The Bells of Belief
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Isaiah. 9:6-7
I was struck once again this year by how often bells are the theme of Christmas songs. There’s “The Carol of the Bells,” “Christmas Bells are Ringing,” “Silver Bells,” “Jingle Bells,” “Jingle Bell Rock.” Bells and Christmas seem to go hand in hand.
Have you ever wondered where the idea of Christmas bells came from?
The tradition was held over from pre-Christian Europe. The people of that era believed that bells and other noisemakers would frighten away evil spirits. So, especially in the winter, when the darkness was so pervasive, they would hang bells on their doors.
As these people became Christians, they carried that tradition into their celebration of Jesus’ birth and His victory over evil spirits. As night gave way to dawn, churches would ring their bells. The bells were meant to remind the people of what was true, regardless of their circumstances. They reminded them to BELIEVE.
That challenge remains to this day. Life in this cold, dark world has a way of dimming our belief, doesn’t it?
Indeed, my guess is that there are quite a few people reading this who would have to admit that this Christmas the bells have gone silent. Something happened – a death, a divorce, a devastating disappointment, a debilitating illness, a financial collapse.
Whatever the trigger, the doubts began to creep in. “Maybe there really isn’t a God – at least one who’s all-good or all-powerful or all that concerned about me.”
And the bells of Christmas have stopped ringing in your soul.
I Heard the Bells
I mentioned some classic Christmas “bell songs” earlier. And, to be sure, most of them don’t have a lot of substance. But there’s one that has great meaning. The lyrics come from a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Longfellow wrote it on Christmas Day in 1864. The Civil War was raging and he’d just received word that his son had been wounded in battle.
So, here’s this dad, deeply concerned about his boy. But beyond that, he’s still grieving the loss of his wife who’d been tragically killed in a fire two years earlier.
Longfellow recorded his struggle in his journal, and this poem flowed out.
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
(These next two verses, most people are not familiar with; but they reflect the horror and heartache of war.)
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound the carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn the households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men
But the bells of Christmas kept ringing as Longfellow wrote, and his poem took a surprising turn.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.
The bells of Christmas would not be silenced. There was something about them that reminded this grieving husband and worried father of what was still true.
War, evil, injustice...pain, loss, loneliness...wouldn’t have the last word.
The bells of Christmas seemed to say, “Don’t give in to doubt. Don’t give up your faith. BELIEVE...BELIEVE....BELIEVE.”
War, evil, injustice...pain, loss, loneliness...wouldn’t have the last word. The bells of Christmas ring out, “Don’t give in to doubt. Don’t give up your faith. BELIEVE...BELIEVE....BELIEVE.”
To you who, this Christmas, struggle to believe that there is a God who’s in control...who cares...and who understands, let me offer you some words from the prophet Isaiah who was very familiar such a struggle. Isaiah lived in dark days. The future was so uncertain for him and his people. Yet he wrote these familiar words. Read them again…slowly.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
It was this promise which Isaiah held onto as things went from bad to worse.
But that promise was enough.
Six hundred years later in the little town of Bethlehem, that promise was fulfilled.
So, ring the bells this Christmas. Ring them loud and strong. And dare to believe that the best is yet to come.
PRAYER
Lord, I have to admit that at times I despair when I consider the world scene and my personal situation. Yet, it was into a parallel setting that You came. Help me to remember that every time I hear the bells – not only this season but beyond.
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