"Happy Christmas"

By Pastor Eric Mangek Ngum* (Intro and Editing by Innocent Chia)

The economic squeeze is real. In many more homes than at anytime in recorded recent history, families are making tough choices between want and need. Christmas trees are not only bare with ornaments, they are withered at the bottom with the quantity, and probably quality, of gifts. Even though many still utter wishes of “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Christmas”, there is brazen apprehension of tomorrow. Many families are pinching a penny here and stretching a dollar there to make ends meet, yet it still is not obvious that they will make it through the day. The Chiareport took these cares and concerns to Pastor Eric Mangek Ngum of Victory Baptist Church in Dekalb, Illinois and asked him to comfort us, you and me, in these trying times that we may continue to see hope where hopelessness is fast gaining ground.

Happy Christmas! Happy Christmas!...That is the way we say it in Cameroon, wishing those who receive the good wish to be happy or seemingly agreeing with their supposed merriment, as they participate in the “good news of great joy that will be for all people.”  This good news was anticipated by the first recipients to whom it was prophesied, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times” Micah 5:2. This prophesied “good news of great joy that will be for all people” is this; “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” It follows in verse 13-14 of Luke chapter two that the bearer of this “good news of great joy that will be for all people”, an angel, is joined by a “multitude of the heavenly hosts (other angels in great numbers) praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” You see why we say happy Christmas to one another?

There are some among us who no longer belief this to be true, dismissing it as too dogmatic. In this postmodern era where belief in an absolute truth or universal truth is considered naivety, an age in which the search for what is true, morally acceptable or morally unacceptable is colored by private conclusions, one wonders how happy Christmas or merry Christmas would be received these days. This postmodern concept of truth being personally determined, and therefore not universal, seems to me to be applied strictly only when it comes to the truth of the Bible that Jesus Christ is Lord and savior, the subject and object of the “good news of great joy for all the people”, the reason for celebrating Christmas in the first place. Although sales numbers may improve as seems to be the direction of the economy, those benefiting from such sales, not all any way, would rather we say “Happy Holidays” not “Happy Christmas” or “Merry Christmas.”

However, I must submit to you that believing the truth - “good news of great joy that will be for all people” - thus Christmas celebration, demands our head, heart, and mind. Although it comes down to a personal decision whether you accept, welcome and receive this “great joy” does not make the truth a matter of personal determination.

I dare say it is true regardless of our personal acceptance or personal rejection. Just like it does not now matter whether the fundamentals of the economy were strong or not, whether people then or now accept it or not, the truth is that the economy, the USA and global economy has suffered a serve set back. It has grown beyond a matter of personal determination of the truth of the economic meltdown. It is now an accepted absolute, a universal truth so to speak that the world is undergoing an economic hardship or is recovering from one.

Even as I say this, I am reminded that if there is truth in the talk of global warming - the signs of which many do agree although they may disagree on the causes - if there is truth in this, there comes a time when it is no longer a matter of personal determination, like or dislike, it becomes a matter of truth you can accept or reject. Just like many today accept while others seek to reject or explain away the truth of the Holocaust, the truth of it has grown beyond personal acceptance or rejection. It is now an absolute truth.

Just as much, the truth about the true joy of Christmas has come a long way. It is no longer a local truth confined to Bethlehem, believed and advanced by local fisher men and tax collectors; it is now a universal truth. The true joy of Christmas comes from knowing, believing and experiencing the unconditional love of God poured on us not that we hoard it but that we share it with a world that seems more confused than ever before.

In an age of economic meltdown; wars and rumors of war; AIDS and other devastating diseases leading the “developing world” down the pathway of sorrow; with the ever increasing talk of global warming and the “gift of sorrow” it promises; in the midst of this and other continental, regional, national, tribal and personal subjects that breathe fear, fears without and fears within, how can one with a straight face say to another “Happy Christmas”, “Merry Christmas” or as others are strongly suggesting now, as if the truth of Christmas depends on their suggestion, “Happy Holiday?”

What joy is there for a family that can’t seem to have peace, thus robbed of joy because their loved one is at the war front; what joy is there for a family that can’t seem to have peace because they have to humble themselves and go to the Salvation Army for their Christmas meal; What joy is there for a family that can’t seem to have peace because they must watch their loved one die due to the high cost of treatment; What joy is there for a family that can’t seem to have peace because they no longer know what is true, moral or immoral? How do I even know there is anything like joy or peace? Who or what determines joy or peace for me or you?

I am getting confused myself with questions like these and as real and serious as they can be, there seems in my rational mind one question that begs for answers. Who is this one that has been born in the city of David, whose birth is talked of as “good news of great joy that will be for all people?” Who is this Jesus Christ called Lord and Savior? To me, that is the most important question the answer to which reveals truth. Not that the question of economic crisis is not important nor that of war and global warming. There are all important, but there are some things that are more important than others. At this point in time, this season of pleasant wishes like “Happy Christmas” or “Merry Christmas” the real questions should be how can I possess this joy that brings peace, the peace that quiets not even the fears without but most importantly the fears and wars that rage within me?

The prophet Isaiah must have grappled with same questions or witnessed his people grapple with similar issues when he spoke to them in Isaiah 49:13, “Sing for joy, O heavens, rejoice or earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering” (NLT). This theme of joy is later echoed by Zechariah in 9:9 when he wrote, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your king is coming to you, righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey.”

When the physician Luke declares to most excellent Theophilus what he considered an orderly account of Jesus he echoed the same theme of joy in Luke 2:10-14, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. “ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rest” (NIV).

The joy and peace of Christmas originates with a gift, God’s greatest gift to the world he created, His Son Jesus Christ, the baby Jesus, the Christ of Christmas, the reason for “Happy Christmas.” This Christmas therefore, join me not only to wish others “Happy Christmas” and hope that they are happy, give them a gift that will bring them true joy and peace. That gift is ours for receiving for he has been offered as a free gift to those who will receive Him. Amen!

* Rev. Ngum Eric Mangek is the Senior Minister at Victory Baptist Church in Dekalb-Illinois. He was invited to this Mission from Cameroon - while serving as Associate Ministerr at Redeemer Baptist Church o Foncha Street in Bamenda - and following a brief time of serving as Victory's substitute Minister in 2004, even as he was completing his M.A in Communication Studies at Northern Illinois Uiversity, Dekalb. The Chicago suburb was Rev. Ngum's second stop for a Masters Degree, following the successful completion of a M.A in Bibilcal Studies at Chicago's World-renown Moody Bible Institute. Holder of a B.A in English from the University of Yaounde-Cameroon, the Pastor has served as the Station Manager of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Radio Station. He is married to his forever love, Gladness, and they are blessed with a son - Eric Jr. - and two daughters - Joy and Eunice.