Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, Teacher, rebuke your disciples!
I tell you, he replied, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out. Luke 19:39, 40
It’s everywhere. Christmas music seems to play non-stop in shopping malls and on the radio. Advertisers pair The Hallelujah Chorus with the most inane of items for sale in the marketplace. The jumble of Silent-Night-Away-in-the-Manger-Up-on-the-Housetop-Here-Here-Comes-Santa-Claus-Frosty-the-Snowman-Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Reindeer-Baby-It’s-Cold-Outside-O-Holy-Night plays in ubiquity. Some are offended by the meshing of the sacred with the silly; others tune it out as so much background noise, their ears already tired of hearing the same songs repeated over and over.
Here’s the thing that is so amazing to me, though. In the midst of all this jumble, in the repetitive cacophony of holiday music, I hear God’s name being praised. Interspersed between so many choruses of Rudolph and Frosty, the gospel story is being sung in public places.
In front of the high school in my community—a university community which is no friend to people of faith—there is a sign advertising a Messiah sing-along. Throughout the country, choirs are coordinating and conspiring to sing The Hallelujah Chorus in local shopping malls. In these brick and mortar buildings—these schools and shopping malls--many who have never bent the knee, who have hearts of stone, are singing, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords!
But, some object. People aren’t paying attention; they aren’t even thinking about the words.
It doesn’t matter, I say. If God can cause the stones to cry out, He can certainly draw praise from the lips of those whose hearts are far from Him. Whether people are paying attention to or even understand the words they are singing, God’s name is being praised.
And I am willing to put up with any amount of Frosty and Rudolph to hear that happen.
Continuing to count, because God makes His presence known everywhere:
653. The beautiful ubiquity of Christ’s name being praised, the gospel story being sung!
654. Christmas cards arriving from far away friends; touching paper they’ve touched pen to.
655. Kind words at High Calling.
656. Receiving RSVPs for daughter’s wedding. Yes, they say. We will come dance with you; we will rejoice.
657. Long talks between best friend and son during car rides to volunteer job, creating space for him to process the cares of his heart.
658. Coffee shop gift exchange and annual Santa visit with Ethel; laughter and tears and feather boas.
659. Husbands who let us be silly together.
660. Husband buying new tires for me before I needed them to drive on a stormy, stormy night.
661. A new calling for campus minister; new opportunity to wait on God’s provision for ongoing work at nearby university.
662. Safe arrival of pastor and team in Manipur, India.
663. Invitation to participate in a Hallelujah Chorus-sing at the local shopping mall.
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3 comments:
it is amazing, isn't it? this proclamation of the gospel, every where, in secular and sacred.
(yes, let's sit down with beers and talk about it, dear nancy. :)) love to you friend.
Such a wonderful thing to hear His praise in places where you would least expect it because of the season. Yes.
RSVPs to a wedding? It brings back memories of my daughter's wedding. Special times.
I do avoid the radio stations that begin the Christmas music the day after Halloween.... but I know what you mean.
As much as things have changed... there is still that miracle.
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