Friday, August 16, 2013

IN the NEWS - Presbyterians Remove "In Christ Alone" from Hymnal

"The Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Songs for the Presbyterian Church (USA) has decided to not include the hymn "In Christ Alone" because one phrase speaks about God's wrath.

Carmen Fowler LaBerge, president of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, told The Christian Post on Friday that the Congregational Songs Committee's decision is evidence of why churches are leaving the PC (USA).

"For the denomination to decide, intentionally, to remove 'In Christ Alone' from the hymnal, in my view, bares evidence of serious erosion of the denomination's theology related to the atonement," LaBerge asserted.
LaBerge told CP that the last time the denomination adopted a new hymnal, the revisions that were made focused on inclusive language and the removal of militaristic hymns, such as "Onward, Christian Soldiers."
"The last time the PC (USA) adopted a new hymnal, the blue hymnal – we call it the blue hymnal because the old hymnal prior to that was red, and the one prior to that was green – the emphasis in that revision was on inclusive language, and anything that was viewed as militaristic." ChristianPost
 

Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee,
and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
Psalm 79:6
Maybe the 'liberals' in the Presbyterian leadership should also ban the Psalms?