A couple of weeks ago I ask in the worship service to consider writing down your favorite Christmas song, and many of you participated. During this holiday week between Christmas and New Year let me tally the results for you, then for fun I will give you a little commentary! (I will use executive privilege for this!!!)
The following songs received at least one vote from you the LifeWay family voted for in no particular order:
- Silent Night
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
- Mary’s Boy Child
- How Many Kings
- Little Drummer Boy
- Go Tell it on the Mountain
- O Holy Night
- Joy to the World
- Just as I Am (not really a Christmas song, but it was on the list)
- Light of the Stable
- Mary did you Know
- Handles Messiah (Hallelujah Chorus)
- O Come O Come Emmanuel
Several of these had multiple votes, but the one song that received the most votes was…. A (drum roll please…)…
It was actually a tie for these 2 songs receiving the most votes:
- O Holy Night
- Little Drummer Boy
Now it’s time for a little Billy Arnold commentary:
These 2 songs are radically different from one another. I will try not to make fun of or step on the toes of some of you. But O Holy Night is a theologically great song that describes well what really happened for the world at the birth of the Savior. The Little Drummer Boy may be a favorite of all the drummers in the church for sure (yes, you guys know who you are!!), but there is NOTHING in the Bible about a little boy who played a drum for Jesus in the manger. If you guys know me well (and most of you do) I have always thought this song was a very strange song that lives on the bridge between fiction and fact. There was a baby Jesus born in the stable but there was no little drummer boy who gave his gift of drumming to Jesus while Jesus smiled at him!!! There is NO drummer boy in the manger scene. I know, I know… it is a favorite of many, so I can’t come down too hard on you. I actually think this is pretty funny. We actually did a skit with this one time a few years back at a Christmas dinner theater. It was fun.
Anyway, since I did not cast a ballot at church, I will be the tie breaking vote and I cast my ballot for “O Holy Night!” Tough to beat:
Written as a French poem at first by Placide Cappeau in 1843. The music was composed for this poem in 1847 by Adolphe Adam. In 1855 it was adapted into English and it really is one of the most amazing songs about the birth of Christ.
Before we leave this Christmas season let me put down for you the 1st and 3rd verses:
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
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!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise his name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
See you Sunday.
For one last time… Merry Christmas to you all.
