Go Tell It On The Mountains

Singing “Go Tell It On The Mountain” in church Sunday brought back a wave of memories. When E#1 was about four she attended preschool at a nearby Lutheran church a couple days a week. The preschool  kids also performed in the annual Christmas program at the church. The lyrics to the song “Go Tell It On The Mountain” were sent home as an assignment and the parents were supposed to help the kids practice. So I dutifully helped her learn the verses and to this day I can remember every word even though I hadn’t heard that song in years. I wonder if E#1 remembers any of this?

It is a great song actually, a Negro spiritual. It reminds me that the good news of Christ needs to be told again and again. Our old dim world can seem bleak and futile at times when one reads the news and hears of the horrific and sorry state of mankind. The good news gives us joy and hope that it is not all for naught that we live and then die.

Sometimes I get fed up with Christians for their insincerity and their moralizing. There are some Christian leaders on the national scene who make me cringe. Certainly there are countless unsung heroes of the faith who one never hears much about, who would make me proud to be counted as a sister in the faith together with them for their genuine humility and acts of loving kindness. But the ones we do often hear about politicians, modern televangelists, and pundits just push all of my buttons.

I get cynical and think that Christians need to stop talking and just show the world grace and mercy by serving the poor and striving for social justice. Doing the little that we can to alleviate suffering in the world. We need to put our monies to work building wells, hospitals, orphanages and schools. We need to empower women and help those who have been enslaved. The noble causes are endless because the suffering in the world is great.

But we still need to tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. Social justice and humanitarian work isn’t enough. When the most commendable work is done by the most Christ-like among us it isn’t enough if we haven’t told the good news too. The only way to convey it is to tell it in words. One might be convinced of deism (that a non personal god or “supreme architect” exists) by looking at the beauty of the natural world and the amazing symmetries in the cosmos. The laws that govern all things unseen and seen. But that doesn’t bring you to the baby in a manger who saves the world. The Christ who one can know personally and who is available in this life to be a helper, counselor, adviser, friend, listener, redeemer and more. The Bible tells his story but his people (the global church) are the ones entrusted to spread the word by telling one another what he has done in their lives. The transformed lives is what makes the story believable. If your life hasn’t been transformed maybe you need to pull up a chair and listen to someone whose life has been. 

So tell it and don’t be ashamed to be called a Christian. Just tell what he has done in your life, that’s all. Are you better off today for following him? It is not all a walk in the park obviously but what would life be like without him? I know the times in my life that I tried to do things my own way were dreadful. He saves me from me. I still have a ton of  theological questions but I know what he has done for me.

Lou

Words: John W. Work, Jr., Folk Songs of the Amer­i­can Ne­gro (Nash­ville, Tenn­es­see: 1907).

Music: Af­ri­can-Amer­i­can spir­it­u­al

Refrain

Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light.

Refrain

The shepherds feared and trembled,
When lo! above the earth,
Rang out the angels chorus
That hailed the Savior’s birth.

Refrain

Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessèd Christmas morn.

Refrain