The Holiday Hit

This morning on Good Morning America, due to the lack of any other news I suppose, they ran a story asking why there had been no bona fide holiday hits since Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You." And that was in 1994! The story lamented the fact that no one has come up with a "new" idea for a holiday song. Of course, they said, the challenge is coming up with a song that is not "too religious" but still sticks with holiday themes. Stay with reindeer, snow and Santa, they said. Then you might have a hit.

It's interesting to me, however, from a pastor's point of view, how people don't really want "new" songs at Christmas. Even the most "contemporary" worshippers want to hear the "old, old story" and even the "old, old songs." In our contemporary Christmas Eve service, we sing Christmas carols, in a contemporary way. We want to hear the old story that reminds us of what this season is about.

Well, I'm not looking to write a new holiday hit song, because the biggest "holiday hit" was sung (but not recorded) over 2,000 years ago above a field in Bethlehem. Don't you wish we had the soundtrack to that song? The one that announced the very best news of all? The one sung by the angels who stand in the presence of God? What a song! What a message! What a way to change the world!

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among those whom he favors!

That is THE holiday hit, the one that will still be sung at the end of time.


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