There's a famous scene in Pride and Prejudice about Darcy's "accomplished woman" and how his standard of defining an accomplished woman differs so widely from the world's standards. [You can read the quote here]. I feel the same about Christmas music. Not everything that calls itself Christmas music actually IS Christmas music.
There are questions that are always in mind when I'm listening to "Christmas" music, especially the first few times of a song or album. Does it glorify God? Does it prepare the heart and mind for worship? Does it provoke feelings of awe and wonder? Does it go beyond the stable? Does it follow through with the SO WHAT? Is it equally at home on Good Friday or Easter morning? Does it bring you to your knees? And, of course, is it biblical? Does it line up with what we know from Scripture? OR is it music for "itchy" ears? Has the gospel been compromised to reach wider audiences? Is there any gospel at all?
I might be just as picky as Mr. Darcy is in many regards. Songs about cold weather? marshmallows? bells? Not Christmas music. Amazing Grace--the classic hymn--definitely Christmas music.
Now I am not saying that "Silver Bells" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" should be avoided at all costs. Just saying that playlists should be intentional. Put a little thought into the "reason for the season."
These six albums are ones that I love and adore. All encompass the FULLness of the gospel story. All point to Christ. All are available to stream on YouTube and Spotify, I believe. Probably other services too. I chose these six as representative of an important transitional time. It is the start of November. Christmas is not quite in season. And yet...and yet...it's just the right time to start preparing hearts, minds, souls.
Brother to Brother (1996) is a joint album by Michael Card and John Michael Talbot. This one was never intended to be a "Christmas" album though it features several advent/Christmas songs.
- One Faith
- Come Worship the Lord (Psalm 95)
- Glory To Thee (O God of Life)
- Immanuel/Behold Now the Kingdom
- Advent Suite
- The Word
- The Final Word
- Why
- The Mystery
- Healer of My Soul
- Live This Mystery
- Come To The Table
The Long Night is Past Grace Music (2018). YT link. This one is intended to be a Christmas album. But these songs (or at least eleven of them) EXCEL at passing my "test" of what makes a GREAT Christmas song.
- The Lord Almighty Reigns (Pt 1)
- Long Expected Jesus
- Hope of the World
- The Long Long Night
- Prepare the Way
- Lay Down Straight (literally the only song I don't like on the album)
- Lamb of God
- This is the Christ
- O Spread the Tidings Round
- I Heard the Bells
- Tempus Adest Floridium (The Story of Us)
- The Lord Almighty Reigns Pt 2/Joy to the World
His Mercy Is More: The Hymns of Matt Boswell and Matt Papa. Again NOT intended to be a Christmas album necessarily. These are just GREAT songs that celebrate ALL of Jesus.
- His Mercy Is More
- Magnificent, Marvelous, Matchless Love
- Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery
- Sing We The Song of Emmanuel
- My Savior's Love (What Tongue Could Tell)
- Lord from Sorrows Deep I Call (Psalm 42)
- Let the Nations Be Glad
- Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor
- Lord Have Mercy (For What We Have Done)
- The King In All His Beauty
- How Rich a Treasure We Possess
- Christ is All
- Come Adore the Humble King
Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson. I could listen to this "Christmas" album 365--or 366 as the case may be. It is the FIRST album that showed me what a Christmas album could be, should be. If you can find the ORIGINAL album, choose it every single time. The updated one--with the exception of one song with additional verses--is just not as good as the original. The songs are THOUGHT-PROVOKING and incredibly moving.
- Gather Round Ye Children, Come
- Passover Us
- So Long, Moses
- Deliver Us
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel
- Matthew's Begats
- It Came To Pass
- Labor of Love
- The Holly and the Ivy
- While Shepherds Watched their Sheep
- Behold the Lamb of God
- The Theme of My Song
Bebo Norman's Christmas....From the Realms of Glory. This one is a Christmas album. There are some amazing, amazing songs that I love and adore. There are also traditional "Christmas" songs that don't quite meet my high standard. But the album as a whole is very enjoyable.
- Come and Worship
- Joy to the World
- Born to Die
- What Child Is This
- Angels Interlude
- Go Tell It On the Mountain
- Silver Bells
- Christmas Time Is Here
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- The Rebel Jesus
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel
- Great Light of the World Interlude
- Mary's Prayer
Sing! The Life of Christ Quintology is an album compilation featuring twenty-nine songs. I'm not going to type them all out. There is SOME duplication from the His Mercy Is More album. (I don't mind.) The album is definitely more of a worship experience. Most--if not all songs--are live recordings. The songs span the whole story, cover everything.
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