Christmas is one of the most enigmatic seasons in our country. While culture has found an ability to remove almost every Christian reference and monument from daily life, it has been unable to keep the religious overtones out of Christmas. Try as they might, images of the Christ-child, the virgin-birth, and the hovering star seem to be ubiquitously present around every corner. It is also notable that during Christmas both pagan and believer come together to care for the poor and needy like at no other time of year. And therein lies the enigma…Christmas is when marketing meets the Messiah, materialism collides with mercy and giving, and Santa Claus shares the corner with Jesus.
Never is the latter more conspicuous than when listening to the songs of the season ring through the department stores and over the radio waves. Trite songs that romanticize the good behavior of expectant girls and boys looking for more presents follow right behind the deep theology of timeless carols with lines like “born to give us second birth” and “mild, he lays his glory by.” And this is evidence of the deafness of our culture to the things of Christ; that people could know these rich theological refrains and not ask the questions that they require is sad. How can we sing of Santa one moment and then not notice the disconnect as we casually redirect our songs to the Savior of the World?
Christmas affords us a great opportunity to talk about Christ during a time when the sights and sounds invite it. It gives us chances to demonstrate mercy, kindness, generosity, and hospitality in ways that are absent during other times of the year. It invites us to pause in the midst of our shopping and decorating and meditate on the deep truths conveyed in stanzas like “God and sinners reconciled,” “offspring of the virgin’s womb” and “born that man no more may die.” Many of these songs are sermonic and theological, and it is my prayer that we pause not only to romanticize the season but to let these timeless and heavenly truths permeate our hearts and settle on our minds.
Here are the lyrics to “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”…read them, ponder their truth and be amazed once again. The incarnation is not just for a season…it gives purpose and hope for all seasons!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!"
Christ, by highest heaven adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the favoured one.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail, th'incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!"
Hail! the heaven-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 new-born King!"
