REAL ESSENCE OF CHRISTMAS, BYCLERICS

Like harmattan whiff, its aura hangs
thickly in the air. Its presence can be felt
in the colourful lights, fascinating
decorations and serenading carols that
reflect the mood of the season worldwide.
It is Christmas again, a season of joy,
celebration, love and sharing for many.
And for others who, all year round are
caught up in the race for survival, it’s
simply a time to take a break from the
maddening crowd and bask in the short
holiday provided by the season
Though seen as the most wonderful and
best time of the year due to the joy and
abundance that the season brings,
unfortunately, there are people who by
life’s vicissitudes merely revolve around
the season, oblivious of what it really
connotes. From the east, west, north to
the south of the country, these people are
either smarting from life altering
experiences, are in a state of despair or
depend on people’s benevolence to
survive. Also, there are those that the
terrible economic situation has become a
dirge on their lips, as well as those who
are terminally ill and live daily on the
hope for a miracle. Not fathoming the
reason for the season also are the old
people abandoned to die in poorly kept
homes and pensioners owed months of
entitlements as well as itinerant kid
beggars that flock the street for alms.
For these set of people who are merely
being surrounded by sights and sounds of
Xmas, and whose will to celebrate has
been knocked out of their sail and are left
to drift on the sea of melancholy,
Christmas definitely holds no essence.
Even the prospect of indulging in the
Christmas tradition of savouring
simmering plates of the traditional Xmas
rice and chicken seems a mirage to these
hapless folks.
This set of people, according to Pastor
Ayodele Joseph Oritsejafor, President,
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),
are those the celebration should be
centred on. He stressed that Christmas
should essentially be about giving,
sacrifice and peace, devoid of
unnecessary frivolities.
The cleric, who is the Founder, Word of
Life Bible Church, Warri, Delta State,
explained that Christmas is the highest
point of God’s giving to mankind. He
stressed that God is and would continue
to be in the business of giving, but that
giving His son Jesus Christ was the
ultimate gift of all. He then asked: “If he
has given us Christ, what have we given
him in return?”
In an interview with the reporter,
Oritsejafor lamented that something was
definitely twisted in people’s
understanding of giving, adding that
Christmas should be a season when
people forget themselves and think of
others.
Pastor Oritsejafor emphasised that the
greatness of a nation lies within its
people, noting that so much can change
when the centre of attention shifts to
others in dire need of life necessities.
Condemning what he described as sense­
less killings of innocent civilians by the
Boko Haram sect, he wondered if people
have ever taken a minute to reflect on the
plight of those displaced in places
ravaged by the insurgents.
His words: “Have we thought about those
displayed, what they need? And how they
live? Have we thought about food, shelter
and security for them? What have we
done to change their lives and what are
we prepared to do?”
Giving, the CAN president stressed,
implies sacrifice. He asked how far
Nigerians, especially the leaders, are
prepared to go. He noted that if all
Nigerians can make sacrifices, all would
change for good in the country.
He also averred that if all elected officials
in the country can give up one per cent of
their savings and an eminent, honest
Nigerian is selected to manage the funds
for the benefit of the poor, there would be
a total turnaround.
While taking a swipe at political office
holders, he wondered if they are willing to
sacrifice for the good of the country.
“Most of them are spoiling for war if they
lose; war to amass wealth. Are they ready
to accept defeat as a sign of sacrificing
for peace?”
Pastor Oristsejafor further explained that
the birth Jesus was that of peace, noting
that when he was born in a manger,
angels came to proclaim peace on earth
and goodwill for man. He emphasised
that peace would return to Nigeria but that
everyone has a role to play, adding that
development can’t happen without an
atmosphere of peace.
“Let’s think about giving, sacrifice and
peace during this Christmas. Let’s all
thinks essentially about peace. Those
engineering and sponsoring Boko Haram
should stop for a moment within this
period and reflect on the season.
Christmas is for everyone, irrespective of
religion.”
For Bishop Emmah Gospel Isong, Chair­
man of the Pentecostal Fellowship of
Nigeria (PFN), Cross River State and the
General Overseer, Christian Central
Chapel International (CCCI), Ikot-
Eneobong, Calabar, there is more to
Christmas than the festivity that has been
attached to it. He lamented that people
are so embroiled in the festive period that
they are fast forgetting the real reason for
the season. According to him, people are
more particular about the ‘Mass’ and
have played down the ‘Christ’. He
emphasised that Christmas should not be
celebrated frivolously, indulging in habits
that demean the significance of the
season.
“The season should be a time of reunion
with family, mankind and God. People
embark on frivolous living and vanity
during Christmas instead of using the
opportunity to embark on deep worship.
Christmas is meant to celebrate the birth
of Baby Jesus, who is actually no longer a
baby. But in celebrating the birth of this
baby, you have to seek him first,” he said.
He then urged Christians to renew their
relationship with God, reconcile and be
sure to be in right standing with God.
Reinforcing the importance of Christmas,
Pastor John Ogundare, Founder and
General Superintendent, Christ
Redemption Bible Church (CRBC), Ketu,
Lagos stressed that the season should be
about peace, love and sharing to the
needy. He explained that Christmas is for
Christians all over the world as well as
for Muslims.
He noted that at this point in the life of the
country, Nigerians need more of love and
are expected to work towards making the
unity of the country stronger.
Pastor Ogundare therefore called on the
Boko Haram sect to, for the sake of the
season, put a stop to the killings and
shelling. He also called on men of God
worldwide to use the season to return to
the message of the cross.
“Preach love, salvation and holiness, of
which God said without it no one can see
Him. Go back and preach true salvation to
the perishing,” he charged his fellow
pastors.
For Reverend Berth Owoh of Elshaddai
Pentecostal Ministry (EPN) Ijesha, Lagos,
Christmas is not a time to womanise, get
drunk and eat to stupor. Rather, it should
be a time to allow Christ be born in one’s
life, in the society and in the country. He
also warned that Christmas is not a time
to squander a year’s profit in a day and
end up broke before the end of the year.
According to him: “It is a time to examine
our lives and be sure Christ is there and if
he is not, invite Him in. That way, Christ
would have been well celebrated.
Christmas is a time to commemorate the
birth of Christ and take stock of our lives
as individuals. Nigerians should not at
this period travel to their villages to show
off nonexistent wealth. Doing this help to
incur lots of enemies and this is one of
the consequences of celebrating
Christmas the wrong way.”