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Do You Hear What I Hear? Robust Christology in Surprising Places.

Today at lunch I was talking with a friend while Christmas music was playing. He made the observation how interesting it is that people sing such rich, bold, Christ-exalting songs without really considering the lyrics.

Consider Joy to the World:

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

Also, consider NPR playing We Three Kings:

Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.

As Christians we can sing truth about Christ and it impacts us; it stirs our hearts. We consider the worth and work of Christ and it makes us emotional. However, other people can compartmentalize the words. They can sing dispassionately about the kingdom of Christ.

What does this teach us? It serves to illustrate the necessity of regeneration. Until the Spirit of God claims us as his own, makes us alive spiritually, and gives us eyes to see the glory of Christ then songs about King Jesus are about as powerful as songs about Santa Claus. They don’t move the emotional meter because we are not born again.

For all of the grumbling about censoring Christmas we should step back for a second and rejoice that the truth of Christ, often times in robust, beautiful ways, is being declared on the radio through traditional Christmas hymns. Maybe God might even make one to marvel amid such a song.

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