Posted on 12/25/2010 10:01:27 AM PST by Kaslin
What’s your favorite Christmas song? That’s a very subjective question. Some like to hear about “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” – others love to think about bells “jingling.” Yet, others tear up (with good reason) thinking about a “Holy Night” so long ago. They may even want to fall on their knees.
Christmas is more than a day in December – it is a season. Reminders of this are all around us – from the weather, to gatherings, to the music on the radio. It is not unusual for savvy media outlets to saturate their formats with all things Yuletide for a few weeks at the end of the year. It puts us “in the mood”—not to mention money in their accounts.
Regarding the music part, a case can be made that the greatest Christmas song ever written is one with no familiar music. The tune is no longer available to us. But, the lyrics – ah, those lyrics – well – they’re actually inspired. When The Apostle Paul was writing to young Pastor Timothy about everything from order in the church to the dangers of greed, he gave us an easily overlooked Christmas nugget that endures. In his first letter to his protégé he slips in an enduringly profound Christmas song, sandwiched between practical admonitions.
It may be not be a toe-tapper like “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” – but it completely captures the essence of Christmas. That essence is incarnation. This means that God became one of us so that He could reach those of us who are willing to surrender to Him.
As the Apostle winds up a series of thoughts about the church and those who serve and lead, he pauses to reflect on a larger issue. Strategies and structure are not ends in themselves. They are secondary to powerful ideas. While he may have felt the need to give Timothy some practical advice about how to do his important job, he never lost sight of the why in all of it – nor should we. There can be many controversies life—macro and micro. All of them require attention. Some of them require systems and structure. No doubt, this was something Timothy with which Timothy wrestled. Therefore, his wise mentor, Paul, offered his advice.
Things that tend to polarize people often have little to with objective truth. Instead, subjective experience is allowed to play too large a role in our lives and passions. When this happens, Paul’s writings suggest that we need to stop and sing. And we should sing something very specific—a song that endures. It is the most beautiful of all Christmas Carols – though it is highly unlikely that we’ll hear the words blended with any seasonal music this year.
We are not told the style of music – nor are we told the instrument or instruments used to express it (if any). We are just given the words. They are inspired words – and they have endured. They are ancient words – yet ever new.
The first Christmas Carol is introduced in scripture this way: “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great…” (I Timothy 3:16 NIV)
There are many things communities of faith have wrestled with throughout history. But Paul reminds us all these centuries later that there are some no-brainers for the faithful. First and foremost is that most powerful of all ideas that God has come to the earth—the Word has been made flesh.
So – this season let us reach back for one of the forgotten “oldies” – a first century worship favorite. They likely sang it in places like Ephesus, Thyatira, and Philippi. There were no ornate cathedrals or padded pews.
No multi-media presentations were used to tantalize the eyes. Just words—powerful and profound. Go ahead and make up your own music – but don’t mess with the words. They are from God. They are a Christmas gift from the one who gave us the reason for the season.
And – one…two…three…
“He appeared in a body, Was vindicated by the Spirit, Was seen by angels, Was preached among the nations, Was believed on in the world, Was taken up in glory.”
-I Timothy 3:16 (New International Version)
Merry Christmas!
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen as performed by the Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckH3V_xOCnQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK5VulNn3so
Enjoy!
Three beauties I listen to over and over during Christmas:
Wexford Carol-—there are many haunting versions, but I especially love the one by Anonymous 4.
Cherry Tree Carol-—the incomparable version by Judy Collins
O Come O Come Emanuel—any version, but Enya has an absolutely stellar one
I probably have 50, if not more, Christmas CDs, both religious and secular.
“He appeared in a body, Was vindicated by the Spirit, Was seen by angels, Was preached among the nations, Was believed on in the world, Was taken up in glory.”
These divine phases of the mystery of godliness form one complete whole concerning the redemption of all things. No single part is now a mystery, for all have been made clear by many scriptures.
Oops! I meant O Come O Come Emmanuel
” What Child Is This”- my favorite traditional carol.
Next would be ‘Angels We Have Heard’.
The prettiest modern song I’ve heard is ‘Mary Did You Know’. A wonderful, unique perspective on what Christmas means. Even Kenny Rogers and Winona Judd were good- and I don’t like either singer.
Listening to Josh Groban’s Christmas album now. I can’t help it, choirs give me the goose-bumps. Gorgeous!
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ by The Pretenders
I never hear “Good King Winscelas” any more. I don’t know who King Winscelas was, or anything about “the Feast of Stephen”, assume it was an old celebration of the martyr, Stephen, who was stoned to death, but the melody to that carol is great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCFCeJTEzNU
A hymn or carol consists of the lyrics, not the melody. Many humns have had numerous tunes associated with them, many times a local tune that was familiar to the congregation.
If you attend an older church, you may find an old hymn book that does not have written tunes in it, just words. The metric index in the back of the book allows the pastor to match the metre of the lyrics to the metre of a tune without any problem.
Amazing Grace, for instance, was not associated with it’s current tune until about 1853.
You just ~had~ to go and do that.....
(Darn allergies! sniff!)
Silent Night is my favorite.
One of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.
It is beautiful in English but it is profoundly moving in Stage German even if you don’t speak German.
Yeah, the pollen’s really bad right now.
I love the old “Is that you, Sandy Claus?” by Louis Armstrong.
Here’s a charming old video short from 1951:
“Suzy Snowflake”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaUBpsn4QjQ&feature=related
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.