Sometimes I wonder if people just need things to protest about. The PC(USA) is coming out with a new Hymnal in September. I have seen the hymn list and think it is awesome! It has more gospel songs, more songs from around the world, more folk songs, and more contemporary choruses without losing any of the old favorites. They have almost twice the songs as the current blue hymnal by giving the congregation just the vocal part and harmony and having the accompaniment in a separate spiral bound book.
This should be exciting! This should be bringing Presbyterians together. It should be something to rejoice about. So what articles are being published about this wonderful step forward?
Conservative Presbyterians are screaming that it is liberal propaganda. Why? Because the committee choosing the hymns asked a contemporary song writer if they could change the line "The wrath of God was satisfied" to "the love of God was magnified." The writers said, "NO!" and so after much debate they decided not to use that praise song and put in another instead.
One song... There are still plenty of hymns talking about God's wrath and Jesus' saving act. They have even put in a blood hymn or two. There is more variety in this hymnal than every before. So, because they decided to skip one song (Which any church that has a CCLI license can still use every Sunday if they want to...) the committee is now "pushing a liberal agenda".
Give me a break! This is why the world outside the church thinks that we are petty and crazy.
Why on earth would you label a person or a group of people just because they don't like a song that you like? Seriously people!
Jesus came to bring the love and forgiveness of God and we are dumping wrath all over each other in public over one line in one song. Get over yourselves!
I think that the Presbyterian church is wonderful because it doesn't tell you that you have to be liberal or conservative. They leave that between you and God. Yes that does make it harder to pick hymns for the new hymnal without offending someone. Oh well! In the grand eternal scheme of things what does one line matter. It is not like they tried to have a line changed in the Bible.
Regardless of whether or not you like the song I think the committee had one thing right. The PC(USA) needs love to be magnified much more than it needs wrath to be satisfied.
Grace and Peace!
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