My Top 4 Songs from the ApologetiX album "Handheld Messiah"

2 years ago, I criticized some Christmas carols. That didn’t go over well. Last year, I posted my top 4 Christmas songs, one on each day of advent. That went much better. So this year, I am going to share 4 of my favorite rock parodies turned into Christmas carols by my favorite band ApologetiX, all from their recent Christmas Album, “Handheld Messiah” (in no particular order).

 My first song is “One Night in Bethlehem,” parody of “One Night in Bangkok.” I love how this song points out how strange it was for the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem. Yeah, it was prophecied in Micah 5:2, but besides that, nothing exciting happened there. David was born there, Ruth & Boaz lived there, Rachel died there. That’s it. Yet God was about take that little town and make it very important with such an important gift to the world.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/G-tjT65HteU?feature=player_embedded

For the 2nd song, I present to you “Christ In The Stable” by ApologetiX, a parody of “Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin. I think this song is stronger if you know the original song. The original song tells a story of a father who never never makes time for his son when his son is young, and so when his son becomes an adult, he never makes time for his elderly father. Harry Chapin’s song concludes, “My son turned out just like me.” The ApologetiX’s version is from Joseph’s point of view. As he watches Jesus grows up, Joseph realizes how special Jesus is. The ApologetiX’s version then concludes, “My Son turned out just like thee [Lord]” Not only does this song well explain both Jesus as God and man, but it also is an encouragment to fathers everywhere to raise a godly son.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/cRjHlTnLg5Q?feature=player_embedded

Third, I give you “Nice Ice Payment” by ApologetiX, a parody of “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice. What seems like a fun/silly paraody in the beginning ends to up to have a deep message. Don’t let the busyness Christmas season stress you out. Instead, let Jesus change your attitude!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/J3vmjXUZgyY?feature=player_embedded

Fourth, I present to you “We Didn’t Start Messiah” by ApologetiX, a parody of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” by Billy Joel. As the person who created this YouTube says, “Where Mr. Joel sang about what was wrong in the world, This song show’s how the coming MESSIAH was prophesied from Adam and Eve on up. So it sang about what is Right in the world.” I like how this song pretty much points out that the whole Old Testament points to the original Christmas, the coming of Jesus Christ. May we look forward to Christmas just like the Old Testament does.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/wTrYHitHjqY?feature=player_embedded

 

My Top 4 Favorite Christmas Songs

Last Christmas season, I spent many Facebook statuses trashing bad Christmas carols. Needless to say, it didn’t go over too well. I got many negative comments. This Christmas season, I decided to be more positive. Every Advent Sunday, I posted a good Christmas song that really captures the true meaning of Christmas. After the 4 Advent Sundays, I posted my top 4 favorite Christmas songs. So I thought on this last Advent Sunday, I would post all 4 favorite Christmas songs in one blog. So, without further ado, my top 4 favorite Christmas songs.

4. “Lived the Day You Died”

This song comes from that Christian parody band, the ApologetiX.   This song is a parody of “Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem feat. Rihanna. ApologetiX has really redeemed this song about an abusive relationship. J. Jackson takes the little detail of the Christmas story of the wise men bringing baby Jesus myrrh, and he expounds on it, on how it plays in Christ’s redemptive plan. It reminds the listener that the Christmas story is not segregated from the Easter story, but has an important role contributing to it.

(I put the master recording first because it’s easier to hear and understand, but the live version has better female vocals, no offense to Jana Jackson, so I put that second)

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/YJTq5C6kJwQ&source=uds

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_PeSkU25z0w&source=uds

3. “Boy Like Me”

“Boy Like Me” comes from the Singing Christmas Tree album from VeggieTales. I came across this album when Amazon had it as a free download a few years ago. I have never heard the doctrine of the humanity of Jesus sung in a song that well written in both terms of music and lyrics. And from children’s Christmas music nonetheless!

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/j3EGv6IzA5U&source=uds

2. “Mary Did You Know?”

This song just ask the questions that everyone wonders. How much did Mary understand about the boy she was giving birth to? This song also does a good job of combining the deity and humanity of Jesus.

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/JPsgIhlYQmM&source=uds

1. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

 No, it’s not my favorite because it’s at the end of the Charlie Brown Christmas special. Charles Wesley, composer of both music and lyrics, made sure all the music he wrote was theologically sound (pun somewhat intended). This song is full of theology. It reminds the Christian that the birth is to get the Christian in focus on God’s redemptive plan through …Christ’s ministry. Jesus was born so that “God and sinners reconciled.” Jesus was “Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give second birth.” It also teaches Christians that Jesus is both God and man. “Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see…” Like I said, so much theology in such a short song. This song, equips, edifies, encourages, teaches and worships. It does so much.

Oh, what the heck, let’s play the Charlie Brown Christmas version for good measure.

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/wTu00FCLgPs&source=uds

Merry Christmas everyone! 🙂