Christmas Song and Story

This is a wonderful time of year for those who follow Jesus. We get to sing our hearts out in celebration of the incarnation. I frequently get into “trouble” for not including someone’s favourite carol in a service – and although I try to ensure that as many favourite carols are included in the various services I plan, I know it will not tick everyone’s box (I guess if it’s so important, you could always become a local preacher or minister – then you get to choose every year!).
The carols we sing reach into lots of different places, touching memories and emotions for many. We can truly Sing the Story of God coming into the world in Jesus Christ in a way that many people will connect with.
So when Stephen Yaxley-Lennon announces that he wants to “put Christ back into Christmas” after he says he has become a Christian whilst in prison, surely this is a positive sign. A crowd gathered together – singing carols – in a very public place – what’s not to approve of this.
Surely we should be delighted if a crowd of 1000 people gather to sing carols – shouldn’t we?
Well, as we’ve said before, the most important thing is not what you do, what you say, what you sing – or where you do any of these things. The most important thing is - what is on your heart.
Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and respected theologian responded to the Unite the Kingdom carol event with the following -  
“The Christ of the first Christmas is a child born far from his parents' home because of decisions made by a distant imperial power.
He is a child who has to flee to a foreign country with his family in the wake of a massacre.
He is a child who has to grow up under the daily threat of violence in a landscape where the evidence of atrocities is all around.
He is a child who grows up to offer his life so that dividing walls of hostility between different communities -and between humanity itself and the love of God - can be broken down in a new togetherness.
Are we ready to put this Christ back into Christmas today?”

I am yet to be convinced that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and his followers have this Christ in mind or on their hearts. The true Christ of Christmas in not the Christ of triumphalism, nationalistic pride, intimidating flag waving or intimidation and scapegoating of the “other”.

Those who seek to follow the Christ of Christmas already know how challenging the path of truth is – to truly love your neighbour and to love your enemy is difficult. I would argue its impossible without the Spirit of the Christ of Christmas in our hearts.
Probably the real test of whether someone has the true spirit of Christmas in their hearts is how closely they are identifying with and practising the way of Christ – the humble Christ who came quietly into this world (well with a pretty impressive angelic host missed by most) so that only the poorest and foreigner might recognise. Those who are using the ways of the true Christ of Christmas: through love and mercy; through unexpected forgiveness and outrageous hospitality; through the relentless pursuit of justice with peace, of peace with justice; in the weakness of a baby; in the humility of a cross.
A key question is: Can we trust the Christ of Christmas way of building the Kingdom of God? We cannot build the God’s kingdom with the enemy’s tools, but we can cooperate with Christ’s  gentle, truthful, patient Spirit while God builds it, in God’s way and in God’s time.
I pray that as you seek to worship the true Christ of Christmas, your favourite carol will be sung and you will know the blessing of God’s love and be a blessing to those around you.

Grace and Peace

Revd John Hayes
 

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Grace and Peace.

Revd John Hayes