O Holy Night

I am amazed at how often people note that they didn't know about the third verse of the powerful song, O Holy Night. Sentimentality and the wonderful romance of the holiday has nearly gutted the radical edge of the coming Kingdom of God.

Written in the years as the abolitionist movement was heating up, it is solid gospel. Let us pray that those of us who sing this tonight will be graced to hear it well, and allow it to work God's ways in us.

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.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Chorus
Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever!
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!