Considering the “Put Christ Back into Christmas” Event

Coming up tomorrow (Saturday 13th December) is the “Put Christ back into Christmas” event in Whitehall, organised by Tommy Robinson and featuring Bible readings, carols, Christian music and preaching by Christian leaders.

It has provoked widespread comment from various Christian leaders, the vast majority of it negative, including the “outsiders welcome” campaign from the Church of England expressing their objection to what they see as misappropriating Christmas and Christianity with a particular kind of nationalism which they argue is not Christian.

We should not be naïve and simply believe that because Tommy says he is a Christian he is one, or even if he is, to think that he has the spiritual maturity to lead Christian gatherings and rightly steward the message of the gospel. 

But as Paul says in Philippians 1:15-18:

“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”

So let’s assume for a moment that the biblical Christ will be preached at this event. What about those preachers – should we be rejoicing? Or are they out and out false teachers? 

I have to be honest and say (certainly not representing any of the organisations I am connected with) that I am not sure. I feel uncomfortable with the blanket condemnation going on.

For one thing, I am not sure it is worth giving priority and time to this – there are better things to do with making disciples and teaching them in the contexts where people are actually listening to us. 

I also don’t think it’s right to judge the event before it’s actually happened. It’s only then we can comment truthfully about what was said and done.

But there’s something deeper than that.

Yes, I can see all the arguments against giving it even the tiniest crack of daylight and plenty of reasons to object to it. It claims to not be a non-political event, but the main leader is most definitely a political figure who has well known views on immigration. Potentially it will link Christians with individuals and groups who at the very least have a thuggish history of aggressive nationalism.  I can see that the Christianity Tommy Robinson espouses seems more about nostalgia – about cultural symbols – than rooted in salvation from sin through repentance and faith leading to love for one another.

But still, I have a feeling that the opposition is more driven by fear than love.

This event is out of our control. It’s not under proper spiritual leadership and it’s got associations we’re not comfortable with but from all I have read and watched about it there are genuine believers who are going to preach, pray and sing. 

I want to be more optimistic. Here is a potentially massive gospel opportunity. Yes, this might not be a spiritually governed, theologically well thought-through Christmas event. But all the time in our churches we see people come for all kinds of reasons. Some come because they want to get their kids into a particular school; some are seeking friendship. At this time of year, many come because it’s Christmas and it just feels good. Some come because they’re genuinely seeking Christ – but that can be mixed up with those other motives too.

We welcome them all. We don’t say you came through the wrong door because you came for the wrong reasons. 

So no, I am not planning on attending or supporting this event. But I’m praying that somehow, because God is bigger than our imaginations, something amazing happens. I am praying that Jesus is glorified and revival breaks out, however humbling that is for those of us struggling to process it.