Why sing contemporary songs at Christmas?

I'm always surprised by some of the most vocal advocates for contemporary worship music who say that they would be very happy to sing only familiar carols in our services at this time of year. So why bother to sing contemporary songs at Christmas?

Actually, it's the very same reason we sing some contemporary music and some traditional music throughout the year. It's not because we're trying to make everyone happy by singing a little something that everyone likes. It's because both old and new songs reflect the glory of God, the truth of the gospel, and the life of the church in different yet essential ways.

When we sing old songs, it's not because nostalgia is what we're after, but because we know the value of repeating again and again that which is true and has spoken across and through generations. We don't sing anywhere close to every "old favorite," but we try to retain the best of our tradition. Of course, this is a subjective process, and there are undoubtedly many fine songs that we no longer sing on a regular basis, but we have to choose some and let many go.

When we sing new songs, it's not because we want to prove our hip-ness by singing the popular songs of the moment, but because we believe in the value of having the truth of God's word expressed in each generation in new ways. We don't sing anywhere close to every song that tops the charts, but we try to select new songs that are biblically sound, theologically rich, devotionally passionate, and congregationally singable. Of course, this is a subjective process, and there are undoubtedly many fine songs that we never learn to sing together, but we have to choose some and let many go.

It gets tricky here because there are many, young and old, who have not grown up in the church, or may come to us from a different tradition, and so are not familiar with most, if not all, old hymns and songs. Also, there are many, young and old, who don't listen to contemporary Christian radio or recordings, and so are not familiar with most, if not all, new worship music.

If you're not hearing enough of "your" music on Sunday, please don't take it to mean that your favorites are necessarily unappreciated or outright condemned. Enjoy your music, with discernment, and learn to appreciate what we are (imperfectly) trying to do when we're together: expressing the truth and beauty of God as a community of faith in a diverse yet unifed way.

So, we go back to the Christmas issue. We don't want to sing only old familiar favorites at Christmas because there is only all the more tendency to reduce our faith to nostalgia and sentimental celebrations at this time of year. We want to show that the message of Jesus is still vital, our faith is real, and the church is alive. We are not so much concerned to prove that we are relevant, but to simply live and worship in ways that demonstrate that the gospel in fact is always relevant.