Even before Halloween, did you notice Christmas music floating through sound systems in stores, public bathrooms, restaurants, coffee shops, malls, and on your radio . . . . Granted much of it is secular, but you also hear Silent Night, Joy to the World, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, The First Noel, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, Mary Did You Know? and so many others.
Yes, they’re playing “our” songs!
[Tweet “We know that marketing advertisers use background sounds to indoctrinate us into thinking a certain way.”]
We know that marketing advertisers use background sounds to indoctrinate us into thinking a certain way. If you didn’t know that, they do. After hearing a product jingle over and over, we might start singing it ourselves or we recognize that it’s plugging a particular product. I’ve actually looked at a product on the grocery shelf and said to myself, or even to someone standing next to me, that I’ve heard about this somewhere. I might even pick it up to examine further, when I otherwise would probably walk right past it.
Well, is it possible that without realizing it shoppers and diners who are out and about this Christmas season are subliminally hearing about Jesus through background music?! And maybe they too will be enticed to want to learn more about the lyrics they’ve been hearing for months. When invited to a Christmas program or church service and they hear a message on the birth of Jesus and the real Gift at Christmas, they might think, I’ve heard that somewhere before!
[Tweet “God works in mysterious ways even through the secular culture.”]
God works in mysterious ways even through the secular culture. So the next time you’re in a mall or grocery store and you hear one of “our songs” on the sound system, start singing along just loud enough for people around you to hear and notice. Hey, if people can walk around with their cell phones on speaker while they shop, you can sing a song about the Baby who could save their life!
PS
If you’re starting to panic and feel a bit overwhelmed when you receive emails telling you time is running out to checkoff all the to-dos on your list and it’s only December 9, you’ll appreciate a blog I wrote for Crosswalk The Top 10 Ways to Avoid Christmas Burnout. Here’s #1 just to get you started.
- Let your calendar be your activity guide.
First, schedule normal activities: work, school, exercise, sleep, church—and most importantly—daily quiet time with the Lord.
Next, note events like children’s programs, rehearsals, family/work/church gatherings.
Then, schedule time for shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating.
As new invitations arrive, decline kindly any on the same days and times as those already on your calendar. Limit your holiday outings to one night a week or two extra events each weekend.
Read 9 more . . .
After you read the Crosswalk article, comment below and let me know which of the 10 ways resonated most with you.
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Photo by Benjamin Cruz from Pexels
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