I’m being asked to perform Anton’s Antics for a large private school in Sydney but before they confirm the booking there’s a catch. They want me to give an outline of what I’ll be teaching. Fair enough you say, so do I. But here’s the thing. It’s not a concern over what part of the Bible I’ll be teaching from or what topic I might cover. It’s not about whether the show will fit or enhance the school values. It’s not about whether what I’ll say will be doctrinally sound. No. The big skeleton in the closet is something far more sinister.
What is it?
“What will you say about Santa? Will you tell the kids he doesn’t exist?”
You can hear my gasp of relief…that’s the biggy!?
They’re worried that Anton come and spoil Christmas by saying there is no Santa. I thought I was going to be grilled about doctrine or about how I might present Mary Us Protestants aren’t known for giving her much of the limelight. But no, it’s not a concern about Mary’s portrayal or what Christmas is really about, it’s a concern that the school might be embarrassed and be having to apologise to family’s they love and support because some goose came in and spoiled the fun.
Fair concern it is and I’m glad to say, Anton is no party pooper when it comes to Santa. Folks, Santa really exists for Anton and he can’t wait for Christmas day.
What's your family's take on Santa?
How do you make the real Christmas complement and not compete with Santa?
By the way…the schools who check for this are doing a good job. Churches need to do it as well. We need to brief our teams so they know that Santa is part of Christmas. Believe me its not funny when someone on your team decides its time for kids to grow up and in a hasty moment ‘spill the beans’, as it where. Parents will not be impressed. How will you deal with the fall out?
What does your family do with Santa?
No Santa in your home?
Some parents might be happy as they’ve never had Santa in their home, preferring to askew from the playful glitter and theatre of Christmas. Some of these parents might even feel that if Santa turns out not to be real, then their kids might think the same about Jesus and toss the lot in.
Hah! Fat chance. I really don’t buy this line. Kids are way smarter than that. What are we going to do next, do away with Mary Poppins, Willy Wonker and the Three Bears just so everything is kept super real because if kids have any imagination they might imagine Jesus away one day too? Come on.
Get some fun into your life. Kids need fun. Life is fun. Be playful.
A little Santa in your home?
Some choose to include Santa in their Christmas but allowing him a minor role in the actual day and its lead up. We try this angle, keeping the fun, but looking for ways to deepen our appreciation of the birth of Jesus and its significance for us. Mum and dad deliver the bulk of the gitts, but Santa has his sack of little treats too.
We use the advent calendar which has all the events in the Bible that lead up to the birth of Jesus. We do stories from the Bible that are from the gospels. Ofcourse they’re familiar now, but that can be a good thing too. I’d rather have sentimentality around the Bible narratives than just Chrissy trees and red/white hatted fat dudes. This year we’re focussing on the narrative of Luke 2:1. Not much really, one verse. But its become the basis of Anton’s most politically charged shows. You might thing politics isn’t for kids…but no-one could miss the Trump/Clinton thing. Just today I did a show in Sydney for about 500 kids and when I asked who was in the election in America they all knew the names. What a great way to kick off a show, talking about events everyone knows.
In Luke 2 everyone knew they had to be counted in Augustus Caesar’s census. Aussies are all too familiar the census thing. Only a month or so ago our federal government faced great ridicule and embarrassment as the server’s crashed and we all couldn’t do as they asked and complete the census on census night! What a laugh. But Caesar Augustus’ Census was about counting people for tax purposes. The whole Roman Empire was counted…staggering to think of it really. But what’s even more staggering is a much bigger counting is happening simultaneously. When baby Jesus is born we have God counting every human being that was, is and is to come.
How?
Jesus is a much greater king. Born in the line of King David, (which is why he has to be borne in Bethlehem not Nazareth), he inherits the promise of a kingdom that is forever. Since he is both God’s Son and a man, he immediately stands as a leader in the place of all of us. A leader who will make all our wrong right again…in due time. But that’s for Easter.
So where do I put Santa in this show? Christmas shopping, that’s it. A mere sideshow to the real action. We’ve got far too many good things going on like elections, censuses and leadership. After all every Christmas is really about choosing your leader.
Who’s for you? God’s eternal king or some transient, unreliable thing?