Christian parents should think twice about Father Christmas’ naughty and nice list this Christmas

Father Christmas’ naughty and nice list teaches the opposite of God’s grace in Jesus - Jenny Sanders thinks Christian parents need to be careful what they teach through what they say and do this Christmas

There’s no escaping it, Christmas is hurtling towards us in the usual seasonal haze of soft-focus lighting and tinsel. I still believe that the best place to celebrate Christmas is in a primary school with over excited kids and a surfeit of glue, glitter and anticipation. However, whether you’re a jaded adult or a child-at-heart, there are multiple preparations to attend to for us all: a tree to decorate, a fridge to stock, carol services to attend and, of course, gifts to purchase.

he’s making a list and checking it twice he’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice…

However you choose to celebrate in your family, the big man in red is sure to feature somewhere, on cards and wrapping paper and, quite possibly, in a giant inflatable presence somewhere down your road. What we choose to tell our children about Father Christmas varies from household to household, and that’s fine, but sooner or later they’re going to hear those well-loved 1934 lyrics: he’s making a list and checking it twice he’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice…

The old favourite tells us that Santa Claus is not just a merry gentleman distributing presents to children willy-nilly, but a discerning chap with a discriminatory list. Shocker! Forget images of sugar plums, it’s images of clipboards dancing in children’s heads that may make the difference between a merry Christmas and ……