hell and I don't think Santa will send anyone there... Lying, well it might. ;-)
__________________ Mrs. LPW
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
I was in the break room at work and the discussion on telling kids there's a santa came up. My position is that it's lying to your children and how can you get mad when they lie if you lied to them about santa, bunny rabbit, tooth fairy, and etc.....
Some kids are crushed when they find out there is no santa, to them he's real and they believed in him as real being. I read one testimony where it made a boy start to question if Jesus is made up too, this was after he found out about santa.
Besides the lie part, it goes into the area of Idolatry.
They teach he sits up in the north and knows if you've been good or bad. That's deity folks! Only God knows are works, only he sees all.
Then Santa rewards according to your works. Sound familier? Sure does:
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good , or whether it be evil .
KJV
So I have to a conclusion that santa is outright idolatry. Sad indeed kids are being taught this stuff. I heard a lady speak about asking the Lord forgive you and do it.
I told my Children the Red in Christmas is for his blood. The Green is a symbol of new beginnings.
It took his birth first to give us Calvary and redemption.
For those who do not want to celebrate his birthday (Dec 25th or on any other day}
Granddad was in charge of dying the eggs for the Company Easter Egg hunt. Thus I KNEW where they really came from. We dyed 4 of 5 cases one year.
My Dad was Santa at the Union Hall Party, so we knew who was behind the beard.
I took my daughter to a Union Hall Party and she knew Gampa was Santa. She never appreciated "Santy Claus is watching you" by Ray Stevens, nor CocaCola in Santa wrapping.
Let's tell next why Barbie was persona non grata in my home?
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I am not a member here -Do not PM me please?
I just see a major problem with lying to kids about a man who knows all and gives gifts according to your works.
And I respect your choice to not lie to children about a man who knows all and gives gifts according to their works.
I don't either. But I do tell them about a Man who does know all and who does give gifts according to their works. His Name is Jesus.
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"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him...." -Psa. 37:7
Waiting for the Lord is easy... Waiting patiently? Not so much.
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