From The Pastor’s Pen – By Brian Horrobin
With all the various forms of Christmas music that we hear on the radio or in the grocery store during the holiday season, is there a Christmas carol that is your favourite?
A careful examination of the age-old classic Christmas carols reveals a powerful message of hope and God’s love.
I read a blog recently from a man who works for an international justice ministry, one that fights for the rights of marginalized people abroad, as well as those trapped in the seedy and horrific world of sex trafficking.
This man said his favourite carol was “O Holy Night” because of the words contained in the third stanza: “Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease.”
Jesus indeed came to set the captives free and for those victims of the sex trade the season of Christmas offers hope.
Christmas is a season of hope, and our world needs this message badly.
I love all the carols, but my favourite is “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
I particularly love the line that says, “Born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.”
The second birth talked about by Charles Wesley, the hymn’s author, points to a commitment one makes to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
I made that decision in November of 1982 and that Christmas was one of the most meaningful to me.
In fact, it has changed how I view Christmas, not as a season of parties and eating with family and friends, and exchanging gifts, as wonderful as all of that is.
No, for me, Jesus is the reason for the season, and His coming so many years ago has given me cause to carry on in this world.
I encourage you to take a closer look at some of those well-known Christmas carols and study their words.
You are sure to find the Christ of Christmas in their hope-filled messages.
