Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

First Person: Reasons to sing at Christmas

  • December 2, 2022
  • Oklahoma Baptist Messenger
  • Church Life, First Person, Latest News, Opinion
opened musical book at Silent Night, Holy Night page
(Unsplash photo)

First Person: Reasons to sing at Christmas

Do you recall the scene from “The Sound of Music” when Captain Von Trapp is transformed from a tyrannical, overbearing father to a loving one?

Von Trapp, a widower and military man, is raising seven children with an iron fist until Maria, an aspiring nun from the local abbey brings music back into their home. With one song — “The Sound of Music” — his life is changed, and his joy is restored.

Christmas songs can have a similar effect.

From the moment Mary discovered she was with child, to the night on which Christ was born, to today, music and song have featured prominently in the celebration of Christmas. If you are like me, you especially relish the opportunity to participate in church services around this time of year that are filled with Christmas hymns —classics like “Silent Night” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.”

‘Dying art,’ ‘singing faith’

Still today, thousands go Christmas caroling, although it is a dying art. Just what is it about Christmas that makes us sing?

First, it is important to remember that Christianity is a singing faith.

Throughout the Bible, the people of God have sung about their Maker and Redeemer.

Indeed, many of the most beautiful expressions of faith in the Scriptures are demonstrated in song. Think no further than the shepherd boy David, who would become Israel’s great psalmist and king.

Music and song, secondly, express truth and emotion that mere thoughts or spoken words cannot.

The life of Christ is the greatest story ever told, and Christmas is the story of the greatest gift given.

It should come as no surprise that the Christ Child has given inspiration to countless pieces of music through the years and inspires new ones each year. Some of the greatest music and art in history, in fact, is entirely about Christmas.

My personal favorite Christmas carol is “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

This masterpiece by Charles Wesley, who composed some 6,000 hymns, is full of deep theological truth.

Consider these lines: “Christ by highest heav’n adored. Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a Virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see. Hail the incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing ‘Glory to the newborn King!’”

Memorable

Music also provides a great way to communicate a story or idea in a memorable way.

Millions of children in America, maybe ones who will not hear the name Jesus at other times of the year, will sing of His wonderful Name.

Finally, Christmas music is an excellent way to share the gospel with adults. When is the last time you went Christmas caroling?

Whether or not you can carry a tune in a bucket, you can get a group together to sing the name of Jesus to your neighbors or maybe those in your church who are homebound. The music could be more of a blessing than you know.

Years ago, we gathered a group of family friends to go caroling and made sure to visit the house of an elderly man we believed to be lost. His wife greeted us at the door and said the man was not feeling well and could not come to the door. We sang as loudly and cheerfully as we could, in hopes he would hear.

We found out the next day, the man passed away during the night. It leaves us to wonder if the man, hearing the simple Christmas carols, responded to the gospel and passed from death to life.

He may even now be in Heaven, singing along with all the saints departed and angels — maybe even the very angels that, on the night of Christ’s birth, sang the first noel in Luke 2: “Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and peace on Earth to people He favors!’”

Jesus alone is worthy of our praise, at Christmastime, and every day!


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Brian Hobbs and originally published by Oklahoma’s Baptist Messenger.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: 9 things I want my grandsons to learn
    First person: 9 things I want my grandsons to learn
    June 20, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • ‘Not hurting without hope’: Fire destroys Tennessee church
    ‘Not hurting without hope’: Fire destroys Tennessee church
    June 19, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Mississippi News June 19, 2025
    Mississippi News June 19, 2025
    June 19, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: 9 things I want my grandsons to learn

Here are nine things that my father’s example taught me about manhood that I’ve tried to pass down to his grandsons.

‘Not hurting without hope’: Fire destroys Tennessee church

“By the time I got there, it was fully engaged all the way across the foyer, the sanctuary, and the kitchen area,” said Phill Hall, interim Director of Missions for the Dyer Baptist Association and former interim pastor of Zion Hill. scene after receiving word of the fire.

Lawsuit against Dave Ramsey’s company moving forward

At issue is a “righteous living” policy at Lampo, better known as Ramsey Solutions, which requires employees to abide by Christian values. Those values, Ramsey’s company has argued, include banning intercourse outside of marriage.

Mother in Somalia loses husband, home for following Christ

A mother of three children in Somalia is struggling to survive after her Muslim relatives drove her from their home and threatened to kill her for accepting Christ, she said.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel