wfn.org | World Council of Churches Head Issues Christmas Message

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

1-December-1999 
99395 
 
    World Council of Churches Head Issues Christmas Message 
 
    by Konrad Raiser 
    General Secretary of the World Council of Churches 
 
GENEVA - The celebrations of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth which Christian 
churches around the world are preparing this year are inevitably marked by 
the approach of the end of a century and the dawn of a new millennium. 
Bethlehem will be the scene of a major commemoration of the passing of two 
thousand years since Jesus' birth, televised throughout the world. 
Countless Christmas pilgrims are expected in Nazareth, Jerusalem and many 
other places linked to the life of Jesus.  But this will be a special 
Christmas everywhere. Even people who do not belong to any church will be 
drawn to the light which is shining forth from the one Christians confess 
as the Son of God who has entered human history. 
 
    Because the turn of a century and of a millennium has such strong 
symbolic power, noisy and glittering public festivities around this 
milestone will in many places overshadow the remembrance of the nativity of 
Jesus Christ. Yet despite the festivities, many will be entering the new 
millennium with anxiety and fear of the unknown.  Similar forebodings 
filled many people at the time when Jesus was born.  Remarkably, even after 
two thousand years, the life and message of this son of the Jewish people 
continues to attract men and women who find in him the source of hope and 
certainty for their lives.  And as human history has continued, with all 
its glories and its shame, his announcement of the coming of God's reign 
has enabled people to face the future with confidence, while posing a 
critical challenge to all forms of human power. 
 
    But any truthful and honest commemoration of the birth of Jesus by the 
Christian churches - the communities of those who have committed themselves 
to follow the way of Jesus - must be accompanied by an attitude of 
repentance.  For while Christians have carried his message, the gospel, to 
the ends of the earth, they have in their own lives been tempted often to 
follow other ways.  The millennium which is drawing to a close has been a 
period of Christian division, strife and mutual condemnation.  The desire 
to spread or defend a Christian culture and civilization has spawned 
violence and war, injustice and oppression.  And the century now ending, 
which saw the emergence of the ecumenical movement and the growth of a 
sense of communion among the followers of Jesus Christ, has nevertheless 
been the most violent period in human history.  We cannot commemorate his 
birth in Bethlehem without being mindful of the Shoah which will forever 
remain engraved in the memory of the people from whom Jesus came. 
 
    In the spirit of Jesus of Nazareth our message at Christmas this year 
should be one of reconciliation: reconciliation between Christians, Jews 
and Muslims in Israel and Palestine at a time when the peace process is 
entering its final stage; reconciliation between Christians and Muslims in 
Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bosnia and Kosovo; reconciliation between 
Christians, Muslims and Hindus in India; and reconciliation among the 
members of the Christian family all over the world. 
 
    Significant steps have been taken during the last years of this century 
towards overcoming the sources of Christian division.  These steps must 
continue.  Entrusted with a ministry of reconciliation, the churches must 
begin in their own household. Only then will they be able to carry forward 
the light they have received in Jesus Christ.  For "what has come into 
being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light 
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it"(John 1:3-5). 
May this light shine forth as we celebrate 
Christmas this year. 

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