Advent Devotion Day 8

Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes –
He comes from thickest films of vice
To clear the mental ray,
And on the eyes oppress’d with night
To pour celestial day.

These are words to what was once a commonly sung Christmas carol. The language seems archaic and irrelevant. It isn’t just quaint but it is difficult to understand given today’s contemporary English usage. These lyrics are interesting from a historical perspective but are hardly inviting or compelling for today.

Some people feel that way about church in general. They feel that it is old fashioned and quaint. Interesting from a historical perspective but hardly relevant and with little meaning for today.

I think the song of the angels celebrating glad tidings of great joy to ALL people is meant to speak to all ages and eras. The gospel of Jesus Christ is as relevant and meaningful and needed today as it was in the first century. So it is continuously incumbent upon the church to present the gospel in ways that speak to each age and every circumstance. It is the responsibility of the church, the living body of Christ, to contextualize the gospel so that it speaks to people where they are. The church should prevent the message of Jesus from becoming irrelevant or archaic.

And sometimes this means using new music and changing the words of hymns and carols which are familiar to make sure the glad tidings get across to ALL people. To be faithful, the church must embrace change. If the church were shirking its calling, we would still be singing about the “thickest films of vice” – and there would be very few of us doing it. Enjoy the music of the season and celebrate the glad tidings to all people!

Prayer: We are so grateful for the gospel with its glad tidings of great joy to ALL people. May our hearts be open to new ways to share the good news of Jesus Christ that speak to people today. May we appreciate what the church has been, what it is to us, and what it can be for others, especially those who are new to the church. May we not let our love of tradition stifle the future life of the church. Amen.