Let’s talk about Christmas carols. What is the difference between a song and a carol?
If you look in a dictionary you will find a very simple brief definition.
Christmas carol : a song sung during the Christmas season
Can you imagine the Christmas season without the songs?
If you take the time to focus on the lyrics you’ll find many of the beloved carols are not only beautiful but powerful and rich in theology. Don’t simply sing Christmas carols but take them to heart.
John Wesley gave some helpful instructions concerning the proper attitude to have when singing. Here are a few excerpts from his “Directions on Singing”
“…Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep, but lift up your voice with strength…
Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve…”
– John Wesley
John Wesley’s brother Charles Wesley wrote – Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
O Come O Come Emmanuel is a 9th-century hymn, originally in Latin
These songs clearly speak of the hopeful longing for the arrival of Jesus.
For believers today the songs also express our increasing anticipation of His Return.
You may be interested in these related Christmas post
To all my dear readers,
Christmas Blessings!
Lynn
Every Day with the King 