By Efa Sunday
The Cross River branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has tasked Christians in the State and across the world to imbibe the tenets and principles that Jesus represents all through the yuletide season.
The admonition is contained in CAN’s Christmas message issued on Sunday by the State chairman, Most Reverend Joseph Ukpo.
The message which said Jesus Christ whose birth is being celebrated represented “humility, love, forgiveness, contentment and salvation,” called on Christians to live above board.
The message read in part: “The birth of the Lord is no imaginative story. It is true event which took place in time and place in the stable at Bethlehem of Judah. This event brought light and dispelled darkness. It brought peace into our disturbed world of the fall of our first parents Adam and Eve. It brought healing into our pain.
“The child Jesus is a symbol of hope and salvation. Bethlehem did not realize who was asking for a roof over his head. He was denied room in the in but offered room in a stable. He was born poor. He taught us that happiness is not going in he riches of earthly goods. He encouraged us to be humble and not depend on affluent and ostentatious living. My dear Christians make the resolution to live the virtues of detachment and humility.”
CAN advised everyone to live like children as, “it is the only way to enter into the kingdom of God.”
The country heads to the polls early in 2019. And, that was not left out in the message as CAN admonished all to shun violence in the upcoming general election while suing for a collaboration between the electorates, umpires and office seekers to ensure the conduct of a free and fair election.
“The general elections of 2019 are around the corner. They present situation of our country fills us with fear and anxieties of the outcome of the forthcoming elections. I admonish you with the message of the angel to our Lady Mary, ‘do not be afraid’ the Lord is in charge. The citizenry must join hands with the candidates for the different election positions to organize a peaceful, fair and free election. We count on your support,” CAN said.
Also, CAN called on the citizenry to desist from the temptation of vote buying and selling, and vote according to their conscience.
“Abandon your bad habit at campaign and shun election malpractices. We should make a firm promise that this time around to vote according to our conscience. Do not sell your vote for money so that the 2019 election will be true, fair and free,” CAN said.
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