In our house, we have a firm rule: no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. Over the years, I (Scott) have been a bit of a stickler for this for two main reasons. First, I don’t want to diminish the significance of Thanksgiving; it has always been one of my favorite holidays—a dedicated time to praise God for His many blessings. Second, waiting to decorate and play Christmas music makes the start of the Advent season feel like a true "grand opening," helping us focus our preparation for Christmas.
Now, I know we can agree to disagree here. Some of you love to decorate early and break out the holiday tunes as soon as possible—Christian liberty and all! However, after singing Christmas hymns during our church service this past Sunday, I’ve started to rethink my rule just a bit.
Theology Worth Singing Year-Round
I’ve realized that we should probably be singing these hymns all year long. So many of them are incredibly rich in theology and express a profound longing for Christ. It seems a shame to limit them to only a few weeks in December.
Take, for example, the fourth verse of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel":
"O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem, unto your own and rescue them! From depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o'er the grave."
This is a direct reference to Isaiah 11:1–2: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”
A Longing for Immanuel
As you gather with family and friends this season, I encourage you to pay close attention to the words you are singing. Allow them to create in you a longing for the return of Immanuel. But remember: for those of us in Christ Jesus, He is already with us through the Holy Spirit.
May that Gospel truth bring you true joy and peace this Christmas.
“And again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” — Romans 15:12–13
Merry Christmas!
Scott & Laura