Remember the Joy

A friend of mine who is on the worship team at church said something to the congregation with which I agreed and yet wanted to further expound. She said that she did not like most of the Christmas songs.  I agree. After I became Christian, the bulk of the songs seemed superficial and very unchristian.  They seemed that way because they are.  So it put me off to all Christmas music for a while.  The veneration of only the season and the traditional icons of the season was just wrong. Then I started listening to the Christmas hymns which I liked the best anyhow, and I saw the joy in them again.  As with many hymns, the 3rd and 4th verses hold the meat.  Let me show you:

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Hail! the heav'n born Prince of peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen 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!"

 Silent Night, Holy Night

 Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Oh Holy Night

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


Oh Come All Ye Faithful

 Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be the glory giv'n;
Word of the Father,

Now in the flesh appearing,

And in the song O Come O Come Emmanuel, all the verses point the way.  There are several others as well.  I can easily see how the advent of the greatest gift from God to man, Himself, being sullied by songs of expectation of greed and avarice, can and do put off believers to the "songs of the season."  I am too.  But when I hear the beautiful voices of our worship teams in our church sing the songs that do proclaim the birth of Christ and what that means to the human race, I forget about the others and am melted into tears of joy and gratitude.  So if you are a believer, and tired of the glitz, glitter, and shallow words, tune out the White Christmas' and Santa Claus songs and listen to just the hymns.  The meaning is there and you may find yourself worshiping again to the songs you once loved.










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