Bishops within the Church of England are causing quite a stink across Christendom after they raised concerns that there are specific Christmas carols that they believe are “problematic.” The reason? Because they make explicit references to Jesus as being the “true Messiah.” I’m not exactly sure why this is a problem, seeing as that’s exactly who and what Jesus is. The whole point of Christmas is that Christ, who is the pre-existent Second Person of the Trinity, came down as a man to rescue sinners from the power and penalty of their sin. That’s the gospel. It’s the reason for the season. How is stating this obvious biblical fact a problem?
According to The Christian Post, the Birmingham Diocese spoke with its clergy and expressed what they called a “need” to take a look at the language used in hymn in order to establish an “inclusive” environment during the holiday season. What can possibly be more inclusive than telling sinners on the highway to hell that Jesus is the only exit ramp? I find that to be quite inclusive. Everyone is in the same boat, the same position, regardless of gender, color, race, and on the list goes.
The Birmingham Diocese instructed clergy to “use language that won’t add further confusion or tension or take away anything from the good news of the Nativity,” The Mail on Sunday reported, citing the email. The hymns under scrutiny include “Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending,” a favorite of Queen Victoria, which has been criticized for declaring Jesus as the “true Messiah.”
Further, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” has been singled out for its phrase “captive Israel” in the first verse. The diocese’s correspondence suggested that such language could lead to misunderstandings, particularly in the context of ongoing tensions related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The decision was influenced by the geopolitical climate, the Rt. Rev. Michael Volland, bishop of Birmingham, told The Telegraph. “Members of our team working closely with diverse communities in Birmingham invited churches to think about providing some context for people new to church who might be unsure why ‘Israel’ is being discussed and whether this has any relation to the current conflict,” Volland was quoted as saying.
He then said that no hymns or liturgies have been altered formerly, only that members of the clergy have been encouraged to give contextual explanations in order to make sure that the message of Christmas stays clear and welcoming. Again, there’s nothing more welcoming than saving souls from perdition. This kind of woke compromising of the gospel is actually going to do more harm than good. It’s not loving to water down the message of salvation.
The CofE has “really lost the plot,” wrote one vicar to the Mail, which did not name him. The vicar noted that even Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t mandate Russian Orthodox churches to “censor carols at Christmas.” Canon Chris Sugden, a former member of the General Synod and executive secretary of the Anglican Mainstream group, also argued against the modifications. “Hymns should not be altered just because the Church conforms to every progressive cause,” he was quoted as saying. He asked whether attending a Jewish or Hindu festival would warrant altering the lyrics or liturgy to accommodate potential objections.
The Church of England has told vicars to edit Christmas carols for fear of causing offense. To whom? […] The people the church is offending are Christians. Again,” said a Mail consultant editor and columnist Andrew Pierce in a post published on X Sunday.
I’d say that sums it up nicely.
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