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‘Is that lady a Christian?’ asks my son.

We’re sitting at Carols in the Domain, listening to Robyn Hobbs, the founder of the Sydney Carols in the Domain. She’s being interviewed by the on-stage host, talking about the importance of hope, joy and love.

‘It does sound similar to things we Christians believe,’ I reply.

And then Robyn speaks again:

‘It’s been a tough year for me. I was diagnosed with leukemia. But for me personally, my Christian faith gives me hope, joy and love through this difficult time.’

My son and I look at each other and smile. Here was a lady open about her Christian faith on stage in front of thousands of people.

It was a great moment. And hearing Robyn testify so openly to her faith in Jesus added to the wonder of the night: the Christmas carols singing about the birth of Christ, the performances — especially the Rejoice Christmas Choir, and the fireworks.

And yet, Sydney Carols in the Domain was also a surreal and even jarring experience for me.

Here’s why:

1) It’s been a tough year for Christians in the public square

While pressure on Christians across the West has been increasing over the last few years, 2022 felt like a turning point in how society responded to Christians. Whether it was the benching of the seven Manly  NRL players who refused to wear the Pride Jersey.

Or the sudden sacking of Andrew Thorburn from the CEO position of Essendon AFL club. And this was coupled with Channel Seven Sunrise TV host David Koch ripping into Pastor Guy Mason about his (mainstream!) Christian beliefs — all on national television.

Perhaps most disturbing for me was the collective shrug of the shoulders from mainstream secular Australia. (Or worse still: an agreement that Christians should either change their outmoded beliefs or reduce their participation in public life.)

Australia has turned a corner this year.

2) And yet, we were praising Jesus in public through the carols

Despite the increasing pressure Christians feel to keep quiet about their faith, the whole Domain was alive with Christmas carols about Jesus. Oh, and Robyn Hobbs was openly sharing her faith on stage.

3) And so, it was a somewhat jarring experience

After a year in which David Koch attacked a Pastor on National TV for their Christian beliefs, Koch encouraged us to sing carols with gusto.

I couldn’t help thinking about how surreal, how weird — how jarring — this experience was.

4) It made me realise how mixed our culture is

Culture is a mix of different and often contradictory beliefs and values, which is not surprising, considering how our culture consists of various subcultures and individuals. We’re not a homogenous group of people, all holding to the same beliefs and worldviews.

Even as individuals, we’re often inconsistent in our beliefs.

Thus, even someone like David Koch can, on the one hand, attack a Christian pastor on TV for his Christian beliefs (about sexuality) and then encourage the nation to sing Christmas — Christian — carols with gusto.

But when it comes to Christmas carols, I think there’s something deeper going on in our culture right now:

5) We want the ‘kingdom’…

On the one hand, we like many of the fruits of Christianity — including Christmas carols and Christian charity (the Carols are also a fundraiser for the Salvation Army). (This is why no matter how much pressure Christians might feel in the public square, it will be a long time before Carols in the Domain ditches Christian carols). [1]

Our culture also holds to much Christian morality, as non-Christian historian Tom Holland has pointed out. Even the most secular Aussie values things like forgiving others and caring for the poor.

However:

6) … But we don’t (as a culture) want the King

Yes, we enjoy the benefits that Christianity has brought into our culture, but we don’t want to submit to Jesus. He’s much too controversial and offensive. We’d prefer to live our own way without Him.

A Beautiful But Surreal Experience

I’m thankful that we still have the Carols in the Domain.

Even as Western culture moves away from its Christian heritage, Christmas carols remind us of the true King who came into the world to rescue us. And I pray that many people would think about the words of the carols as they sing them:

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.