The 2025 Portland, Oregon official Christmas Tree lighting ceremony had a problem–they omitted the word “Christmas.” Instead, it was a Tree Lighting and during the “ceremony,” one of the leaders started a chant: “Free Palestine. Free Palestine.”
In the small town where I live, many of the children that attended a church’s Wednesday evening program, some from church families and some from the neighborhood, could not sing such Christmas Carols as “Silent Night, Holy Night,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Joy to the Worlde,” and “Away in a Manger.” They simply did not know the words nor the melodies. Oh, they knew “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” They loved songs such as “The Grinch” and “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” but they could not sing the most important songs of Christmas.
Are we in danger of losing the real meaning of Christmas?
In years past, Christmas Carols were sung in public school classes and in special Christmas programs put on by schools. Not so much any more. “Silent Night, Holy Night” has been replaced with “All I Want for Christmas is You” and other meaningless drivel. I’m not against singing secular songs associated with Christmas. It is simply that those songs must not ever be allowed to replace “The First Nowell,” “The Little Drummer Boy,” and “Mary Did You Know.”
Parents, you and I must teach our children and grandchildren the songs that teach the truth about Christmas. Sing “Away in a Manger” and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” while putting up your Christmas tree. Sing “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” and “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” while putting up other Christmas decorations. Have a time for singing carols before or after a meal or just before putting your children to bed. Of course it is important to read the stories about the birth of Jesus from a good Bible Story book, such as Egermeier’s Bible Story Book. This should be accompanied with the singing of some carols.
It is not enough to have Christmas music playing in the background while decorating your home with holiday tinsel and decorations. What is in the background is exactly that–in the background. Basically, it is “elevator music” that is often turned off in our minds and completely ignored. Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Without Jesus there is no reason for Christmas! Christmas Carols must be sung by the family while getting ready for Christmas and all through the season. It must be intentional. The singing of Christian Christmas Carols must be a prominent part of getting ready for the Christmas season.
Words accompied with music is one of the greatest teaching tools ever. Singing is fun. The music helps you remember the words. The words of the carols teach the story.
If Christian parents don’t teach their children the great songs that proclaim our Savior’s birth, who will? Not our schools. Not social media. Not the music on the radio. If we are to keep Christmas, our children and future generations must sing the songs of Jesus’ birth.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and heaven and nature sing.
