By OLALERE FAGBOLA
Christmas is more than carols, candles, and tradition. It is God stepping into human reality — and a call for believers to step into the world with purpose. Have we, in modern Christianity, forgotten this?
Every December, Christians gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Yet, in our festivities, we often chase shadows — missing the powerful substance behind the season. The early Greek Christians understood the Incarnation as God embracing human realities, yet modern Christianity sometimes behaves as though spirituality must remain detached from social and political life.
In today’s Church, oversaturated with a sugary prosperity gospel, many believers shy away from politics.
“Let politicians handle politics,” some say.
“After all, politics is too dirty.”
This faulty thinking has deep roots.
“Salt is not made for the salt-bowl, but for the soup.” — Rev. Ade Adegbola
In the 1960s, Reverend Ade Adegbola wrote a piercing Christmas meditation titled, “Salt Is for the Soup.” His argument remains prophetic:
The Word becoming flesh is not the Christian tragedy.
The real tragedy is the salt losing its savour.
Christians have become salt that refuses to enter the soup.
Salt that refuses to influence governance, policy, leadership, nationhood.
Adegbola’s question echoes with urgency: “After what God has done at Christmas, has any Christian the right to doubt that our faith concerns political questions, culture, and economic development?”
God entered flesh — yet believers hesitate to enter public life.
Christmas was born in a world charged with political energy and prophetic expectation.
“Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness.” (Isaiah)
“Why do the nations rage?” (Psalm 2 — the Psalm appointed for Christmas)
Isaiah 11, Psalm 72, and Isaiah 61 all reveal the Messiah as a ruler with national implications.
The title Messiah itself is political.
No wonder, then, that the mission of NACLFON resonates deeply with the season. At a leadership meeting, the National President, Professor Peter Abraham, spoke with clarity: “This is God’s assignment. This is not a formation; it is a divine instruction.”
A respected Archbishop, Venerable Godson reinforced this with Bishop Benson Idahosa’s timeless line: “If your faith says Yes, God cannot say No.”
The Order Of Divine Faith (Psalm 32:8)
I will instruct thee
I will teach thee
I will guide thee
God instructs before He explains.
Faith obeys before it understands.
Too often, Christians slip—silently and unknowingly—from faith into divination:
“Lord, show me first, then I will obey.”
Faith says:
“Believing is seeing.”
Faithlessness says:
“Seeing is believing.”
At critical moments like this, when Nigeria faces both internal and external enemies, the nation needs Christian leaders like Joseph and Daniel—leaders whose intelligence is matched with divine discernment.
We must stop celebrating a shallow Christmas—one devoid of responsibility.
We have presented Christianity “in tablet form”:
Prosperity without principles.
Blessings without nation-building.
Heaven-focused theology with slum-neglecting attitudes.
This is not the Christianity of Christ’s birth.
Psalm 90:12 is not a birthday verse.
It is not meant for annual celebrations of personalities.
It is a wisdom instruction urging us to number our days correctly — not yearly, but daily.
If any birthday deserves reflection on responsibility, it is Christmas — and we often get it wrong.
Where NACLFON Now Must Lead
The December 2025 NACLFON National Summit is a historical moment to bring Christmas theology back to national relevance.
What NACLFON Must Do Now
Produce responsible, faith-based analysis for the nation.
Occupy media and public spaces with constructive Christian perspectives.
Reveal how Christmas speaks directly to Nigeria’s political, cultural, and economic realities.
Model the incarnation by stepping into society, not retreating from it.
“If God stepped into human history, why should Christians step out of national responsibility?”
Jesus became flesh to redeem humanity — but redemption must have earthly consequences. Christianity is not an escape from society; it is an empowerment to transform society.
Christmas demands incarnation.
Not withdrawal.
Not fear.
Not silence.
But engagement, influence, and savour.
Because salt belongs in the soup.
READ ALSO:
Oba of Benin suspends priest for alleged custom violation
APC govs back Tinubu on security measures, pledge more support
Troops rescue 14 kidnap victims in Enugu–Benue border forest
FirstBank Elephant Girls crowned Zone 3 champions, qualify for WBLA final round
IPI to immortalise late treasurer with varsity endowment prize
10th coronation anniversary: Ooni launches Ojaja University, Ile-Ife
Alpha Jet crash: NAF hails pilots’ professionalism after safe ejection
INTIMATE AFFAIRS: The juicy power of the other room
Naira ends week with N2.60 loss against dollar
Nigerian Army rescues 10 abducted women in Kaduna
Tinubu sets up NADF, Bank of Agriculture and UBEC boards
