Jesus invites the Faithless

Let me introduce you to J. Barrett Lee, who is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Boonville, NY.  He is a participant in St. James Mission, a progressive, ecumenical, spiritual community in Utica, NY, and also teaches philosophy at Utica College. He lives in central New York with his wife, two kids, and two cats. Best of all he likes to watch Star Trek, listen to U2, and play his guitar. For more about him go to http://streetpastor.wordpress.com/

So what has this to do with us? Well a few years ago I came across Barrett Lee’s revision of the Christmas Carol “O Come all Ye Faithful” . This hymn began its life as "Adeste Fideles", thought to be written by John Francis Wade. The English translation is by an English Catholic priest, Frederick Oakeley.  

Rev Barrett Lee challenged the theological underpinning of this carol by asking whether Bethlehem welcomed only the faithful, the joyful and triumphant. Quite clearly Jesus did not only come for the spiritually successful. So a revision of this carol could help remind us that Jesus also came for those of no faith, no joy and little success. I present an alternative version – with grateful thanks to a wonderful New York colleague.

 

O Come All Ye Faithless

O come, all ye faithless, beat up, and defeated
Come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold him, born the Friend of Sinners
O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord

Sing, choirs of vagrants, sing for inspiration
Sing, all ye citizens on earth below,
Glory to God, giving us new courage
O come, let us adore him O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord

Yea Lord, we greet Thee
born to bring us joy
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given
Hope for the Hopeless, now in flesh appearing

O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore him O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord

- adapted by J. Barrett Lee,  and readapted by P. Grassow