Biblical Worship

The season of Christmas includes a great amount of beautiful Christmas songs that we hear and sing in our worship services.  Some of these songs do a great job of keeping the Gospel at the center of the celebration.  Hymns like “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” and “Joy to the World” express both the coming of Christ and the purpose of His coming.  Other songs that we sing at Christmas are cherished traditional songs that tend to dwell on a sentimental thought of the babe in the manger with little depth of meaning.  Some churches today even sing the secular holiday songs associated with Christmas to attract unbelievers. 

As a worship leader, I believe that we should be singing biblical truth and nothing but biblical truth at Christmas and year round in worship services.  Christmas songs that do not speak of Christ’s coming or reflect on the Gospel should not have a place in our worship services.  Let someone else sing the secular Christmas songs.  Let the church proclaim the Gospel in song in our worship services.

When planning the musical portion of our Christmas services, balance the simple “baby Jesus” songs with songs that tell the whole story of redemption in Christ.  As one pastor has said before, “don’t leave baby Jesus in the manger.”  Tell about his work on the cross and his glorious resurrection.  What a great opportunity we have to tell the Gospel during this season.

Worship Leader – look for Christmas songs that faithfully share the Gospel.  If you are looking for newer songs, check out the worship songs by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend.  They have written a few songs specifically for this time of year.  (www.keithgetty.com)

Nobody enjoys beautiful Christmas music more than I do. (And this season has a lot wonderful music).  However, let’s tell the whole Gospel for our families, and for those who do not know the Lord. 

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory; glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14