Eight or nine years ago our church worship morphed from blended
traditional to out right contemporary music and worship. We adapted as best we
could most of the time. We sang the choruses, listened to the praise team,
focused on the repetitive words, praising God. And an occasional hymn or hymn
phrase fed our souls. "Amazing
Grace..."
This was different and more difficult at Christmas. Contemporary worship at Christmas left
even more to be desired. We experienced two Christmas seasons with no
traditional Christmas carols and no classical Christmas music. Instead we were
"entertained" by contemporary music.
Adapting to seekers is a common strategy in today's
churches. This
seems misguided at Christmas. Many seekers grew up in church. Most everyone
holds these Christmas songs, music and Scripture secreted in the inner recesses
of their heart, mind and soul. These songs, music and Scripture tell the
amazing story of the birth of Christ. They tell the Reason for the season. God came to earth as a babe in a manger. He came down to us to
show us who He is and to redeem us. God intersected history in person. Why are
churches deleting Christmas carols that tell about this marvelous
event?
"O Come, All Ye Faithful . . ." O Little Town of
Bethlehem. . ." "Silent Night, Holy
Night. . ." Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. . ." "Joy to the
World. . ." All missing!
We were unbelievers for years, but we enjoyed Christmas
carols playing in stores as we shopped or on the radio as we traveled. We also watched Christmas TV programs,
especially Charlie
Brown's Christmas. In this well known story Charlie Brown
is depressed. He visits Lucy's psychiatric booth and she recommends he get
involved in a nativity play. Twists and turns in the plot include Snoopy's
elaborate decoration of his dog house (commercialization of Christmas by a dog)
and the other children attempting to modernize the play (messing with
tradition).
Charlie Brown searches for a Christmas tree
determined to focus on the traditional side of the story. The children laugh at
the scrawny tree he finds, throwing Charlie Brown back into despair about
discovering the real meaning of Christmas. Linus then takes center stage and
quotes the second chapter of the Gospel according to Luke, verses 8 through 14
from the King James Version.
"'And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the
Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they
were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I
bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you
is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is
Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was
with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and
saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill
towards men.'"
Pastors and Churches: Take a lesson from
Charlie Brown. Keep the Christmas worship traditional. Sing the carols. Read
the Christmas scripture. As Linus said,
Christmas Blessings, Dottie
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