Archbishop Prowse and Canberra's leading Anglican, Bishop Stuart Robinson, believe Christmas is a time of reflection when everybody, including non-believers, should reconsider their relationship with God and the state of the world in which they live.

Bishop Robinson, who compared God's descent into the world in human form to his own dive into a swimming pool fully clothed to rescue his son 30 years ago, said from God's viewpoint all of humanity was "all but lost".

"Our world is drowning really in self-centredness," he said in his Christmas message. "The technical word is sin. God comes amongst us and deals with sin head on. He absorbs its consequences; in Jesus God pays sin's price. He goes to death on our behalf."

Archbishop Prowse said the self-centredness manifested itself "as consumerism, materialism and various forms of selfishness".

"Christmas is celebrated in an Australia that either privatises religion or is tempted to believe an adult life is best lived without or against God," he said.

"At Christmas christians want to remind the world humanity cannot live without God. The true Christmas spirit replaces fashionable "gods" fixated on "my choice" with choices that produce joy and hope in family life and benefit the strugglers; the homeless, the refugees, the poor and the marginalised."

Bishop Robinson said that given the magnitude of God's sacrifice, the least humanity could do was to hear what he had to say.

"Taking Jesus seriously, reaching out to the rescuer, is the only appropriate response," he said.