Christian leaders around the world have urged Christians to proclaim the “Good News” of Christ’s birth this Christmas in a series of statements issued in the lead-up to 25th December.
In an “ecumenical letter“, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the Anglican Communion, quoted a verse from the Gospel of Luke in which an angel, appearing to a group of shepherds around the time of the birth of Christ, told them: “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people”.
Archbishop Welby said that this “good news” of Jesus’ birth is “good news for all people, whatever their situation in life”. “It is good news for politicians and leaders but is also good news for the refugees and displaced persons who continue to flee from danger and seek safety and sanctuary.”
Contrasting the “Good News” of the Gospel with the “fake news” which he said was used as a weapon to “achieve dishonest advantage and to subvert honest debate and discussion”, Archbishop Welby said that as receivers of the “Good News”, Christians are called to pass it on and to “make real the promise of that good news to those in need”.
Quoting the same Bible verse, Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, said Christians should not be afraid.
“We are called to offer hope, but not in a superficial way,” he wrote in a statement issued in the weeks leading up to Christmas. “This is not the time to say that sin is an obsolete word in the world. Every day we see the opposite, everywhere. This is the time to receive salvation from sin and to go out fighting against all the negative effects of our misbehaviour and sins.”
These negative effects can be seen in climate change, in violent conflicts, in economic injustices and in abuse, even of religion, he wrote. “It is time to continue confessing our shared faith in our Lord and Saviour. We do that by continuing our Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace together and sharing the good news with all the people. Be not afraid!”
On Friday, Pope Francis – who will preside over services at the Vatican this Christmas, tweeted for Christmas to be freed from “the worldliness that has taken it hostage”. “The true spirit of Christmas is the beauty of being loved by God,” he wrote.
In a later tweet, he added: “If we really want to celebrate Christmas, let’s contemplate this image: the fragile simplicity of a new-born baby. That’s where God is.”
Bishop Efraim Tendero, secretary general of the World Evangelical Alliance, said in a statement that the birth of Christ brought three gifts to Earth: that of Salvation, of Significance and of Service.
“As this generation’s bearers of Good News of great joy, let us continue to share the gifts of salvation, significance and service that Jesus birth brought with Him on that first Christmas.”
