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
I’ll bet they have an issue with the term “In Christ alone” as well.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
wow-if they don’t like God’s “wrath”, they better not read the Bible!
From what I’ve read, the Pagan Church USA gave that concept up decades ago.
WINDHAM
Broad is the road that leads to death,
And thousands walk together there.
But wisdom shows a narrow path,
With here and there a traveler.
The fearful soul that tires and faints,
And walks the ways of God no more.
Is but esteemed almost a saint,
And makes his own destruction sure.
“In Christ Alone” is one of the few modern songs my congregation regularly sings.
Based on what I’ve seen, PC USA is all about “Social Justice Jesus.”
Here is an awesome and relevant tweet from Pirate Christian Radio sent only a few minutes ago. If I knew how to paste a picture I would.
http://twitter.com/piratechristian/status/362186330215702528/photo/1
Luke 19:26-27 MKJV
(26) For I say to you that to everyone who has, more will be given. And from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken from him.
(27) But those who are my enemies, who did not desire that I should reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.
I would have expected them to put it in their hymnbook with modified lyrics. That’s common enough.
Great song. As a gift, we had a professional calligrapher write the last verse, then we had it matted and framed for a friend who was facing cancer treatments. It was the “perfect” gift for her situation.
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.
Sing the Psalms.
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to
grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,
he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days,
and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
What these people want is either the endless repetition of a banality, or some sort of mushy "Jesus is my Boyfriend" drivel.
Guarantee thay won’t be putting the Louvin Brothers’ “Broadminded” in their hymnals any time soon.
http://decoda.com/the-louvin-brothers-broadminded-lyrics
“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.””
The reason the Presbyterian Church USA doesn’t like “In Christ Alone” is they shun the FEAR OF THE LORD.
JOHN 3:19-21
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
I disagree with much of its theological point, but that's another matter.
PC should stand for “Politically Correct” instead of “Presbyterian Church” in the name of this group.
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