The Music of Christmas?

Hey everybody!

I’ve been getting reports that people actually read my blog…that’s a first for me! I apologize for not posting more regularly. Last week, I actually sat down three or four times with the sole purpose of “writing a new blog” and came up with a big ol’ goose egg each and every time. I think I’m trying too hard. Tim Kurek gave me some tips and pointers, and many thanks are in order.

Some of you may be wondering why we haven’t been doing any Christmas music so far. I mean, it is December, after all, and isn’t it traditional for churches to do nothing but carols this time of year? There’s a few reasons why I decided to forego the usual song suspects for now.

First of all, you’ve probably noticed by now that UpRising is anything but a ‘traditional’ church. That’s not to say that we like to do things just for the sake of being different, but we do take a more unorthodox approach in how we do things. Even so, that’s not the reason we’re not doing Christmas songs.

The second reason is that I have yet to find more than a couple of Christmas songs that translate well to the modern musical genre. There’s lots of songs out there that might fit stylistically, but many of them come across as very tongue-in-cheek, or even slightly cynical. That’s the last thing I want to associate with the birth of our Savior.

Having said all that, here’s the main thing: so often, we get so caught up in Christmas that we lose sight of the true meaning of the season. I’m not talking about consumerism here, although that’s always something to be aware of, but rather a true understanding of the big picture. It’s relatively easy to focus on the baby in the manger, the shepherds, the wise men, and all the rest of the Christmas story. It’s a little harder to associate the manger with the cross. We like the warm fuzzies and hope that Christmas brings. That’s all well and good, but the hope of the world lies ultimately in what the baby Jesus would accomplish thirty-three years later. His death, burial, and resurrection is where our eternal hope is found. He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, and voluntarily gave up his own life in our place. He was buried, and three days later he rose up from the dead, and death itself was swallowed up in victory! Praise God for his perfect gift to us: his son Jesus Christ!

One of my favorite Christmas carols is “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (and if anyone knows of a cool version of it floating around out there, let me know!). Everyone knows the tune, but take a minute and read all the lyrics. It’s exactly what I’m talking about.

Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son 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
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

That’s what Christmas is all about. This month, I’ve tried to choose songs that reflected God’s holiness, love and grace. I’ve looked for songs that describe the perfection and kingship of Jesus, because that’s what the manger ultimately points to. Many people have a tradition of reading the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2 every year at Christmas. This year, as you’re reading it, keep in mind that the reason for the season is not only the birth of Christ, but the wonderful truth that he was born to die.

Explore posts in the same categories: General

Tags: Christmas, Easter, Grace, Holiness, Kingship, Love

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