Missional Christmas Carols - part 4

The missional turn in a carol happens when we leave Bethlehem and the shepherds (and the wee donkey too) and deal with the "so what?" for living today. Joy to the World gets at it down in verse 3: "No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make his blessings flow, Far as the curse is found." Here is wonderful balance between grace and action. He has seen our situation, the curse we have covered ourselves with as a blanket. And as deep and wide as those compounded sins go, he is pouring out blessings, his blessing, that will overwhelm and saturate all our sin. Our response? No more let sins grow. Inattention and careless living is complicity with the thorn bushes, as my garden shows clearly enough. The weeds have their own agenda. Laissez faire may work for the economy, but not for life. But when sins and their attendant sorrows are rooted out, then blessing is unencumbered and can roll where he will send it. Laissez faire, Let it be so.