The message of Christmas is gradually losing its zest and probably getting lost; as a result of confusing messages from both outside and inside the church.
Colonial heritage & Uhuru
Colonial authorities in Africa had prescribed, imposed and entrenched Christian holidays, like Easter/Good Friday, Ascension Day and Christmas. When uhuru arrived, youngsters, eager for their own political milestone, questioned why these holidays should be continued; seeing also that they are numerically biased against other religions. In spite, revolutionary governments have been unwilling to scrap these holidays, hugely because they had become money-spinners with a huge boost to African economies from which governments benefited via taxation. Coastal towns, like Durban and Mombasa, laugh all the way to the bank.
Christmas sub-culture
Christmas festivities have also become a culture even amongst non-Christians. Workers expect and demand a break during Christmas; they migrate back to their rural homes, visit families and friends. Schools and universities also take a long recess and students trek back home from big cities. Traditional religious rituals are conducted at this time when everyone is home. Weddings also take place at this time. Some children born in September are often brewed during Christmas festivities.
Church confusion
The church itself contributes to the confusion of the message of Christmas. Some holier church leaders denounce Christmas festivals as worldly and do not want to celebrate it. But can you throw away your genuine money because others have counterfeits? Western churches, including those in Africa, celebrate their Christmas on 25th December; Eastern ones celebrate on the 6th of January. All these do not assist in the proclamation of the message of Christmas.
Biblical light in the dark
Christmas is simply a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Although we do not have a date, we do have chapter and verse in the New Testament. The record of Evangelists Matthew (chapters 1 and 2) and Luke (chapters 1 and 2) have been the church’s reliable witness of the infancy narratives since the dawn of Christianity. They record a good-news story of angelic visitation carrying a message of joy, grace, love, hope, praise and worship. It is not legalistic – does not force anyone to observe anything. However, the joyous message provoked an enthusiastic response. Astrologers followed with dedication a cosmic movement; shepherds invited one another, “… let us go and see what we have been told.”
Christmas offers an opportunity for the church to teach and remind people the glorious story of God’s visitation through His only Son Jesus Christ; and the fulfilment of awesome prophecies about the wonder of the birth of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 53:1ff), who would come to provide humankind with God’s blessing of redemption.
Christmas message
It is the same old message, “God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). God has become a human being, so that he will be able to live among us to experience our pain and suffering; so that he will be able to represent us before the holy God by dying a substitutionary death. People are called upon to put their trust in this simple redemptive story of Christmas. The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom 14:17)
What has been your response to the message of Christmas?
Let us make every day a celebration of God’s visitation into our lives. Shalom!