The Evangelical Universalist Forum

"The Wrath against Wrath" over "In Christ Alone" song

Evangelical Universalism
#1

the author quotes Bosco Peters, who"]“Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied”

“Those words as understood by many (if not most) in that room are heresy. The understanding of those words by many (most) who enthusiastically sing this in services around the planet is heretical.

“The understanding is that God (The Father) was angry at us in our sinfulness. And that God took out this rage on Christ instead of on us. And that this now enables God (The Father) to love us.

This understanding is heresy.”

A meeting of the Presbyterian Church in the US voted to leave In Christ Alone out of their new PCUSA Hymnal over this issue.Interesting development… worth reading the rest of the article too.

I’ve long wondered about that line of the song. This is yet another example of the growing divide between Presbyterians around the world. i.e. the Australian Presbyterians are much more Calvinistic than both the US & NZ! (I’d probably still be Presbyterian, possibly even an church elder, if I’d been in the US or NZ. Likewise I’m pretty sure I’d be allowed to be a member of the Christian Reformed Church in either Holland or the US, as again the Australian branch is more “conservative”)

Anyway, I agree with the conclusion of the article, it’s good to think about what you’re actually singing about :slight_smile:

#2

that’s quite healthy…we do sometimes take things for granted that isn’t helpful or edifying! things like song lyrics, sermons, doctrines

#3

It’s a powerful song, but that line is wrong imo. I like the suggested line about the love of God being revealed in the cross. The cross declared, I believe, that we humans are of extreme value to God, so loved by God that He’d die for us to have us.

#4

I love this song, but always had a problem with that part also. So in our little house church group we have changed the words to " The love of God was magnified"

#5

“was satisfied” works there, too, btw. :slight_smile:

#6

Yes! You go, Brothers. :smiley: No need to discard a perfectly good song if it can be repaired and improved in one stroke.

#7

But I AM glad to hear that the Presbyterians recognized the heresy in that statement . . . very positive development I think. :slight_smile:

#8

Christians don’t tell lies…they sing them… :sunglasses:

#9

Whenever I sing it as “love of God was satisfied” I think of George MacDonald saying, “You may sneer at such love, but the Son of God who took the weight of that love, and bore it through the world, is content with it, and so is everyone who knows it.”

#10

As I’ve thought on this, I’ve come to think that it was not the “wrath of God” that was satisfied at the cross, but it was the “wrath of man” that was/is satisfied. At the cross we find the power to forgive, to let go of our anger towards all evil and embrace the love of God for all creation. Our natural selfish cry is for “justice”, not the making things right justice, but the justice that demands payback, retribution, evil for evil! At the cross the Lord takes the sword out of our hands, like Jesus did for “Ben Hur”, and in its place heals our wounded soul, empowering us to forgive, be forgiven, and to love even our enemies so much that we can say with Jesus “Father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing!” It’s the ultimate “turn the other cheek.” It’s The Greatest example of extravagant grace and unfailing love.

Now that’s beautiful and moving, inspiring, if I do say so myself. Thank you Lord!

#11

In Christ alone is one of my favorite songs too except the line, “the wrath of God was satisfied”. I love the revision of “The Love of God was magnified”. Reflects more accurately our Father’s nature of love.