Christmas Music

It is the time of year when stores across this great land of ours break out CDs of Christmas Music.  Or maybe, being the 21st century, they have something connected to a Pandora or Apple Christmas Channel.  Regardless, you have but to walk into a shopping mall or store of just about any kind to hear a type of music that you don't commonly hear in July.

(That's probably for the best).

As weird as it is, I actually like a lot of Christmas music.  I just don't like the type that is played in shopping malls this time of year.

So many of the songs played at this time of year are experiential.  They talk about things that the song writer feels at this time of year.  Building snowmen, riding in sleighs, and eating "Christmas foods" (like chestnuts) are all common themes.  Some song writers delve into the things they are missing -- family, snow, or just simply "a man friend."  All of those themes feel more than a little shallow to me.

It probably is clear that I like older Christmas songs.  I like Christmas songs that speak of Christ's birth  and what that means.

The Messiah is even dusted off this time of year and performances are given in a variety of venues.  For anyone who doesn't know, The Messiah is an oratorio composed by George Frederic Handel in 1741 with the libretto being passages from the Bible that speak of Jesus and His work.  The first part deals with prophecies of His birth as well as the birth itself, while the second and third parts speak of his death and second coming.  It always seems as though those second and third parts get short changed in the shortened versions that are performed this time of year.

(Just so long as they get the Hallelujah Chorus in).

Christmas songs are emblematic of our societal problems.  Whether it is cutting Jesus out of the season entirely or, just keeping Him an infant and ignoring His death and suffering, our culture wants to marginalize the Savior of the World.

Who can be surprised at the darkness we see around us, when we have hidden the Light of the World?

I pray that this year we would hear the whole of the Messiah.  Not that we listen to the three hour oratorio, but that we read the Bible and try to understand who this Jesus really is. 

Knowing Him makes all the difference between living a shallow existence and living with purpose.