5 Popular Christmas Songs with Bad Theology

1. “Away in a Manger”

This gentle lullaby reflects on baby Jesus and encourages listeners to offer him their love. While the origins of this carol are uncertain, it gained popularity in the late 19th century. The song’s simple melody and message have made it a favorite among children and adults alike. 

However, “Away in a Manger” has been criticized for denying Jesus’ humanity in this part of the song: “The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes/But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes/I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky/And stay by my cradle 'til morning is nigh.” The line “no crying he makes” can’t accurately apply to any human baby, because it is natural for all human babies to cry. The Bible affirms that Jesus, while fully divine, was also fully human. Colossians 2:9 says: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” and Hebrews 2:17 points out that Jesus was “fully human in every way.” While “Away in a Manger” describes Jesus as a baby who doesn’t cry, the Bible tells us in John 11:35: “Jesus wept” when grieving the death of his friend Lazarus. In Hebrews 5:7, the Bible describes how Jesus “offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears.” 

Another theological error in “Away in a Manger” is that it seems to suggest Jesus only blesses certain children, rather than all children. That’s because of this line: “Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care” which may be interpreted that there are some children not in his care. Matthew 19:14 shows Jesus indicating that he is willing to bless every child: “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” 

Finally, “Away in a Manger” describes baby Jesus with animals, and the Bible never says that Jesus was in a stable or barn with animals. Instead, it only says that Mary placed newborn Jesus “in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them” (Luke 2:7).

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/udra 

2. “Mary, Did You Know?”

This thoughtful Christmas song was first recorded in 1991. It questions Mary, who served as Jesus’ mother on earth, about her awareness of the divine nature and future impact of her son. The song opens with these lyrics: “Mary, did you know that your baby boy/Would one day walk on water?/Mary, did you know that your baby boy/Would save our sons and daughters?/Did you know that your baby boy/Has come to make you new?/This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you.” This Christmas carol has become popular with listeners around the world who reflect on its questions and the wonder of God’s work in our world through Jesus. 

Despite its popularity, the whole concept of the song is theologically inaccurate. It suggests that Mary may not have understood God’s calling for her son. In fact, the Bible says that God sent a clear message to Mary about Jesus’ calling, through the angel Gabriel during the Annunciation. Gabriel reveals this about Jesus to Mary in Luke 1:32-33: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” In Luke 1:35, Gabriel tells Mary: “… So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Also, the Bible shows that Mary demonstrates a deep understanding of, and faith in, the divine nature of Jesus. For example, she sings a song of praise in Luke 1:46-55 that begins: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Liliboas 

3. “We Three Kings”

This song, written in 1857, has become a classic Christmas carol. “We Three Kings” is based on the biblical account of the Magi following the Star of Bethlehem to find Jesus. It opens with these catchy lines: “We Three Kings of Orient are/Bearing gifts we traverse afar/Field and fountain, moor and mountain/Following yonder Star.” The carol emphasizes the significance of the gifts brought by the Magi: gold representing kingship, frankincense symbolizing divinity, and myrrh foreshadowing Jesus’ sacrificial death. 

However, from a theological perspective, these lines are controversial: “Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain/Gold I bring to crown him again.” That’s because Jesus doesn’t need to be crowned again – and no human being can crown him as the world’s eternal king. Only God can crown Jesus, and he has done so once for forever. Hebrews 1:8 quotes God speaking of Jesus: “But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; …’”. 

“We Three Kings” also adds specific details that aren’t in the Bible’s account in Matthew 2:1-12. For example, the Magi weren’t necessarily kings, and there weren’t necessarily three of them. The word “Magi” indicates people with spiritual wisdom, so the Magi have come to be known historically as “wise men,” but we don’t know their occupations. The Bible does not specify the number of Magi who visited Jesus, and the assumption of three kings is a tradition that developed over time. The Bible only mentions the Magi bringing three gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh). The fictionalized details that this Christmas carol presents can lead to inaccuracies and misinterpretations of the biblical narrative.

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Robert Thiemann 

4. “The First Noel”

This traditional English carol, which dates back to the 1400s, celebrates the angels’ announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds in Bethlehem. The song’s simple melody and message have made it a beloved Christmas tradition for generations. 

While the song generally aligns with the biblical account of the angel's announcement to the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20, it adds inaccurate details. For instance, “The First Noel” says about the shepherds: “They looked up and saw a star/Shining in the east beyond them far,” but there is no account in the Bible that the shepherds ever saw the Star of Bethlehem. Instead, the Bible mentions in Matthew 2:1-12 that the Magi saw and followed the star on their way to see Jesus in a house (not a manger). Their visit to Jesus may have happened a long time after his birth, since Jesus was already settled into a house with his family. 

Also, “The First Noel” mentions that the shepherds were keeping their sheep “on a cold winter's night that was so deep,” but shepherds were never out in the fields during the winter. Jesus was not born in the winter on December 25^th; that’s a Christmas myth that arose from the Roman Emperor Constantine’s choice of December 25^th to celebrate Christmas during a time that had previously been used for pagan celebrations.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/CarolineHernandez 

5. “I Saw Three Ships”

This English Christmas carol from the 1600s describes seeing three ships come sailing into Bethlehem on Christmas Day, bearing gifts for Jesus. While this playful song has been popular for centuries, it presents a version of events from the first Christmas that doesn’t align at all with the Bible’s reports. 

Bethlehem doesn’t have a port for ships to come into, since it is a landlocked place. So, it makes sense that the Bible doesn’t mention ships in its story of the first Christmas. Also, the song mentions “Our Savior Christ and his lady,” making it seem as if Jesus was married or dating, but the Bible doesn’t mention any wife or girlfriend that Jesus ever had during his earthly life. 

All of these fictional details can confuse people who listen to “I Saw Three Ships,” and that doesn’t reflect God’s Christmas message well, because “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). 

In conclusion, these beloved Christmas carols celebrate the true meaning of Christmas by focusing on Jesus’ birth. But they can confuse listeners with inaccurate lyrics that lead to bad theology. We don’t have to stop singing familiar carols during the Christmas season. But it’s important for us to understand that the theology in some of those songs isn’t necessarily accurate. When we encounter lyrics that don’t seem right, we can remind ourselves to check the Bible for the real Christmas story. Understanding the discrepancies between the Bible’s reports and the words in popular Christmas songs can motivate us to learn more about the real significance of Christmas. Along the way, we can find the inspiration to build closer relationships with God!

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/vlastas