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Christmas carols—specifically Christian carols—can provide another very important function in that they tell the story of the nativity and explain what happened around the birth of Jesus Christ. When many of the classic carols were created, not everyone was educated and could read the Bible. These hymns were essential in spreading the gospel message and helping people learn about the good news of Jesus Christ.
Some of the richest theological truths about the birth of our Savior are being expressed by believers and nonbelievers alike in homes, churches, stores, cars, fitness centers, the media, and more!
It’s hard to find a better evangelistic outreach tool than a Christmas carol that expresses the joy, devotion, and awe-inspiring scenes of the birth of Christ. There are some who are not fans of secular musicians, who, while making no claim to Jesus, sing Christian Christmas carols. But I’m not bothered by it in the least! Think about it. God has orchestrated opportunities for unbelievers to willingly present the gospel message using the talents that He gave them. I’m good with that!
“This popular Christmas hymn was written by an atheist, set to music by a Jewish composer, rejected by the church, sung on the battlefields, adopted by an American abolitionist, and the first song ever to be broadcast over airwaves to the entire world.” Judges will accept either “O Holy Night”
or the original French version, “Cantique de Noel.”
Cappeau, though, had many other interests, including anti-slavery activism
it wasn’t the music so much that was the challenge for Adams. It was the fact that he was Jewish and the lyrics were decidedly Christian. How could he write music for a day he didn’t observe, celebrating a Messiah he didn’t believe was God’s son?
The story goes that on Christmas Eve in 1871, during the Franco-Prussian War, the armies of France and Germany were in the midst of intense battle, fighting it out in the trenches. Suddenly, a French soldier jumped out of the trench with no weapon in hand and began singing “Cantique de Noel” only to be joined in song by a German infantryman. Singing broke out between both sides, and the fighting
ceased for the next twenty-four hours as soldiers from both camps celebrated Christmas Day.
In 1855 Dwight discovered “Cantique de Noel.” He was inspired by the powerful lyrics about the birth of Christ, but he saw something else that corresponded to his abolitionist beliefs as the movement to outlaw slavery was heating up in the North.
This new version quickly became a favorite among Christian abolitionists and was popular during the Civil War mainly because of the third verse: “Truly he taught us to love one another, his law is love and his gospel is peace, chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, and in his name all oppression shall cease.”
Speaking into a makeshift microphone, he recited the birth of Christ from Luke chapter 2 from his Bible. Then he picked up his violin and played “O Holy Night,” making it the first song ever to be broadcast over the radio.
It’s interesting to wonder whether Father Petitjean would’ve had any idea that his simple request to the local town’s atheist would eventually produce one of the most beautiful, inspired pieces of music ever created.
