Hymn hits discordant tone
The psalmist praises the Lord, who "put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God." A committee putting together a new hymnal for the Presbyterian Church (USA) has run into criticism rather than praise for dropping a popular him when the song's authors refused to change a phrase about the wrath of God . . .
The psalmist praises the Lord, who "put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God." A committee putting together a new hymnal for the Presbyterian Church (USA) has run into criticism rather than praise for dropping a popular him when the song's authors refused to change a phrase about the wrath of God.
The original lyrics of "In Christ Alone" say that “on that cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.” The Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song wanted to substitute the words, “the love of God was magnified.”
The song’s authors, Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, objected, so the committee voted to drop the song. Critics say the proposed change was sparked by liberals wanting to take God’s wrath out of the hymnal. The committee says that's not true.
Instead the problem is the word “satisfied,” which the committee says refers to a specific view of theology that it rejects. Debate over “In Christ Alone” is a mix of church politics, the touchy subject of updating hymn lyrics, and rival views of what Jesus’ death on the cross meant.
"People think that we’ve taken the wrath of God out of the hymnal,” said Mary Louise Bringle, a religion professor and hymn writer who chaired the hymnal committee. “That’s not the case. It’s all over the hymnal. The issue was the word ‘satisfied.’ ”
That term was used by the medieval theologian Anselm, who argued that sins offended God’s honor and therefore someone had to die in order to satisfy this honor. The 15-member committee rejected this view and voted 9-6 to drop the hymn.
The Rev. Chris Joiner of First Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee agrees with the move. He said some of his church members are fans of the song and will be disappointed that it was dropped. But the song's words don’t work, he said. “That lyric comes close to saying that God killed Jesus,” he said. “The cross is not an instrument of God’s wrath.”
Homily hint: “The one who sings, prays twice,” Saint Augustine is commonly quoted as having said. His actual words differed, but the quote does help us understand why congregations care so much about their music. Hymns move us while they instruct us. Surveys show Catholics have their own concerns about the music used in worship. Make sure your own community is actively working to enhance its offering of liturgical music.
The original lyrics of "In Christ Alone" say that “on that cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.” The Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song wanted to substitute the words, “the love of God was magnified.”
The song’s authors, Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, objected, so the committee voted to drop the song. Critics say the proposed change was sparked by liberals wanting to take God’s wrath out of the hymnal. The committee says that's not true.
Instead the problem is the word “satisfied,” which the committee says refers to a specific view of theology that it rejects. Debate over “In Christ Alone” is a mix of church politics, the touchy subject of updating hymn lyrics, and rival views of what Jesus’ death on the cross meant.
"People think that we’ve taken the wrath of God out of the hymnal,” said Mary Louise Bringle, a religion professor and hymn writer who chaired the hymnal committee. “That’s not the case. It’s all over the hymnal. The issue was the word ‘satisfied.’ ”
That term was used by the medieval theologian Anselm, who argued that sins offended God’s honor and therefore someone had to die in order to satisfy this honor. The 15-member committee rejected this view and voted 9-6 to drop the hymn.
The Rev. Chris Joiner of First Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee agrees with the move. He said some of his church members are fans of the song and will be disappointed that it was dropped. But the song's words don’t work, he said. “That lyric comes close to saying that God killed Jesus,” he said. “The cross is not an instrument of God’s wrath.”
Homily hint: “The one who sings, prays twice,” Saint Augustine is commonly quoted as having said. His actual words differed, but the quote does help us understand why congregations care so much about their music. Hymns move us while they instruct us. Surveys show Catholics have their own concerns about the music used in worship. Make sure your own community is actively working to enhance its offering of liturgical music.
Source: An article by Bob Smietana for USA TODAY