by Carla Williams
Christmas Carols. You’re hearing them everywhere, right? If you’re anything like me, you’ve been playing them in your house since October. No? OK, just me then.
Did you know many of those beloved Christmas classics contain very missional themes in their full versions? Here are some of my favorite lines from well-known Christmas songs.
This year, when you’re singing along in the mall, you can use these songs to inspire your prayers for the nations who haven’t even heard of Jesus’ miraculous birth – or His glorious return!
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Joy to the World
The news of Jesus is good news for the world!
Even the title of this song is inclusive. This whole song is one giant call to the world – He’s here! Relish the gift! Worship the King! Every single verse can be used as a prayer for the nations.
Because you probably know the rest of the song, I’m just going to share the often-skipped third verse. Think about the words from a missional perspective. He has come to redeem as far as the curse has reached – which is the whole world!
No more let sins and sorrow grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found.
(Listen to little Aretha Joy.)
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It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear: the Rescuer has come to change everything!
Here’s another one that we sing without even realizing how much this song is about a weary and broken world – and how the Rescuer has come to change everything!
Listen to the good news the song is declaring in its third and fourth verses:
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow.
Look now! For glad and golden hours, come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing.
For lo, the days are hastening on, by prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever circling years, comes round the age of gold;
When peace shall over all the earth, its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing.
(Because it just seems like a huge choir should be singing this.)
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The First Noel
The First Noel: a call for all men to come celebrate the Savior.
The first five verses of this classic are pretty much just telling a stylized version of the nativity story.
But the sixth verse – yes, there are six – switches its focus to a call for all men to come celebrate the Savior.
Is there anything more essentially missional than this decree?
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made heaven and earth of naught,
And with His blood mankind hath bought.
(It was REALLY hard to find a good version that include this verse!)
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Go Tell it on the Mountain
Go Tell it on the Mountain: go as far as you need to go to make sure everyone has heard that Jesus Christ is born.
I think we should end with an obvious one, just so we can all say we knew one missional Christmas carol. This song is about going as far as you need to go to make sure everyone has heard that Jesus Christ is born.
As you read through the full lyrics of this song, reflect on how this song could affect your personal prayers and ministry.
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain
Our Jesus Christ is born
When I was a seeker
I sought both night and day.
I asked the Lord to help me
And he showed me the way.
He made me a watchman
Upon a city wall.
And if I am a Christian
I am the least of all.
(Hear Needtobreathe sing my favorite version)
What are your favorite Christmas carols? Are there missional lyrics you’ve been missing all these years? Tell us in the comments.
