When you stop to think about it there are a lot of similarities in the way people look at God and Santa Claus. There are also some obvious differences. Here are a few of them that come to mind.
Most children will believe that Santa Claus is a real figure. They will also believe that God is real as well. Adults on the other hand will foster the belief in "Santa" for the kids and unfortunately apply that to God as well. There may be some confusion with identity here. Christ stated, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 18.3). That means we need to restore a sense of good in our minds and put away things that are not right in God's sight. God is real. Santa is not.
Santa Claus lives at the North Pole where we can't go. God lives in a place that we cannot go to now as well. Paul talks about the abode of God and states, "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen ." (1 Tim 6.16). The North Pole has been explored and Santa isn't there. We accept God's dwelling as being real by faith that is revealed in the scriptures. In addition, Santa is said to be immortal. As Paul states above, so is God. You can pick who you want to believe in.
Santa is surrounded by elves who work for him. God and Christ command the angels who are described in the scriptures. John writes, "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands ..." (Rev 5.11). Adults who know that elves aren't real believe in angels. Even the angels are commanded to worship Christ. "And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him ." (Heb 1.6). If we believe in angels, why can't we accept Christ as Lord as angels are commanded to do?
Santa is viewed as a grandfatherly figure who wishes to bestow gifts on all the children. God is sometimes pictured as such but this isn't accurate in the way God is described in the scriptures. Moses reminded the Children of Israel, "And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. " (Deut 4.12). This was a warning not to cast God in an earthly light and corrupt His image. "Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure ..." (Deut 4.15-16). God, does however, wish to give us gifts, the greatest of which is His son Jesus Christ, and salvation through him (John 3.16). God wants all of us to become His children so that He can bless us.
Santa visits once a year. Some people believe that God can be worshiped once a year. "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. " (Heb 10.24-25).
Santa has a list of children who are naughty and nice. God has a list as well, and will check it in the day of judgment. "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. " (Rev 20.12). Santa reportedly will punish those who are naughty with lumps of coal. God will punish those who are evil with everlasting fire and brimstone. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. " (2 Cor 5.10).
No Virginia, there is no Santa Claus, but there is a God. "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God ." (Rom 14.11). Santa won't care if we don't believe in him but God will. Yes, I believe ... In God! TLC