Re-discovering Christmas

In countries like Spain (where Evangelical Focus was started), many younger people do not celebrate Christmas anymore.

Although there is still a strong sense of celebrating these days with the family, many people under 35 have totally disconnected with the Christian meaning of Christmas.

But it is also older people who talk about the “magic of these festivities”, a concept used to sell both lottery on TV and perfumes at ‘El Corte Inglés’ (the famous store).

One of the reasons for the rapid secularisation of the country is its recent history. Franco’s dictatorship (died 1975) did a very bad job trying to unite religion and power. This led many families to break up with religion, seen as a corrupt, imposed system. Now the grandchildren of those who suffered the repression do not know anything about the Bible, Jesus, and Christmas.

So, what should we do? Should we evangelical Christians try to bring back ‘Christendom’? Should we feel frustrated looking at a generation of children raised in a context were the real meaning of Christmas has disappeared?

It is probably time to start from scratch. Time to invite people to discover the life and ideas of this fascinating man named Jesus.

It is time to tell university students that they should read one of his biographies, the gospels. Analyse the texts, and look at the man behind the religious stereotypes.

And why not write down some of the verses of the Christmas story in the gospel of Luke on a a nice card, and wish a New Year full of hope to our neighbours or colleagues at work?

They may never have read this good news for themselves. Many have never heard the real story.

Let’s rejoice reading about how Jesus came into our world to save us.

And let’s help others re-discover Christmas. Because,

The one who is the TRUE LIGHT,

who gives light to EVERYONE

was coming into the world (John 1:9)