One thing that stood out to me during our debate was how certain assumptions had slipped into their theology which could not be found in Scripture, which upon questioning the poor men were forced to commit some serious logical felonies to account for. There's something to be said for presenting the plain, simple truth as it is with no extemporaneous details or flourishes, and I think we all need to go back to that on a regular basis to be assured that we don't fall into the same error. So, for today's song, I'd like to present one of the most enduring and widely accepted songs of Christmas. A song which so simply relates the Christmas story that it's nearly impossible to argue with it unless one argues with Scripture itself. A song written centuries ago which has survived the critics of time: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
Well, except for the part about the shepherds leaving their sheep in tempest, storm and wind......but except for that, the verses follow pretty much exactly the account from the Christmas story in Luke.
So today, as you listen to this simple but lovely old song which we all know, think on the simple truth of the Christmas story. There were probably more than three wisemen, the angels didn't sing to the shepherds, Jesus probably wasn't born amidst falling snow, and the inn-keeper wasn't a malicious old fellow who brazenly refused them a room, but Christ was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, the wisemen did come and visit Him and the Shepherds were indeed visited by a multitude of angels.
What a glorious truth in itself, my friends, no embellishments are needed to retain the wonder of Christ's incarnation.
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born upon this day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
"Fear not then," said the Angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might."
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born upon this day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
"Fear not then," said the Angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might."
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.
Don't ever let the truth of the gospel become obscured with things that are merely tradition or popular beliefs we've just accepted. God's story is complete in itself...there is no better way to present it than as it was presented.
~ Christianna
1 comments:
Amen!
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