Seasonal music: Secular or Christian, do you care?

’Tis the season to be jolly, but whose season?

I began this blog focusing on all-time favorite Christmas songs. However, as I researched through a wide list of Top 10 lists, I realized that different Websites contained dissimilar lists and many contained more secular songs than others.

At this point, the direction of this article changed.

I wonder how much longer songs which reflect Christ will continue to represent Christmas?

New songs reflecting Santa Claus are released by big time artists each year. I don’t consider myself an expert on Christmas music. However, what was the last song reflecting a Christian message, other than a classic remake, which received airplay on secular radio stations and is destined to become a classic?

I discovered that over the years, as many of the compiled Top 10 lists get closer to modern day, the lists appear to contain more Santa songs than Christian songs.

Does it bother Christians that Santa-themed music is so dominate in our society? Should we care about the Santa meaning of Christmas?

As a kid I enjoyed all Christmas music. I was taught the true meaning of Christmas was celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. However, as a young recipient of toys on Christmas morning, the Santa Claus songs predictably elevated my anticipation.

As I get older, I want future generations to absorb the true meaning of Christmas.

Let’s examine an interesting set of facts.

The birth of Jesus is in the Bible, but not Christmas. Christmas has nothing to do with the Bible. Many items such as Christmas trees and wreaths, may contain Christian symbolism, but have no biblical origins.

According to the website… The History of Christmas, St. Nicholas was a Christian priest, who later became a bishop. St. Nicholas was born in 280 AD, in Patara, a city of Lycia, in Asia Minor. He became the gift giver of Myra. His gifts were given late at night, so that the gift giver’s identity would remain a secret. St. Nicholas was eventually named the patron saint of children, sailors, Russia and Greece.

We don’t know the exact day Christ was born.

When Jesus was born, shepherds were spending the night with their flocks in open fields. In that region, from December to February, though the heat of the day might feel comfortable enough when the human body is covered, the cold of the night was piercing. According to my research, shepherds never kept their flocks and herds out in the open country from December through February; it was too cold.

I have a friend who believes the removal of Christ and the intolerance of Christians are inevitable. He wonders why I continue to care or why I take the time to write my Senators and businesses who take an anti-Christian stance.

Christmas represents both the modern-day Santa Claus and the birth of Christ. Both are vying for the same space. Unfortunately our society is more concerned about religious tolerance and the removal of all references to Christ. They seem to be leaving Santa alone… for now. That makes me feel defensive.

As someone involved in a church, I know many folks will show up for a Christmas Eve service and won’t be back until Easter Sunday. For that reason alone, we as Christians should attempt to keep Christ in Christmas and spread the word in hope of reaching the lost. Strive to reach souls who, for a night or short period of time thereafter, are willing to listen.

I’m not insinuating we revolt against secular seasonal music and Santa. However, if Christians do not support Christ-worshipping music and stand strong to keep Christ in Christmas, future generations may rely solely on history books to discover that Christmas was once based upon Christ.