Christmas Song #6: A Message for “All the Earth”
You could say that this was the story of an MK (missionary kid). Well, it is – and it isn’t. James didn’t grow up overseas, but the missions work of his parents did influence his life and his writing.
James was born in Irvine, Scotland in 1771 – only about 15km from where some of my family would be living (and may already have been living). Andrew and Janet Armour would soon be starting a family (my great great great great grandparents). But James’ parents were John and Mary, who had become attached to a new Moravian settlement in the area. Uneducated but eloquent, John became an itinerant preacher and was newly stationed in Irvine when James was born.
The Moravians, a Christian tradition dating from the 15th century, were very missions-minded, and James was to spend his early life in the excitement, chaos and sacrifice of this movement. From what we can tell, the family was very poor, and sacrificed much. And when James was only about 12 years old, his parents were sent as missionaries to the West Indies. They both died there in the early 1790s, in Barbados and in Tobago (my sources seem to contradict regarding which parent died where).
James had been sent to a Moravian school, but seemed more interested in composing epic poems than being diligent in his schoolwork. But certain loves would stay with him his entire life – a love of missions, and a love of poetry.
James went from job to job, with his poetry his only steady passion. He finally got a job at a newspaper in England, surprisingly quickly becoming its editor. More on that later, but suffice to say the newspaper became a vehicle for his writing.
And so on Christmas Eve in 1816, he published the first version of what would become one of the world’s most well-known Christmas carols…
Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn king.
The story of the “Christmas angels” in the Gospel of Luke is well known. But James also takes a passage from Job, where God says,
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:4-7
The “sons of God” are apparently the angels, watching in amazement as God created the earth. The morning stars may refer to angels as well.
But this is not simply talking about the announcement to the shepherds. The songwriter is asking the angels to share their message with the whole world – the world that they once saw created. Here James’ missions heart comes through. The message of the incarnate Christ is not just for the shepherds – or Israel – or even Scotland – it’s for the whole planet, and everyone on it. All are called to worship the King.
And I hope that a closer look at this carol will lead us to do the same thing over the next few weeks – worship, and proclaim!