Monday, December 9, 2013

an album suggestion

Thanksgiving is over, which means the Christmas season is upon us. 

[Soapbox moment] I do nothing Christmas oriented until after Thanksgiving. I do not listen to Christmas music, decorate, or shop. I refuse to rob Thanksgiving of its significance. I hate Black Friday, and whatever they are calling the horrific Thursday night shopping excursion. Thanksgiving deserves the full day for time of thankfulness and time with loved ones. [End soapbox moment]

I do thoroughly enjoy Christmas music. When the Christmas season begins, I finally get to play my "Christmas" playlist or tune to my "Holiday" stations on Pandora. I love the hymns. I love the carols. I love the festive songs. I love the sappy, sentimental ballads. I love humorous jingles.

What is my favorite Christmas album? I do enjoy my Home Alone soundtrack. I am proud to admit I listen to the Christmas albums of both 98 Degrees and 'N Sync. And who can say no to some Trans Siberian Orchestra? While wonderful, none of those quite make it to the top.

That honor is claimed by the underrated (and probably unheard) Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson.
 (I must give props to my older sister for introducing me to this album seeing as she is probably one of its biggest fans)

Why this album? It captures the beauty of the message of Christmas, the Incarnation of God Himself, by tracing it's promise through the witness of Scripture. And Peterson does not start with the prophets. No, he goes all the way back to the Israelites enslaved in Egypt and proceeds from there.

Here's the song list:

1. Gather 'Round Ye Children, Come (an invitation to hear the grand story)
2. Passover Us (points to the Passover as the picture pointing to the death of Christ and salvation)
3. So Long, Moses (tracing the longing of the Lord's Anointed from Moses to David to the Prophets)
4. Deliver Us (the cry of Israel to send the Redeemer to carry them out of exile)
5. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (a nice instrumental break with a great Christmas hymn)
6. Matthew Begats (anyone who can successfully put the genealogy of Jesus into song is worth my ear)
7. It Came to Pass (how the birth of Christ fulfilled promise and prophesies)
8. Labor of Love (interpretation of Mary and Joseph's experience on the night of Christ's birth)
9. The Holly and the Ivy (one more pleasant instrumental)
10. While Shepherds Their Flocks (the response of the Shepherds to the angels announcement
11. Behold the Lamb of God (detailing Christ's role as the Lamb of God come to take away sin)
12. The Theme of My Song/Reprise (wrapping it all up with a blending of many of the earlier songs)

If I can encourage you, either get your hands on this album or give it a listen at some point this Christmas season. You will not regret it.

Friday, December 6, 2013

the season


Considered it: every person you have ever met, every person you will pass in the street today, is going to die. Living long enough, each will suffer loss of his friends and family. All are going to lose everything they love in this world. Why would one want to be anything but kind to them in the meantime? 

Who said it? A theological "heavyweight?" A saint? A pastor?

Try Sam Harris, a leading "new atheist," in his book End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason (page 226). I wrote a paper on new atheism for one of my classes, and this quote stood out.

Why?

First, it is the Christmas season which means new atheism will be aggressive in their advertisements. They will be downright offensive in their attempts to deny the Incarnation and diminish the Christian celebration of Christmas.

In light of this, new atheists are not the most wretched of people. God's common grace is still at work in them. Their active rebellion against their Creator does not negate His grace. The above quote is respectable. We should be kind to one another given the brevity of this life and the sufferings it brings. For Christians, this includes those who may be the most antagonistic towards us. Instead of responding with disgust and anger, maybe we should be moved to pray for these hearts of stone to be replaced with hearts of flesh.

Second, this quote serves as a valuable critique of Christians. We are not the only people on the face of the earth who care for other people. There are innumerable people outside of the Christian faith passionate for the hungry, poor, and needy. One local radio station's notoriously raunchy and inappropriate morning show just held a massive food drive to feed the homeless in the city. The amount of food and money they brought it was incredible. Christians think simply doing good deeds will preach the Gospel. We even use the quote (not sure who first said it); "preach the Gospel. When necessary, use words." Good works are important, but they are not enough.

The gloom revealed in Harris' quote should motivate Christians unlike any other individual or religious group. We understanding the brevity of life. We understanding it includes suffering and loss. However, we know their is a solution and a hope. Being kind will not solve the problem. Jesus Christ, God who became man to die for sin and rise again, has solved it once and for all.

In the midst of all our good deeds, He is the One we need to proclaim. He is the One we need to acknowledge as the motivation for our compassion and care. He is One who makes all our endeavors meaningful and holding eternal significance.