This
December, the Indian academia was notified by the Indian government to organize
several activities (essay, quiz competitions and documentary screenings)1 on
December 25th to observe ‘Good Governance Day.’ These activities,
according to the government mandate, should be photographed and recorded as a
proof of compliance. 2
This
implied that schools and colleges should work on Christmas day. Thereby a
Christian child (and of course the parents too) would be denied an opportunity
to worship and enjoy reminiscing the Lord’s birth as a family.
Any ardent
Christian would ponder the reason behind the sudden choice of December 25th
by the government of India to observe ‘Good Governance.’ The government’s
choice of December 25th was to honor the birthday of Mr. A.B Vajpayee,
former Prime Minister of India, who was born on the same day. He belongs to the
party that presently governs India.
Justifiably
the National Council for Churches in India (NCCI), the apex body of Protestant
and Orthodox churches in India representing 14 million Indian citizens,
registered their protest against the government action through a letter to the Indian
Prime Minister. Their letter read, “Your
government has been telling the people that good days are going to come.
However, we are alarmed at the way the good days are sought to be introduced.
They appeared to be ushered in at the cost of social, economic and religious
minorities and vulnerable sections of the society… It is asserted that that
your government wants to celebrate it as Good Governance Day. The implication
of such a celebration is that government offices, educational institutions etc
would have to function that day showing scant respect to the holy day of the
Christians, Christmas…” 3
Evidently,
neither the NCCI nor the average Christian dislikes the concept of ‘good
governance.’ But the contention of every Christian is the choice of the day on
which that noble concept was preferred to be observed. Why did the government
of India choose the Christmas day to observe good governance?
Since then,
the Indian government has issued revised notifications to the Indian academia
to wrap up Good Governance Day events before December 25th and that the compliance report is not mandatory. 4
However, this
question remains intact; was the initial notification of the Indian government
aimed against the Christians? Instead of deliberating over the government’s
intent, we may as well ask, how should Christians respond if they are denied
holiday on Christmas day?
Communicate the
Disappointment Peacefully
A formal
and a peaceful communication, such as the one lodged by NCCI, is valuable. This
is apt, for the ruling government in a democracy should not deny any religious community,
especially the minority, of its religious privileges.
Disappointment as
Legitimate Response
How would
the other religious communities respond if their holy days are made working
days by the ruling government? How would the Muslim community respond if
‘Prophet’s birthday’ was ruled a working day on account of a noble governance
concept? How would the Hindu community respond if ‘Diwali’ or another more
important holy day was ruled a working day on account of a noble governance
concept?
One could
reasonably infer that these communities would be disappointed as well. Disappointment
is a default human response upon curtailment of a privilege. Therefore, it’s
indeed reasonable for a Christian to be disappointed when our privileges are
curtailed in a democracy.
Why Celebrate Only On
December 25th?
In the
event of such disruptions, we may as well think of alternate options.
Why not
celebrate Christmas on another day, maybe December 24th or December
26th or the Sunday that’s before or after December 25th? The Bible’s silence on the precise date of
Christ’s birth indicates that the event of Christ’s birth is more important
than the date of the Lord’s birth.
If a
Christian family is keen on celebrating Christmas together, then this is a
viable option. If any action is aimed at disturbing the peace of a Christian
mind, then the Christian mind should find ways to remain at peace without
compromising its religious position.
We Can Remain Without
Celebrating on December 25th
Consider
Indians living in the Middle East as a case in point.
Many travel
to the Middle East to make a living – a wealthier and a comfortable one at
that. In the Middle East (or in a similar scenario), Christians are expected to
work on any day other than the stipulated weekly and national holidays.
Therefore, working on Christmas or Easter is a normal routine for the Christian
who lives in the Middle East.
The
Christian family in the Middle East makes do with a family dinner on Christmas
day or celebrates Christmas on another day. The Christian in this situation
refrains from protesting against the Islamic government for not declaring
Christmas as a national holiday, for the Islamic nation is not his native country.
He simply trudges along, for sustaining his wealth and comfort seems more appropriate
than demanding a mere holiday albeit for religious reasons.
Or consider
a country that curbs the existence of a Christian church. In this scenario, the
Christian should not celebrate Christmas outside the precincts of his home. But
the core religious factors of not celebrating Christmas or worshipping the Lord
in the local church does not prevent the Christian from taking up employment in
that country.
Therefore,
it is indeed possible to not celebrate Christmas on 25th.
Christmas Is
Celebrated In Our Hearts
The Lord
Jesus Christ reigns in the heart and mind of every Christian. While celebrating
these important occasions in the company of the family or the church community
is indeed significant, it is of paramount importance to celebrate the Lord’s
presence – HIS birth, death and resurrection in our hearts and minds.
Christmas
is the celebration of our Savior’s first-coming into the world to save us from
our sins. We are eternally saved when we believe in Jesus. This is a matter of
great joy. This joy should occupy our hearts until our last breath.
If Christ
reigns in our hearts and if our hearts are filled with joy then none can or
should take that joy away. This joy remains irrespective of our ability to
celebrate Christmas.
Although we
remain joyous, we ought to grieve. We grieve for those who do not believe in
Jesus. While we grieve, we pray that those who do not believe in Christ would
believe the Lord Jesus Christ. None should take this prayer away from us.
Since
Christianity is primarily an inward disposition of a heart to the Lord Jesus, a
Christian should be able to work or study on any given day, thereby denying
trials and tribulations the chance to destroy his peace.
Nothing can
separate the believer from HIS Lord. Nothing should destroy the peace that
Christ offers to us.
That
Christians should submit to the governing authorities is mandated in the Bible
(Romans 13: 1). In the very same verse, the Bible says that governing
authorities have been established by God.
The Bible
asserts that the governing authorities should hold no terror to those who are
doing right (Romans 13: 3, NIV). Even if governing authorities fail to do the
right, we should do the right albeit without compromising our religious
position.
If Christians
are denied the privilege of worshipping and reminiscing the Lord’s birth on
Christmas day, we should continue doing the right. And in doing the right, we
will be blessed by God for the Bible teaches that we should bless those who
curse us (Luke 6: 28).
So may the
joy of the Lord’s birth increase in our hearts as we seek to serve HIM alone
during this Christmas season and always. May the incomparable power of God rest
and abide upon every Christian who genuinely seeks and serves Christ so that we
will remain peaceful and joyous even during trials and tribulations. May this
world know and believe in the Lord Jesus as their God and savior.
A blessed
Christmas to you and yours! Amen.
Endnotes:
1 http://www.firstpost.com/india/good-governance-day-angry-leaders-say-communal-design-to-target-minority-holidays-1853529.html
2 http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-uproar-in-lok-sabha-over-schools-being-told-to-remain-open-on-christmas-2044700
3 http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/good-governance-day-ncci-seeks-pm-narendra-modis-intervention/articleshow/45568276.cms
4 http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/good-governance-day-circulars-revised/article6701900.ece
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