As Christians in Nigeria join their counterparts worldwide to celebrate Christmas, it is apt to remind all citizens that this is yet another event that should be observed without the fanfare usually expected of such an occasion. Coming amid the country’s position on a near precipice and at a time millions of Nigerians are undergoing excruciating death, pain, physical and psychological torture mainly from the Boko Haram insurgency, this is a time for prayers and reflection. Three northeastern states – Adamawa, Borno and Yobe have been under emergency rule for over three years now. The region has witnessed one of the most grotesque campaigns of human savagery and barbarism. Thousands are being killed, maimed, raped, dehumanized, abducted and subjected to agony. Ahead of next year’s general elections, the nation is holding its breath and the signs are ominous.
Surely, these are no conditions for merriment; and Nigerians, particularly Christians, should recognize this, and accordingly, observe the birth of Jesus Christ in deep retrospection and moderation; even as they celebrate the central mystery of their faith, the mystery of the incarnation, by which God sent His Son, Jesus Christ into the world to save mankind from sin, injustice, wickedness, violence and death, and to establish on earth a civilization of love in accord with the will of the Almighty Creator. Such civilization is characterized by love, peace, mercy, compassion and universal brotherhood. Christmas is about Christ, the child born over two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, and whose profound life and teaching gave birth to Christianity.
Jesus of Nazareth profoundly and manifestly changed the course of history. His message of love, mercy and compassion, truth, justice, and freedom, has inspired some of the most progressive individuals and movements in human history. Yet His coming was inauspicious. There were no earth-shattering natural heralds to welcome Him; life in Bethlehem went on normally as poor Mary and Joseph went around looking for a room in an inn to stay. And finding none, they settled for a lowly manger, and there Christ was born. But from the child born in this manger was to flow the knowledge of the Supreme Creator, the grace of healing and the compelling message of salvation for mankind. This is why Christians see the birth of Christ in the flesh as the miracle of all miracles. Those who believe in His word and abide by His teachings have the assurance of everlasting life after death. But not all who saw Him even in His own time recognized Him and not all who recognized Him believed in Him.
Marking Christ’s birthday has occasionally thrown up the debate even among Christians concerning the accuracy of the date and the importance of celebrating it at all. But the regular celebration of an event as a reminder of its profundity is a means of maintaining a linkage with the past and sustaining the import of the event. The essence, therefore, of December 25 is not in the accuracy of the hour of the birth of Christ but in the event itself. Just as there is rhythm in life itself, marking the birthday of Christ regularly should breathe meaning into the Christian’s appreciation of the Savior who is central to their lives, as well as accords them the occasion to reflect upon their relationship with the giver of life and the quality of their faith. The celebration of Christmas serves the purpose of keeping Christians tuned to their divine origin and to the pathfinder to their immortal destiny.
Christmas is, however, celebrated in Nigeria amidst heightened insecurity, not only in the Northeast where Boko Haram holds sway and regularly unleashes terror, but also across the rest of the country where political banditry, armed robbery and kidnapping, have rendered life largely insecure. Nigeria is celebrating Christmas in an environment plagued by monumental corruption, leadership profligacy, executive lawlessness, widespread impunity. On the whole, the level of public or social morality in Nigeria is at its lowest ever.
These and other factors have combined to depress the economy to such an extent that many live in near destitution, with youth and graduate unemployment at an all-time high. Many young people have lost hope and any sense of meaning in life and taking to criminality. There is indeed so much misery, hunger, suffering and human degradation, that Christmas is celebrated amidst the wails and groans of the ever increasing population of poor Nigerians whose fortunes seem to be worsening by the day.
On the personal and corporate level, value orientations have been badly corroded. As a people claiming one destiny and one nationhood, Nigerians are far removed from the spiritual sobriety that the life of Christ and the season of Christmas demand. The nation is structurally, environmentally, socially and politically fractured and polluted, and the joy normally associated with the celebration of Christmas is more in evidence in its absence. And this should be a major source of embarrassment not only to Christians, but also to all who profess any religion at all. The level of economic and social destitution that has blighted the joy of Christmas for many a family should be a subject of deepening concern for all especially those in positions of leadership who profess Christianity.
Yet Nigerians are a resilient people. In spite of all the stress and deprivations, they will not be denied the celebration of Christmas. They will not pass up the once-in-a-year opportunity to celebrate Christmas, no matter how sparsely. True, the shops may not be as full and as busy as before, there may be fewer hampers and gifts, fewer kitchens may have chicken to prepare, and there may be smaller bonuses, or none at all paid out by employers to cushion the hard times for employees, and transport fares will once again increase. But Nigerians will still struggle to make it home for Christmas.
Beyond the festivities however, Christmas 2014 challenges Christians and all good people to reflect on the spiritual, moral and humanistic values and ideals put before them in the life and teaching of Christ. These values and ideals include the pursuit of truth and justice, option for the poor, humility as a way of life, the sacrifice of self for the good and welfare of others, generosity with one’s talents and resources, and above all a life saturated with love.
As Nigerian leaders at all levels entertain their families and cronies at this Christmas season, it would be spiritually beneficial for them to take a sober look around the country and observe the effects of the work of their hands. It would be spiritually cleansing for the Nigerian political and economic elite to face up to the reality of the depressed visage of their fellow citizens. A nation engaged so spiritedly in power and political shenanigans to the detriment of national cohesion can hardly celebrate a feast founded on the truth, justice, mercy, and sacrificial love of Jesus Christ.
Huhuonline.com joins Christians everywhere in paying tribute to Jesus Christ and urge Nigerian leaders to utilize this special Christmas season as a genuine retreat to imbibe the values and virtues that Christ taught the world by His life and His death. As Christians celebrate Christmas, may all Nigerians take these truths to heart so that it shall be well with the nation.
