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.
The Reverend Nick Allen
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).
About The Author
Harrison Okafor
editor
Judith is a believer, a lover of Christ and a Gospel freak person. A passionate gospel blogger and press writer. I work with GospelHitsNaija.net Media, no 1 Gospel music platform.
