Christian News reports that Hillsong UK removes their ‘London Carols’ promo video depicting wise men visiting baby Jesus in a tavern. ‘The video has now been removed without explanation. The London Carols event is still on, with one of the shows being sold out.’
Heather Clark writes:
A Hillsong branch in the United Kingdom has removed from YouTube a promotional video for its annual Christmas musical that depicted the wise men arriving at a Bethlehem inn to see the baby Jesus, and upon entering, finding an environment with much drinking and dancing just feet from the Christ child.
The “three kings” video promoted Hillsong’s “London Carols” program, scheduled for Dec. 16. According to a description of the production, the “extravaganza follows the timeless story of the three wise men as they travel through different continents and eras, from the plains of Africa, through to the golden age of rock and roll and a space-aged future on their quest to deliver gifts to the newborn King.”
The YouTube advertisement featured the three wise men arriving at the inn, singing the carol “We Three Kings of Orient Are” to announce their purpose to an eccentric woman who answers the door. As they are pulled inside, they find Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus—as well as much dancing and merrymaking, complete with patrons at the bar holding large mugs of beer and servers on top of tables.
Pulpit & Pen first reported on the matter, noting that there were several issues with the portrayal.
“In reality, Jesus was born in the stable—not in the inn, which had no vacancy for his expectant mother—and laid in a manger, or feeding trough (Luke 2:12),” it said. “The wise men, or Magi (a sect of astronomers and seers going back to the prophet, Daniel—Daniel 2:48 ), whose number is unknown, found Jesus at his home sometime during the first year after his birth (Matthew 2:11), just prior to their midnight flight to Egypt.”
“Inns of the first century in Jerusalem, by the way, were not bars or brothels resembling Old West taverns, but informal guest rooms in larger residential houses,” the report outlined.
Others also expressed objection to the promotional production. Read more here:
Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com
Categories: Uncategorized