Christian message behind Christmas ‘deserves scrutiny,' says Sheffield minister

He was expressing a general grumpiness about Christmas cheer, worried that his workforce would be distracted by too many celebrations.

That’s unlikely to be a problem for most of us this year, with Christmas parties and gatherings being so severely restricted.

But what of the danger of humbug? The dictionary says a humbug is what we call a person being dishonest, insincere, or pretending to be someone who they are not.

That’s a serious charge.

In a world obsessed with the danger of fake news, we quickly get irritated and even feel threatened by people who are not really what they seem.

The Christian message behind Christmas deserves scrutiny for humbug.

If it has no substance, if Christmas is merely about tinsel, TV and turkey then we must dismiss it as a festival devoid of deep meaning.

But at the centre of Christmas is a claim that Jesus was born God-in-the-flesh, to bring humanity into friendship with our creator God, and show us what God is really like.

Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God has required people to think very seriously about him for 2000 years.

He was boldly confident when his detractors accused him of humbug. “Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence

of the miraculous works I have done. Then you will know that God is in me” (John 10).

Jesus’ own cousin, John the Baptist, even had a moment of doubt.

Jesus’ response was this: “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” (Luke 7)

There is plenty that is superficial and lighthearted about Christmas.

But Jesus shines brightly as someone trustworthy who practiced what he preached – even at the cost of his own life.

There’s nothing fake about Jesus.

He is genuinely good, genuinely God.

There will be Christmas events at The Well Church.

The Reverend Nick Allan is a minister at The Well Church, Ecclesall Road, Sharrow.See wellsheffield.com