I was listenting to Bebo Norman's Christmas EP today and truthfully, it's the first Christmas music that I've listened to so far. I suppose in some ways it's been intention and in others it's not...I usually listen to Christmas music after Thanksgiving and until Christmas is over, but this year I've had a real aversion to Christmas.
The commercialism and consumerism of Christmas have really gotten to me this year-- so much so that I'm not excited about Christmas and I can get quite nasty if you ask me my thoughts on Christmas.
On Monday I had to pick up some coats for the
coat drive and on my way to lead Bible study on Luke 16 (which is of course all about stewardship and where your heart is there your treasure will be...). And I was in a foul mood...Well, mostly in my head not really to anyone else. But I heard a commercial on the radio selling something and I was sighing and fuming when I came upon the park in the middle of Ottawa. The lights lit up the trees in a peaceful and serene fashion. I was caught off guard and moved to tears...Looking at the lights melted my heart a bit and made it okay for Christmas to be coming.
So, yesterday I was listening to Bebo Norman's Christmas release:
From the Realms of Glory. Now, I had just come from the mall where you can't avoid consumer driven mentality. So, I was starting to get cynical again when I was caught off guard once again. Now, the whole reason that I got Bebo's Christmas CD was for the song
"Rebel Jesus"...but I forgot it was on there. So,
"Rebel Jesus" started to play and I made it play for the next 6 songs...Another kick in the pants for what Christmas is about and not everybody forgets that.
The Rebel Jesus
The streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
As the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tables
Giving thanks for all God's graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus
They call him by the "Prince of Peace"
And they call him by "The Saviour"
And they pray to him upon the sea
And in every bold endeavor
As they fill his churches with their pride and gold
And their faith in him increases
But they've turned the nature that I worshipped in
From a temple to a robber's den
In the words of the rebel Jesus
We guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why there are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus
But pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgement
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In this life of hardship and of earthly toil
We have need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure and I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus.
