Church of England leaders are asking priests to change the wording of traditional carols, causing a heated debate over faith and tradition.
Key Facts:
– Clergy in the Birmingham diocese received guidance to remove phrases from hymns that might offend other religions.
– “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending” were flagged for references to Jesus as the “true Messiah” and to “captive Israel.”
– Some leaders believe altering these songs dilutes central Christian teachings.
– Critics say if congregants attend carol services, they expect the original words to remain intact.
The Rest of The Story:
Church officials argue that certain lyrics could alienate people of different faiths.
They sent an email advising priests to be mindful of language they say might cause tension.
Opponents, including a vicar who shared the guidance, feel the Church is compromising its message to satisfy external pressures.
The debate centers on carols’ original references to Jesus’s divinity and the role of Israel.
While supporters of the changes say they want to welcome everyone, others urge clergy to “sing loud and proud,” asserting that if Church officials reject long-standing hymns, they may be unfit for their roles.
Commentary:
It seems obvious the people leading the Church of England are not acting like true believers in the very faith they claim to uphold.
If they do not genuinely believe Jesus is the Messiah, they should either step aside or make way for those who do.
No leader can authentically guide a body of believers if they deny the central truth of that faith.
Romans 1:16-17 states “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Wokeness, by its nature, often redefines core beliefs under the banner of not offending anyone.
This impulse weakens or even destroys cherished traditions while watering down the entire purpose of the church.
Perhaps that is its real goal—to erode faith based institutions like the Church of England from within.
In contrast the leaders of Muslim mosques and other faith based organizations in England are not watering down their message to accommodate Christians, nor should they.
The Bottom Line:
The Church of England’s move to change carol lyrics says a lot about the religious convictions of those leading the organization.
In trying not to offend, the Church of England has clearly lost sight of its core message.