I love Christmas hymns, like the ones we sing in church or hear on the radio. Songs like O Little Town of Bethlehem, The First Noel, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World, and Silent Night are some of my favorites. Their melodies are beautiful, and I enjoy singing them all year round.
These songs become part of our traditions and help us celebrate the season. However, sometimes when we sing them, we overlook the deeper meanings they hold.
I remember an experience from over 20 years ago when I was in radio broadcasting. At a conference, I was part of a panel where we listened to a familiar non-Christmas song while reading its lyrics on a screen. I soon realized the song's words were actually dark and didn't match the music's upbeat style.
It’s like I didn’t really know the song at all!
The narrator part of me says:
This shows how music and songs so wonderfully touch us, and just how impacting the spoken word can be.
You see, our brains have two sides: the left side handles reason and facts, while the right side deals with emotions and imagination. Music often goes straight to our feelings, bypassing logic. But when we read lyrics or hear them spoken, it engages our logical side.
So, when we sing hymns, we feel good but might miss their deeper truths.
Now, the intercessor part of me says:
While we love Christmas hymns and the deeper meanings they can share, sometimes they don't match what the Bible says exactly. It's okay to enjoy them, but we should be careful not to base our beliefs on them if they stray from the truth.
Most hymns bring warm feelings and were written in the Victorian era. There's nothing wrong with feeling sentimental, but we should be cautious about believing things that aren't true.
If you're unsure about something in a hymn, compare it with Scripture. Not everything has to match perfectly—like how Jesus wasn't born in winter or that there weren't exactly three kings. Let's appreciate hymns for what they are and enjoy both reading and singing them.
I invite you to listen along to a reading of 15 favorite traditional hymns in the ToddCast
Angels We Have Heard On High
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Angel From The Realms of Glory
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The First Noel
Away In A Manger
What Child Is This
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
In The Bleak Midwinter
O Come All Ye Faithful
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Silent Night Holy Night
Joy To The World
Good Christian Men Rejoice
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Thank you for listening. Merry Christmas from DIY Audiobooks and Podcasts!
I can’t wait to hear👂you,
Todd
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