Christmas celebrations are a yearly buzz of shopping, sending gifts and baking cakes. The sights, sounds and smells remind us that it’s time to join in the celebration. It’s like Christendom is awakened from a deep slumber to offer their half-hearted devotion to Church. Jesus who is the reason for the season is totally ignored.
Churches join the festivity by adorning shimmering lights, that even attract non-believers to pay their respect to the “building” during this time. Church buildings during Christmas season get all the focus and attention and are worshipped as a monument. These grand decorations sometimes symbolically give a misrepresentation that God abides in Church building as in Solomon’s temple in the ancient days. Sadly, it is seen that many worship Church buildings than the Lord of the Church. This reminds me of the incident in 2 Kings 18:4 where the bronze serpent was lifted by Moses as a symbol of God’s grace and mercy, which hundreds of years later became an idol and people started worshiping it.
So, the hard question here is, how and when is the Church globally going to take a relook at its priorities and direct its attention and the congregation’s attention to the real Savior Jesus Christ? Celebrations and blessing related sermons completely rob the real reason of Christmas. During this time of the year large crowd are seen as zombies coming year after year dressed well to celebrate Christmas and New year but return home from Church as unrepented souls still wallowing in their sins. They have no clue for their purpose of life in Christ Jesus.
It is high time Church sensitizes and ignites its congregation of their responsibility towards the Great Commission. In the effort to rejoice during the festive season, fun filled activities are introduced which may present the Gospel but the drama, dance, musical programs are all made Christian centric so that we make the world recognize us as a religion called Christian.
There are some Churches who are radical in inviting non-Christian friends and families for a special evening and share the joy and true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is the best time of the year where the story of our Saviour can be shared with all.
The gospel of Luke records the Shepherds were the first to receive the news about the birth of Jesus and were the first to give the news about the birth of Jesus. Luke 2:16 “They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” The most important information is recorded in the following verse. Luke 2:17, “After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about the child”. Let me break it down for you:
- The shepherds were given the good news,
- They hurried to witness the greatest prophetical event,
- They saw it with their own eyes the Savior,
Unfortunately, for Christians and Churches this is the end of the story. However, the actual story begins from Verse 17,
- After seeing (Responsibility began here for the shepherds)
- “After seeing them they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.” (NIV)
It is so important what they saw was worth sharing anywhere and everywhere. What are the people going to see in your Church? In other words, Pastors, what are you going to show them? The big question is if the Church is still committed to show Christ and His mission in the right shape to the people.
They reported the message
If your message is going to be revolving around abstract ideas and virtues like love, happiness, care and joy then they would be left with nothing to share. Remember their return home should compel them to share the good news of Jesus, if not you have failed in your Christmas message.
And finally in verse 18 it says, “All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”. Mark the phrase, “what the shepherds said to them.” You cannot have your people see, witness, experience and then not talk about it all their life. It is a debauchery.
Let me refer to you another character from the gospel, Prophetess Anna, recorded in the book of Luke. In Luke 2: 37 it says, “She was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.”. Now Churches like to inspire the congregation referring Anna by asking people to be faithful to Churches and remain in the Church in the dedication of fasting and prayer. Sometimes the Churches are scared that believers would leave their Church and focus all their efforts in retaining them.
Let’s analyze closely to see what is written about Anna in verse 38. Here starts the true mission and discharging of responsibility. I love this verse, “At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” She was not just sitting in the church fasting and prayer, but she also shared the good news. This is the failed mission today. Sometimes many important Church initiatives including fasting and prayers are made as an event and program and eventually, the actual obedience to the great commission is silently ignored. It is time to seriously think about what it takes for every believer to be a witness.
Can we seriously break the curse of celebration and make people restless until they have shared Jesus to everyone? Break the trend to revolutionize gospel sharing in your Church agenda.
I would like to ask you few pertinent questions given below:
- Pastors, can you testify to the number of new souls you have led to Christ in 2025?
- How many congregation members have you inspired to do the same and,
- How many of them have actually led people to Christ in this year 2025?
If the answers to the above questions are doubtful or a “NO”, then it is high time you put the above questions into an action plan. I pray that God will ignite your hearts to make this coming year 2026 a fruitful harvest of souls for Christ. May you also revolutionize the trend of your Church and Christ mission in this Christmas season and in the coming New year.
You may read the last blog HERE
No comments:
Post a Comment