One of the more special things about Christmas is the songs. They are beautiful, meaningful, and some, very special. Many of them get to the heart of the season, proclaiming the reason Christmas is such a happy time of year.
I have several favorite carols. ‘Joy to the World’ has long been a favorite. Its joyous words proclaim the kingship of Jesus, over men and nature both, and shouts the new life promised in redemption. The modern song ‘Mary Did You Know’ never fails to invoke in me the sense of awe that comes from trying to wrap my head around the incarnation.
‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’ fills me with a longing for the peace that was promised, even while it agrees with me that that peace is little evidenced on earth today. But then it hurries on to remind me the story’s not over yet, that hope is as much a part of Christmas as joy.
But this year – perhaps because I’ve been thinking more about the subject while teaching Walk In It, and contemplating expanding on it – the one carol that speaks most to my area of passion is ‘Oh Holy Night.’ It too expresses the joy, the hope of a new day fulfilled. But then comes the verse that expresses the hope and joy in the socio-political realm too.
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Sadly, the song seems to be falling out of favor. I haven’t heard it much this year, and that particular verse even less. Maybe it’s because the world doesn’t want to hear it today. Liberalism and its Left-leaning off-spring do not want to be reminded that the love and peace they seek, the promise they stole from Christianity, was promised first by God, and comes only from Him. Most Christians don’t want to hear it because they don’t want to be reminded that Jesus came to change lives and culture, not just our emotions and hope for the future.
But we must follow the example of the author who ended the above verse with the words:
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
Askance Eye Miniblog 