Posted on 07/30/2013 5:30:30 AM PDT by Gamecock
I saw this over at Denny Burk’s blog today. Apparently the reason the Presbyterian Church USA doesn’t like “In Christ Alone (one of my favorites), is because of that unpopular, un-politically correct word, “Wrath.” As we’ve pointed out many times here at SUFTT, the more sin is watered down, the less we have of the true Gospel. In other words – no sin = FALSE gospel. The PCUSA has been going down a concerning path for quite some time now, and it appears that this is just another symptom of the problem the devil delights in: a departure from Truth to appeal to the world. Here’s the article: PCUSA rejects popular hymn “In Christ Alone”
Timothy George explains why the Presbyterian Church USA has recently rejected the hymn “In Christ Alone” from its new hymnal:
Recently, the wrath of God became a point of controversy in the decision of the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song to exclude from its new hymnal the much-loved song “In Christ Alone” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. The Committee wanted to include this song because it is being sung in many churches, Presbyterian and otherwise, but they could not abide this line from the third stanza: “Till on that cross as Jesus died/the wrath of God was satisfied.” For this they wanted to substitute: “…as Jesus died/the love of God was magnified.” The authors of the hymn insisted on the original wording, and the Committee voted nine to six that “In Christ Alone” would not be among the eight hundred or so items in their new hymnal.
There is no surprise in this news. Although not all PCUSA churches are theologically liberal, the denomination by and large is. Liberalism and wrath go together like oil and water; they don’t mix. And historically speaking, one of them eventually has to go. When wrath goes, so does the central meaning of the atonement of Christ—penal substitution. At the end of the day, the cross itself is the stumbling block, and that is why the PCUSA cannot abide this hymn.
You can read the rest of George’s article here. You can read the lyrics below.
In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.
“In Christ Alone” Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music
If all books become digits, and require a digital reader, the phasing out of reading by stopping the production of new readers and new digits wouldn't be outside the bounds of possibility.
PCUSA IDOL: “A God without wrath brought men without sin into a Kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a Cross.” ~ H. Richard Niebuhr
That.
While we might not understand it, God is sovereign and everything we see around us is going according to His divine plan. God is not mock. Whatever a man sows, that he will reap. God just expects us to love justice, do kindness and to walk humbly with Him. Persecution may come but we will fear no evil. This is not our homeland. We're only passing through.
everything we see around us is going according to His divine plan. God is not mock. Whatever a man sows, that he will reap.
I work to remember that, lately.
Our ruling class seems ever more foolish. And, this is in the hand of God. Quite possibly a judgment.
This is not our homeland. We're only passing through.
"The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart;devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace;"
I am not a fan of modern “Christian contemporary” music. Most of it is drivel, some of it is heretical, and a very large part of it is intended to appeal to emotional excitement. And even if none of that were true, my personal preference is psalmody (not exclusive, but I think God gave us the psalms for a reason and we ought to use them).
This appears to be a rare case where the composers were orthodox, stood their ground, and refused to let liberals change the song lyrics.
Good for them.
However God does let us.defend ourselves. We need to work to prevent the secularists rise
Everything around us is for our good and benefit, although it is difficult to understand that principle. Why do some Christians face severe persecution while other Christians seem to live a good life. I'm not sure but there is a purpose for the things that God calls us to do, just as He had Elijah preach while He hid his other prophets in caves as well as had some in the employment of Ahab acting as spies. All was doing just what God wanted them to do.
I remember Orthodox Presbyterian used to say this earth was the believers training ground. That was so insightful for that is exactly what this world is.
Guys — yes, God is moving forward in His plan, but that Plan includes us.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.