Church of England Calls Language in Christmas Carols "Problematic"

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" requires some adjustment for gender inclusion or cultural explanation for why it is men and excludes women. The same with the various carols that proclaim Christianity is the only truth and Jesus the only messiah and others. To say change is on the way is an understatement. 

"O Come, O Come Emanual" is followed by reference to "captive Israel." Some Church of England church goers said this could have a political application to the war between Hammas and Israel. Carols that carry on about how the real messiah has finally arrived are offensive to church goers who also attend Jewish churches or have close friends and family who are Jewish. "Why a song that insults the Jews?" is the question. 

When one thinks about it, the religious songs, and the overall message, of Christmas are about, "Finally, we won and those other schmucks lost. Once we had this Jesus baby they were done." 

I looked at some lyrics I found online. Some of the sweetest carols had some touches of darkness. "O Little Town of Bethlehem" mentioned "sin" twice. I belong to the group who finds the main and central topic in all of Christianity is SIN.

The song that is fun to sing, Joy to the World, had in its original version a verse that I've never heard. It's about finding the "thorns of sin" and wraps up the verse with a rousing, "Far as, far as, the curse is found."   

I had never paid attention to the beautiful waltz, "Silent Night." Only reading them did the kinky Christian idea of the "virgin birth" register. Of course, the virgin birth shows up in other religions and some branches Christianity have dropped it. 

I can see why the Church of England, which receives tax money, needs to be more careful to not insult nonChristian taxpayers than do U. S. freewheeling churches who live by the collection plate. It might help all of us if we think of Christmas Carols as beautiful tunes with bizarre ideas in their lyrics.