“Tell Everyone of Christ” Luke 2: 1-20
One of my Nanna’s favorite Christmas carols (and mine too, I would say) is the song, “O Holy Night.” It is a staple for soloists at every Christmas service, showing off a beautiful vocal range from soft lows to incredible, resounding high notes. It’s one of those carols that we get so lost in the melodies that we often lose the power of the words. The carol also has a much messier history that you’d probably expect. Did you know that for many years the church actually banned the carol from being sung?
The writer, Placide Cappeau, was a lawyer turned wine merchant and poet, who later in life rejected faith and claimed atheism because of his anger and disillusionment at the church. The composer, Adolphe Adam, was a vaudeville and opera musician who was of a Jewish background but made a home in the French Catholic church, and the translator, John Dwight, was a transcendentalist Unitarian, who ran a commune farm in New England. The carol was particularly problematic in the United States because verse three is pointedly anti-slavery and was written 12 years before the Civil War.
So why the history lesson? Hear these words—“Long lay the world in sin and error pining till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope—the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.” This hymn is one of the most powerful at describing the miraculous, glorious, and powerful birth of a loving Savior. And yet, practically every word and note were written, not by the very faithful, but by people with little faith looking in at how miraculous this event really was. The whole hymn is written as if it’s a description from an outsider, not someone devoted to following the faith. And they are astounded by the holiness of the Christmas story.
They see a night filled with wonder, hope, a night divine and filled with holiness to the point that humanity falls on its knees overwhelmed. They see a King, a humble man, a friend to all of us in need. They see a Savior who ends oppression, slavery, suffering, and brings reconciliation of all humankind. They write, “Let all within us praise his holy name.” It wasn’t Charles Wesley, Fanny Crosby, or a Gaither group who wrote this. It was an atheist, a vaudeville musician, and a commune farm leader who actually got kicked out of ministry.
This story of a Savior, healer, teacher, and reconciler holds the power to change hearts and minds in a way that’s unbelievable, even miraculous. The story of a Messiah coming to save the people from their physical and spiritual suffering can change humankind. In a world of despair, Christ brings hope. In a world of war and gluttonous quests for power, Christ brings peace. In the dark and cold of our lives, Christ brings joy. And in the lonely and forgotten places, Christ brings love.
For these three, the story of Christ’s birth was not a lullaby but a challenge. And it’s a story that can change all the weariness and misery of the world. Whom do we tell of Christ? I’m not talking the Jesus of Sunday School flannel boards and cut out pictures. Whom do we tell of the Jesus who healed the sick, comforted the suffering, raised the dead to life, and assertively flipped tables in a temple that had become more worldly than holy?
And when we tell of this Jesus do we believe in the power that he has? The power of the Christmas story is not just that we hear a good lesson, or follow some philosophies, but instead, it is a life-changing story of hope, love, and reconciling all of humankind to a place of peace and holiness. Faith isn’t a weapon. Faith isn’t something we compel, argue, or debate. Our sole job is to first believe in this hope of Christ, and second to share the good news. Don’t overcomplicate what we have been called to do. In serving Christ we live like him, following his example, and we tell others of the good news—of that life-changing hope and love.
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is getting Christmas crackers. In England they’re small, wrapped tubes with a gift inside. Two people pull—one on each end—and with a loud pop the tube comes apart and someone ends up with a little paper crown and a small gift. There’s a bit of excitement, a pop of surprise, and a bit of fun all rolled into one. The same is true for our faith. As we journey to and arrive in Bethlehem, I pray we still feel the surprise, the wonder, and the hope of hearing the good news of a Savior born for us.
Remember that we live every day with Christ in our lives—Emmanuel, God with us. So, I promised to keep it short today; thus, I’ll leave you with the challenge in the closing words of “O Holy Night.” It’s a call to us to do our part in making the good news known to all: “His power and glory ever more proclaim. His power and glory ever more proclaim.” Amen.
Worship Video: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/261520266940139