The World’s First Christmas Hymn (Part I)
Currently in my parliamentary office we have begun selling traditional Christmas cakes for charity. I think that must be the first sign that we are leading up to that joyous Christmas holiday time when work commitments and day-to-day life take a backseat to family, friends, giving to each other, and most importantly, a special focus on Christ.
So I thought over the next few weeks I would like to tell you a little about mankind’s first Christmas hymn, and why when we start moving closer to December 25, we should be drawing closer to the supreme Jesus Christ – the reason for the season.
To Be Continued …
Most people will know that the first Christmas carol, sung by the angels on the night Jesus was born was about “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to men” (Luke 2:14).
But few could tell you of the first Christmas hymn, sung by believers. The Apostle Paul quoted an early first century hymn sung by believers in their worship:
“No one can deny how great is the secret of our religion: Jesus appeared in human form, was shown to be right by the Spirit, and was seen by angels. He was preached among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, and was taken up to heaven” (I Timothy 3:14-16).
Here is one of the first statements ever repeated or sung by Christians about the origins of our Christian faith. It sums up three beliefs about the fact of the Incarnation of God: the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, the universal validity of Christ’s Gospel for the whole world, and the eternal supremacy of Christ.
They are the essential meanings of Christmas. Everything else: the details of the holy night, the worship of the shepherds and wise men, the gifts and the praises, the star and the stable, is detail. But the details are not the core meaning of Christmas.
Timothy lived in Ephesus, on the west coast of modern Turkey. That great city was dominated by the huge Temple of Artemis. Paul’s quoting to Timothy was significant: “No one can deny how great is the secret of our religion”. This Christian faith was different from the commercial trappings of the worship of Artemis. It had deep meaning that only believers understood. The secret of the Christian religion lay in the meaning of the coming of Christ to a world, like ours of many religions, cultures and fanatical followers.
1. THE INCARNATION OF GOD.
“He appeared in human form, was shown to be right by the Spirit.” This is a meaning of Christmas: God “became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth.” God revealed Himself in human form. Christianity is at heart different from other religions in this one central fact.
This is where so many modern people are wrong. They believe all religions are the same, that we are all going in one direction, that we will all end up in heaven so long as we are sincere. They teach all we need to do is to be kind, and tolerant and all will be well.
That is smultzy clap-trap! You hear that syncretistic humanism on radio stations, but the fact of the Christian faith centres in the unique person of Jesus Christ: “He appeared in human form, was shown to be right by the Spirit”.
GORDON MOYES
