Four Reasons Christians Should NOT Celebrate Santa Claus


The modern Coke-a-Cola Santa Claus is a staple in the Western world. One cannot leave the house without encountering Santa Claus in some way at Christmas time. For many, we cannot even escape Santa while in our own homes since he always finds his way onto our screens. Western culture celebrates Santa Claus, but should Christians? 

Christians should not celebrate Santa Claus because (1) he is a rival god to the one true God, (2) he promotes a works-based gospel, (3) he steals the glory from God, and because (4) celebrating Santa is lying to our children. 

1. Santa Claus is Presented as a Rival God to the One True God

Santa is given god-like qualities and characteristics. Based on the popular song “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” Santa can see every person on the planet at once, he knows whether a person has been good or bad, and he keeps a record of the good and bad deeds of each person on the planet in order to dispense judgment (rewards or punishment). 

According to most modern children’s movies about Santa Claus, Santa is immortal and he is virtually omnipresent, able to visit every person in a single night. 

Since Christmas is about the one true God who sent Jesus to save his people from their sins, should Christians celebrate a false rival god alongside the one true God? I do not think so. It is my firm belief that no god-like creature or creation should be celebrated. Celebrating Santa Claus is very close to idolatry, if not outright idolatry. 

2. Santa Claus Promotes a Works-Based Gospel

What is the message of the popular song “Santa Claus is Coming to Town?” It is quite simple: do good and Santa will reward you; do bad and Santa will punish you. This same message is also trumpeted throughout most modern children’s movies about Santa Claus. Santa rewards children with good behaviour with the toys they most desire; however, Santa punishes children with bad behaviour with coal. Rewards for good works and punishment for bad works is the heart of a works-based gospel.

Compare Santa’s ‘gospel’ to the biblical gospel as presented by the apostle Paul:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”

EPHESIANS 2:8–9, emphasis added

Notice that salvation is the “gift of God.” And how does a person obtain this gift that is given by God? Not by being good or doing good, “not a result of works,” but through faith in Jesus. God gives humanity a faith-based gospel, while Santa gives humanity a works-based gospel. The gospel of God is good news for everyone because everyone is a sinner and does bad. The ‘gospel’ of Santa is not good news for anyone because everyone should be on the naughty list and only ever receive coal. 

By celebrating Santa, we not only celebrate that which is completely anti-gospel, but we teach our children a works-based gospel when we should be teaching them the truth. Think about it; children who celebrate Santa (a god-like being) are taught that they must be good to receive good. It is no wonder that many children don’t understand Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, or the salvation offered throughout him. We are subliminally teaching them that God will only do good to them, accept them, and love them if they are good. At worst, our children flee God and the church when they grow up because they have been taught that he is a harsh and mean God, like the Santa of their childhood, the god they grew up with. 

3. Santa Claus Steals the Glory from God

God is clear that only he is to receive glory: 

“I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols”

Isaiah 42:8, emphasis added

However, when we celebrate Santa Claus, we are giving the glory that God deserves to an idol. What has Santa Claus done for anyone? Nothing! At best, someone may say, “he gives us joy!” But that joy is self-deception. God sending his only Son Jesus should be enough to bring joy to the heart of a Christian! 

Unfortunately, when we should be worshipping and celebrating what God has done for us in Jesus, we instead share that worship and celebration with a made-up god. The reality is that for many Christians, Santa receives much more time and celebration at Christmas than God does. Maybe we read the Christmas story once and maybe we pray at Christmas dinner or lunch, but much of our time is spent on Santa and the gifts he will bring. 

4. Celebrating Santa Is Lying to Our Children

Celebrating Santa Claus is lying to our children. It is not like watching a superhero movie or dressing up like a superhero because we tell our children superheroes are not real, but are creations of the mind for entertainment. With Santa, however, we lie and tell our children that he is real. 

Scripture is clear that Christians should not lie. 

  • “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices” (Col 3:9).
  • “I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth” (1 John 2:21).

If Scripture is clear that Christians should not lie, then why do we lie to our children by telling them Santa is real? For their entertainment and joy? Are there no ways to entertain and bring about joy in the lives of our children while telling the truth? Yes, there certainly are. We should not lie to our children, but should always maintain our integrity and bear witness to the truth. 

Further, parents take a great risk celebrating Santa alongside Jesus because eventually the children learn that Santa is not real. If Santa, a god-like being that children cannot see, is discovered not to be real, then it is possible a child who grew up celebrating Santa concludes that Jesus, God incarnate whom the child cannot see, is not real either. Christians should never pair a made-up god with the one, true, real God. For the sake of our children, we should not confuse them and risk them giving up Jesus like they will give up Santa when they discover they have been lied to by those they love. 

Summary and Concluding Remarks

It is my contention that Christians should not celebrate Santa Claus. Santa is the epitome of a false god. He is not real, but is presented as a rival-god to the one true God, with a works-based gospel. Celebrating Santa Claus takes away the glory that is due to God and his Son, Jesus. Celebrating Santa is lying to our children and teaches them a false gospel. When they awake to the lie of Santa, they may lump Jesus into the lie and abandon him. Thus, let us celebrate God sending his Son Jesus this Christmas, and eliminate Santa from our lives to the praise and the glory of the one true God.

Adam Robinson

I am the pastor of a non-denominational church in rural Queensland, Australia. Prior to pastoring, I was a Lecturer in Biblical Studies at two Bible Colleges in Queensland, Australia. I received my PhD in New Testament from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Recent Posts