Heretical Hymns? (Sacred songs that contradict church teachings)

Catholic Education ^ | August 29, 2006 | George Weigel

[chesley]

Not to pick a fight, but that is the exact reason that I love "Amazing Grace". But then I'm not Catholic.

[AnAmericanMother]

Actually, that's my Lab. The GSP is also a liver-and-white, like yours.

The GSPs are highly intelligent and sensitive animals, but VERY energetic! How old is yours? Is he fast? He has beautiful, kind eyes.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Very sad. Ten years ago I would have never dreamed we'd be fighting this battle in our little ol' traditional LCMS church.

But today we have built a beautiful new church (dedicated 1 1/2 years ago) and there are bills to pay.

I'd so much rather be in our old building with our "old" one worship Sundays instead of spending time trying to appeal to the affluent neighborhood where the church now stands.

[annalex]

Just as a reader doesn't become Christ when s/he proclaims Scripture in the divine "first person," a cantor or a congregation is not at fault when they do the same

Right. I was going to say the same thing.

[bcsco]

I was treasurer at our ELCA congregation for 1 1/2 years. Nothing but income/expense problems due to our 'new' construction and income not meeting expectations. The finance committee was more interested in refinancing the debt on the church, parsonage and adjoining property (a rental unit) than they were in assisting me on working through our monthly problems. The usual comment was 'oh, Jim can handle it'. Well, I finally resigned in disgust. Now we're with the LCMS and I confine myself to the Evangelism committee and being one of the webmasters at our CTSMemberConnect website. I'm very happy!

Many churches are struggling financially. I can't say that our LCMS church is although they seem to think so. Membership is greater than our ELCA congregation. Worship attendance is good. And we met out budget for this year. Sure, it was a struggle, but when isn't it?

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I'm glad to hear you're happy and that things seem reasonably calm at your church. I pray that we reach that point again. There is a growing group that is trying all we can to get us back to being Christ-centered.

As discouraged as I get, I still have much hope and trust in the Holy Spirit. All we need now is for more of the movers and shakers to realize it is not their gimmicks that will grow our congregation. It is the Holy Spirit and that is what we pray.

[Maeve]

Dreams of banning are nice. Some of us just ran to the Eastern Catholic Churches to escape the noise. But since I am the bread of life will continue to be sung and sung and sung ad nauseum, let's at least tweak the text into something more appropriate:

Thou art the Bread of Life.
All who come to thee shall not hunger.
All who believe in thee shall not thirst.
Yet none may come to thee unless the Father draw them.

Refrain: And thou shalt raise us up,
And thou shalt raise us up,
And thou shalt raise us up on the last day.

It is just a suggestion...

[gracebeliever]

Could not agree more.

[bcsco]

The best of luck to you, but with God's help I'm betting on you! Don't get discouraged. Remember, it is His will that is at work.

[LibertyGirl77]

"I would like to see more Latin in every Church. At least the Krie Eleison and Agnus Dei; we could all handle that."

The Kyrie Eleison is Greek, not Latin. Our church does the Agnus Dei in Latin.

[Salvation]

I stand corrected on the Kyrie Eleison.