I was stirred to see that standing by their theology was more important than getting published in the Presbyterian hymnal. I don’t know anything about the authors, but I like the song. In No Squishy Love Timothy George wrote, “ Sin, judgment, cross, even Christ have become problematic terms in much contemporary theological discourse, but nothing so irritates and confounds as the idea of divine wrath.” This left the committee to decide whether they could use " the wrath of God was satisfied.” According to Bringle, some argued for inclusion because “…the words expressed one view of God’s saving work in Christ that has been prevalent in Christian history.” and “it is…a view held by some members of our family of faith.” While seeking for diversity in other areas, the majority was not impressed, noting “…that a hymnal does not simply collect diverse views, but also selects to emphasize some over others as part of its mission to form the faith of coming generations.” Simply put, they did not want to perpetuate to their churches a view that the cross satisfied the wrath of God.
They proposed “Till on that cross as Jesus died, the love of God was magnified” in place of “Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.” The authors of the hymn, however, would not authorize this change in wording. The committee requested permission to alter the hymn’s lyrics. She says the “most animated disagreements we experienced within our group were over matters of theology” and gives two examples, one being “In Christ Alone.” Though the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) descends in the tradition of John Calvin and John Knox, they were troubled by the expression in the hymn about “the wrath of God.” Perhaps they no longer believe in the wrath of God against sin, or else they don’t want to offend anyone by mentioning it. In a May Christian Century report, committee chair Mary Louise Bringle tells some of that story in her article Debating hymns. This decision sparked a committee controversy and in the end “In Christ Alone” was rejected. In 2008 a committee of 15 was formed and drew up two guiding statements, which, like the denomination itself, lean to the liberal end of the theological spectrum.Īlong the way, the hymnal committee decided to use the popular hymn titled “In Christ Alone” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend (2001). By vote in 2006, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) authorized publishing a new hymnal.