GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN

I have to admit, I was a bit surprised by the history of this song - but I was also delighted. Don't get me wrong.  I love my country very much.  But if I'm honest, we have some flaws.  Slavery was one of them.  But even out of those trials come some of the neatest things.  Oppression often breeds faith.  Negro slaves may not have had much going for them, but they did have faith.  With that faith came music.  With that music came wonderful expressions such as "Go Tell It On the Mountain."

This extremely popular Christmas Carol was once a Negro Spiritual written by someone altogether unknown, but its infectious tune and lyrics that were pregnant with biblical truth offering a hope that only a heart of faith could know was soon spread throughout slavery.  The author is credited to John W. Works, III.  However, in 1907, as a negro professor, he compiled a book entitled "Folk Songs of the American Negro" in order to "preserve and promote African American Folk-Work."2  Dr. Works' efforts sent the song's popularity skyrocketing across the country and across the country's racial barriers.  Music has a way of doing that, and knows no boundaries.

The original song lyrics have been changed many times over.  The lyrics of today's carol are not the only lyrics the tune knows.  However, they are the most famous.  Peter, Paul, and Mary rewrote the lyrics in the 1960's, and Simon and Garfunkel also have a rewrite out.2  Still, the version in the hymnbooks across America are the most widely known and faithful to both the Lord and the song's author.


DEVOTION

Put yourself in the place of the Shepherds and sing this song.  Picture the the wonder of the annunciation, the spectacle of the angels, and the miracle of the virgin birth, baby in a manger, and prophecy all wrapped up in a single moment.  Imagine the fear and trembling swelling up inside, then giving way to a delight and hope, and finally a sense that everyone needed to hear the news!

Such a journey fills the heart of all who hear the story told by the Shepherds that night - a journey from fear and trembling to delight and hope that the Sovereign Creator God has given us His Son for a blessing and sacrifice for our sins!  Indeed, we have been saved from our sins!  Next, desiring that all might know this truth as we do - and trust Him for the forgiveness of their sins as well.

Do YOU know Jesus as YOUR Savior and Lord?  Do YOU delight in His Salvation like the shepherds did?  It matters NOT what station you have in life.  You have nothing but your soul to lose for keeping quiet.  Proclaim Him to a world that needs Him.  Go, Tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere that Jesus Christ is born!

And that's Just A Thot for today!  Merry Christmas!





1 - From the Internet:  http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/go-tell-it-on-the-mountain,-the-song-and-the-story.html, 12/10/2015.

My New Blog

Check out my new blog - As I See It

This contains my views on current events - and I'm trying to put a biblical perspective on things. Your comments will help. Visit and let me know what you think. Sorry if I get a little sarcastic from time to time. It just seems the world can be pretty silly sometimes.

What's Next?

Read this headline I got off of http://www.cnsnews.com/:

U Vermont Has 'No-Gender' Bathrooms
(CNSNews.com) - The University of Vermont's new student center has men's rooms, ladies' rooms, and four "gender-neutral" bathrooms, identified as such with signs. "It's about inclusivity and accessibility and the importance of meeting all people's needs, not just a few," said Annie Stevens, assistant vice president for student and campus life.

What's next? Barns for the sheep and horses? Where will the "human" stalls be so we don't offend anyone?

Bro. Greg

Thoughts On Billy Graham

I saw that Billy Graham was in the news again - still in the hospital. He has Parkinson's, cancer, and macular degeneration. Yet he keeps going and going. Quite a testimony, don't you think? I mean, with all that against him and he still outlives his wife. God has his hand on Billy.

When Billy Graham comes to mind, I can't help but praise the Lord for such an upstanding, gifted evangelist. I know that the Lord is behind all he does because of the miracles surrounding his life and the focus of his life's work. I've heard the attacks against him - by believers and unbelievers alike. I find them to be based in one or the other - ignorance, jealousy, fear, awe. People have tried to attack his doctrine, his clout, his procedures, his family, his personality and his team. But he continues his message, and the response is as strong as ever. That's because Billy has, through the years, resolved to preach Christ and Him crucified - nothing more, nothing less. He has never watered down the gospel - not even to Presidents and Congressmen.

I've already mentioned the attacks - and as I write, I'm reminded of one in particular that was fairly personal, since I'm a pastor. One person tried to judge Billy's worth as an evangelist based on the failure of a prominent politician's political decisions - failure in a biblical issue (not moral, but political). This politician, who claims to be led to Christ by Billy personally, seems to be making some (not all, mind you) "unChristian" decisions. It is for that reason that a Christian friend of mine has questioned Billy's work as an evangelist. It's as if he were saying that Billy must have been a poor evangelist, must have watered the truth down, because of the failure of one of his converts. Is that really fair? I don't think so.

It does bring up an important point to those of us who are Christ's disciples - our actions reflect upon Him. Others judge Jesus by our success as His converts. What sort of reputation do we bring to Jesus?