There’s a top rated light rock radio station here in Detroit that stops playing their regular programming around the first of November and switches to 24/7 Christmas music. I never listen to this station because I’m not much interested in Bon Jovi or John Mayer, but I do add it to my presets when the Christmas songs start (yes, I am that cheesy). Anyway, as I was driving around the other day I realized that I was listening to some amazing music on this very obviously secular radio station. Harry Connick Junior was singing “Silent Night.” Not a watered down, commercialized, one-size-fits-all version, but the real thing, complete with virgin birth and angelic proclamations. It was followed by a Sarah McLachlan cut of “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” some Michael Bolton number (I turned the channel for that), and Celine Dion’s rendition of “O Holy Night” – my all time favorite Christmas song (FYI- Wham’s “This Christmas” is a close second).
I love worship music. Not because I’m a good singer (I’m not) or because I think Chris Tomlin is really cool (which he is). Worshiping God through music stirs something deep inside of me. There’s a connection that I feel to Him during worship that I don’t feel nearly as intensely at any other time. God speaks to me very clearly during worship, and I approach it with reverence and respect. During the Advent season we have been singing many of the songs that are being played on the light rock station during our praise and worship time, and as we sing them, I wonder if we are approaching them the way we would “Here I am to Worship” or “God of Wonders.” Or have we come to view them as another ornament, seasonal songs on par with “Rudolph” or “Winter Wonderland”? My fear is that we have taken what is true and pure worship and labeled it just another Christmas carol. I would hate for us to miss the point of these ever so important words:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King.
O come let us adore Him… For You alone are worthy… We’ll give You all the glory, Christ the Lord.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
I’ve tried to stay out of the “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays” debate this year, mostly because I don’t care. It always concerns me when we find ways to separate ourselves from those who do not believe, and this appears to be a perfect example of picking the wrong battle. The crux of this debate as I understand it is that some sort of war has been declared on the Evangelical church because the counter clerk at Macy’s can’t say “Merry Christmas.” I know that this is an over-simplified assessment and will concede that the 21st century Christmas experience is hyper-comercialized. However, before we accuse others of making a declaration of war, we need to look at ourselves and make sure that we are not throwing our own stones.
So, as you flip through the radio dial, listen to Muzak in line at Wal-Mart, or sit through agonizingly long children’s pageants this season, I pray that you have kept the Christ in Christmas. I pray that you sing with praise and adoration and that you worship the One who is our great joy this holiday season.
post by Nicole Wick, guest writer
