Christians have been charged to make Jesus Christ the centrepiece of Christmas celebrations.
The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev Henry Ndukuba, gave the charge while speaking at the 2020 Abuja Diocesan Christmas Carols and Nine Lessons, held last Sunday at Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Abuja.
He admonished Christians not to leave out Jesus Christ in their celebrations, noting that some persons want to remove Him, whereas, He is the reason for the season. He also urged them to respond to God’s Word and what He did for humanity, as the shepherds responded to message from the angels.
Ndukuba underscored reasons Christmas is celebrated and quoted copiously from the scriptures to buttress his point that Jesus Christ came in fulfilment of the scriptures.
He said: “Christmas is a celebration of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, His incarnation and choice to be born as a man to save the world. So, anyone who could celebrate Christmas is favoured.
“There is so much distress, sorrow, devastation and insecurity in the land, but the Lord is saying that gloom would not be upon His people. Many things are working against the Church of God, but God is with His Church, and He will defend it.”
The cleric explained that Jesus is the light of the world, and with Him, believers could overcome the darkness of this world, when they confess their sins to Him, and believe in God for forgiveness.
“He is Lord of His Church and this nation. Whether people like it or not, Jesus Christ shall reign forever and ever,” he said.
He appealed to Christians to get involved in politics, so that things would change for the better. He challenged believers to rise and be part of the nation’s rulership and have a say in what happens in Nigeria.
“Enough is enough! Christians need to pray, but their eyes must be open. Be involved, if not for your sake, then for the sake of your children and the nation,” he said.