In a Christmas Day message that refocused the holiday on its theological core, Pastor Oluyide Alabi of the Christ Apostolic Church called believers to move beyond festive celebrations to active evangelism. Speaking at the English Assembly of CAC Oke-Ibukun Iloro District in Ile-Ife, Osun State, the cleric presented the Christmas season not merely as a historical remembrance but as a contemporary mandate for every Christian.
“The birth of Jesus Christ is an event of profound and ongoing significance,” Pastor Alabi declared during the Christmas service. “It was not a passive historical moment but an active, world-altering intervention. The gospel—literally ‘good news’—we celebrate is news that must be shared.”
The pastor elaborated on three transformative implications of Christ’s birth that compel proclamation:
1. The Light in Our Darkness: “Jesus’ birth brought light to a world shrouded in spiritual darkness,” Alabi explained. “This isn’t just poetic language. It speaks to the illumination of truth in places of confusion, hope in despair, and moral clarity in ethical ambiguity. When we share the good news, we are not imposing a philosophy; we are offering people a way to see.” He suggested practical applications: sharing personal testimonies of changed lives, offering prayer in times of community hardship, or simply demonstrating Christ-like kindness in a cynical world.
2. The Bridge of Reconciliation: The cleric emphasized that the nativity narrative is fundamentally about restored relationship. “The manger in Bethlehem is where God built a bridge,” he said. “The gap caused by sin between humanity and a holy God was spanned by the person of Jesus. His birth initiated the mission that his death and resurrection would complete—our salvation.” This, he argued, makes the Christmas message uniquely urgent. It’s an announcement that alienation from God has a solution.
3. A Model for Embodied Faith: Pastor Alabi admonished Christians to “stand firm with Christ” by emulating His character. “The message is validated by the messenger,” he noted. “Our preaching of love, unity, perseverance, and endurance must be visible in our families, workplaces, and how we treat those who disagree with us. This Christmas, let your life be the first chapter of the good news someone reads.”
The message culminated in an eschatological warning and incentive. Reminding the congregation of the promised second coming of Christ, Alabi stated, “The Advent we celebrate is twofold: we look back to Bethlehem and we look forward to His return. Our urgency in spreading the good news is fueled by both gratitude for what He has done and a sober awareness of coming judgment. We must live and speak in such a way that we, and those we influence, are prepared for that day.”
His charge moves the Christmas conversation from cultural tradition to missional imperative. In a season often dominated by consumerism, Pastor Alabi’s message reframes the holiday as a divine commissioning. The good news of great joy announced to the shepherds (Luke 2:10) is entrusted now to the Church—not just to celebrate behind sanctuary walls, but to actively spread in word and deed, making the true meaning of Christmas known to a waiting world.
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Reported by Dorcas Elusogbon; Edited by Sandra Umeh
Source: NAN
