Saturday, December 08, 2007

Cheap Laughs for a Holy Night by Ingrid


The flippant and irreverent attitude among evangelicals towards Christ is just one reason I am not an evangelical. You can tell how someone views the Lord Jesus Christ by how they talk about Him. We are going through an Advent devotional at home that describes the various “songs” of Scripture that sing of Christ’s birth. Mary’s Magnificat so beautifully reveals her humility, her worship and her deep awareness of who God was. Compare her Magnificat, or Simeon’s Nunc Dimitas, (Now let thy servant depart in peace, according to thy Word…) with the way the Lord is treated in this joke rendition of O Holy Night. The boys over at CRN.info think so highly of this comedy approach to the holiest of nights that they posted it for all to hear. This Advent season, I point you to the spirit of worship found in the words of this ancient prayer that addresses the miracle, the breath-taking truth of what God did that dark night in Bethlehem, 2000 years ago.
Before Thy, birth, O Lord, the angelic hosts looked with trembling on this mystery and were struck with wonder: for Thou who hast adorned the vault of heaven with stars hast been well pleased to be born as a babe; and Thou who holdest all the ends of the earth in the hollow of Thy hand art laid in a manger of dumb beasts. For by such a dispensation has Thy compassion been made known, O Christ, and Thy great mercy: glory to Thee.
Today Christ is born of the Virgin in Bethlehem. Today He who knows no beginning now begins to be, and the Word is made flesh. The powers of heaven greatly rejoice, and the earth with mankind makes glad. The Magi offer gifts, the shepherd proclaim the marvel, and we cry aloud without ceasing: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men.

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