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May 19, 2006- Christmas in July: an encouragement/challenge
Have you ever heard a Christmas song playing during the summer
months and thought to yourself, "How tacky?" Sure, we all have; but why? Really, why? What about a
Christmas song doesn't apply to May, June, or July that does in November and December? Are we to neglect
celebrating our Savior's birth in the non-winter holiday months just because Hallmark and CVS don't have
their decorations up in the middle aisle? To clarify, I'm not talking about secular Christmas songs like Rudolph
the Red nose Reindeer, Jingle Bells, etc.. Those are very tacky if you hear them any time other than
Christmastime. But what about those songs and those ancient hymns that praise the Savior's birth? As
Christians, could we justify not celebrating the birth of the one that saved us from damnation at all
times, everyday?
The other day I couldn't make a choice for what CD I wanted to listen on my way to work and I found myself popping in a Christmas worship/praise mix CD I had made this past Christmas. Suffice to say, I had my best personal worship time with God that day then I had in a while. How could this be though with a collection of songs so out of season? On the contrary my friend, the proclamation of Christ's birth and subsequent mission on earth couldn't be more appropriate in and out of "season". In fact, I'd go as far as saying that churches across the world are remiss by neglecting a frequent and year-round acknowledgement and worship of what Christmas meant for us. Why are Christmas songs and hymns relegated to only the weeks leading up to Christmas? I'm not saying we should celebrate Christmas themes anymore than we should Christ's ministry, death, and resurrection; but I am saying it needs to be in our psyche much more than it currently is. Plain and simple, it doesn't cross our minds from about February to September, and ain't that a shame. What beautiful worship we're missing out on. What delectable lyrics of Christ's glory. Consider some of these words: "Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." -O Holy Night "God rest ye merry gentlemen Let nothing you dismay Remember Christ our savior Was born on christmas day To save us all from Satan's power When we were gone astray Oh tiding of comfort and joy" -God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen "For He alone is worthy Christ the Lord." -O Come Let Us Adore Him "For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophets seen of old, When with the ever-circling years Shall come the time foretold, When the new heaven and earth shall own The Prince of Peace, their King, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing." -It Came Upon A Midnight Clear "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 Born that man no more may die Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth" -Hark, The Herald Angel Sings Folks, these aren't hokey ABC-special words that last for a few seconds and go away. These are songs with real depth, with true meaning, and with ultimate purpose - just as much as any song we sing every Sunday morning. My encouragement/challenge to you is to break out that dusty Christmas song CD, or even make yourself a mix of your favorites (I've got a lot of good ones I can send you if you want). Listen to them and worship God. Not only will it remind you of the good times and feelings Christmastime offers, it will remind you also of the truth that you found your life, your hope, and your everything on - on that coming of the sovereign God of the universe in the form of a little baby that cried, drooled, and couldn't even control its bladder. That's humility…unlike we've ever seen before. That's humility that would be good for us to consider more often then a few weeks a year… |
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