In past Advent days one...
Illustration
In past Advent days one heard Christmas carols everywhere. The ubiquitous noels filled marts, malls, shops and boutiques above the hustle and bustle of window shoppers and customers. Even the fast food restaurants pipe carols from loudspeakers to cover the aroma from their servings. One cannot help but note how tired the workers behind the counters will be by the time the Christmas season ends for them. Christians should be sickened by the manner in which the world cheapens angelic tidings into accompaniment for selling its wares. The abuse of Christmas caroling inspired a paraphrase of one of the stanzas of "O Little Town of Bethlehem."
How carelessly, how carelessly
No wondrous thought is giv'n
To God, who gives to human hearts
The blessings of God's heaven.
No ear can hear Christ's coming
Above this noise and din,
Where cokes and fries, or hamburger
Make do for a world of sin.
-- HNH
Certainly the commercialized Christmas carol is distressing for those who work at making a spiritual celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christians do give gifts to remember God's gift of grace. They long to sing the hymnody of Christmas angels. They strive to make the holy days memorable. Yet Christians do not need the hawkers of wares and hash slingers to set the tone for what makes good Christmas celebration. In contrast to the dizzy spells the world casts over itself in the name of the Christ, the Christmas gospel hushes us to hear how quietly God slipped into the world at Bethlehem. -- Huxhold
How carelessly, how carelessly
No wondrous thought is giv'n
To God, who gives to human hearts
The blessings of God's heaven.
No ear can hear Christ's coming
Above this noise and din,
Where cokes and fries, or hamburger
Make do for a world of sin.
-- HNH
Certainly the commercialized Christmas carol is distressing for those who work at making a spiritual celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christians do give gifts to remember God's gift of grace. They long to sing the hymnody of Christmas angels. They strive to make the holy days memorable. Yet Christians do not need the hawkers of wares and hash slingers to set the tone for what makes good Christmas celebration. In contrast to the dizzy spells the world casts over itself in the name of the Christ, the Christmas gospel hushes us to hear how quietly God slipped into the world at Bethlehem. -- Huxhold
