The Methodist Church in Fiji is expressing grave concern over the increasing instances of alcohol abuse and public disorder during the Christmas season. Church leaders are calling on the community to reconnect with the authentic meaning of the holiday, which they believe has strayed significantly from its spiritual roots.
Reverend Dr. Semisi Turagavou, the President of the Methodist Church, emphasized that Christmas symbolizes the birthday of Christ, highlighting that the day should be a celebration of God’s love and His arrival into the world, rather than an occasion for excessive drinking and irresponsible behavior. He pointed out that the jubilance of Christmas has been overshadowed by indulgence, which contradicts its true significance.
Rev. Dr. Turagavou stated, “Christmas is Christ’s birthday. Someone else’s birthday. Not my birthday, not your birthday, not our birthdays. But the meaning, the language, and meaning are very important in Christmas. We are celebrating God’s love. We are celebrating God’s coming to the world.” He argues for a return to the original message of the season — a time for spiritual devotion and reflection rather than personal or hedonistic celebrations.
The Reverend is urging Christian leaders from various denominations to join forces in restoring the true essence of Christmas. He lamented, “So in today’s society, we see Christmas as a day of drinking. Drinking alcohol, yagona, whatever. We see people moving around doing that without knowing that this Christmas or the festive season is all about God coming to our world.”
In line with this, the Methodist Church is encouraging families to engage in thoughtful reflection and embrace faith-based celebrations, reinforcing that the holiday should be a time focused on God’s love and presence, rather than excess. Their message is one of hope and unity as they strive to remind the public of the meaningful traditions that Christmas should encompass.