I love Christmas songs! Those nostalgic tunes fill the radio stations and my head for about a month each year. I even find myself humming and singing them throughout the day. Does anyone else find it sad when the radio stations go from playing nothing but Christmas songs to zero Christmas songs overnight? I know its because Christmas is over, but I think they should at least attempt to wean us off of them slowly till summer. I guess they wouldn’t be as anticipated or cherished if they were played all year long though. Playing Christmas songs on the piano is also a favorite pastime of mine. My family knows its coming as I run through several familiar melodies. They even joke that I only play the piano at Christmas. While not entirely true, there’s just something about Christmas songs that bring hope and joy that I love. I have the opinion that Christmas songs are about Christ and holiday songs are about everything else. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Away in a Manger” have a different theme than “Frosty the Snowman” and “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”. The former are about the hope of Jesus the Savior and the latter are about, well, a pile of snow and an awkward deer with a light bulb on its face. Don’t get me wrong, I like all the songs, but Christmas is about Christ and Christmas songs are about Him as well.

Sometimes we mix a lot of fiction in with the truths of Scripture. Maybe that’s one reason people doubt the validity and inerrancy of Scripture so much? Whether its mystical bunnies at Easter or little elves at Christmas, we must remember that Jesus isn’t some fairy tale or mythical figure we bring out at certain holidays. His birth and death stories are genuine and are what bring hope to a lost and dying world. There’s an old story about a jeweler who asked someone buying a cross necklace, “Do you want a plain one or one with a little man on it?” That “little man” on the cross is Jesus. That little baby in the manger is Jesus. We must remember the central figure of Easter and Christmas – Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Questions: Has the meaning of Christmas become blurred for you? Is the story of Jesus’ birth just another line in one of many Christmas songs or a novelty used decorate your home for the holidays?

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stephenrharrison

Stephen and his wife Haley have called Arkansas home all of their lives. Stephen has served in several ministry roles over the last 25 years and as a lead pastor for the last 8 years. Stephen attended Williams Baptist College and earned a BA in Biblical Studies from Ouachita Baptist University, an MA, MDiv, and DMin in Christian Leadership and Pastoral Ministries from Liberty University. When not pastoring, Stephen enjoys running, cycling, reading, writing, camping, fishing, and spending time with his family.