Burning Bush Blog

Brief comments on alternative lyrics for “In Christ Alone”1

"In Christ Alone," written by Keith Getty and Peter Townend, is a popular contemporary hymn, but the strong presentation of penal substitution in the second verse is controversial. The original lyrics are reprinted here.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone, who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save
‘Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.

The issue arises from the phrase ‘wrath of God’ in the fifth line. Both a theology of the atonement, and a theology of God are implied. This is one contemporary instance where theological debate directly affects worship practice. Suggested changes carry theological weight, and impact the aesthetics of the song. The changes reflect the theology of those making the changes, and are potentially formative.

1. Alternative lyrics (Dunedin, 2007).2

The wrath of man was now exposed
Our common sin took life from him

Apart from the aesthetic damage incurred by the choice of ‘exposed’, the change in theological emphasis is significant. The focus of the song as written is on Christ. These alternative lyrics give too much to the power on ‘our sin,’ which becomes the focus, and the acting agent. The original lyrics provide a biblical account of Christ’s death (Romans 5:9-11). In the original, while not spelt out, it is implied that God lays sin on Christ. The notion of the ‘wrath’ of God presents difficulties pastorally and theologically, but with at least 190 occurrences in scripture, they are difficulties grounded in scripture. Neither the ‘wrath of man’ or ‘our common sin’ is a biblical phrase.

2. Alternative Lyrics3    

‘Till on that cross as Jesus died
The love of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid

This alternative offers a way around the difficulties incurred by the term ‘wrath’, retains the original rhyming scheme, and provides an account of salvation which attributes the work done at the cross, at least by implication, to God. The one word change has the virtue of being the smallest alternative suggested. The way in which the ‘love of God’ could be or might need to be satisfied is thought-provoking. The suggestions suffers from a lack of biblical support, despite N.T. Wrights endorsement of this alternative.4

3. Alternative Lyrics.

The 2008 Southern Baptist Convention5 used this song with the following changes:

‘Till on that cross as Jesus died
The price of sin was satisfied,
For every sin on Him was laid

While this alternative retains the original rhyming scheme, the repetition of ‘sin’ is unwieldy. Theologically, sin takes on an independent existence. “In Christ Alone” lacks a robust account of the Triune God and this alteration further distances God.  From the same source, the line, "I am His and He is mine," referring to Christ, was changed to "I am yours and you are mine.” This change shifts the address of the hymn from a descriptive proclamation addressed to ‘the world’, to declaration of faith addressed to Christ. Christ shifts from being the object of the song, to the subject.

4. Alternative Lyrics  
‘Till on that cross as Jesus died
The love of God was glorified,     
For every sin on Him was laid

This alternative maintains the original rhyming scheme, and the lyric fits more comfortably with the tone, language, and theology of the rest of the hymn. It requires two words to be changed, one more than Alternative 2.

Final Comments

The freedom to alter lyrics in this fashion is related to two matters. Firstly, “In Christ Alone” is a popular contemporary hymn. Whatever the faults, this hymn expresses something the church today wants to be singing, in a way they are able to sing. The perceived faults are not sufficiently grievous to preclude widespread use. Secondly, what we sing matters. The ‘wrath of God’ is sufficiently disturbing to enough people that unauthorised, unattributed, alternations are made and used in public worship. Strongly held theological convictions overcome the reluctance to tamper with published material. In a way, alternations of this sort help a community to own a theological distinctiveness – ‘this is what we believe here.’ They also illustrate the ongoing, important, dialogical relationship between what we believe, and what we sing.

1.  Getty, Keith and Townend, Stuart. “In Christ Alone” (2001) in The Source. Stowark, Suffolk: Kevin Mayhew Ltd., 1998.

2. Observed in a Presbyterian church.

3. < http://adrianwarnock.com/2007/04/atonement-n-t-wright-attacks-both-sides.html> (accessed 27 November, 2008).

4. http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/news/2007/20070423wright.cfm?doc=205 (accessed 27 November, 2008).

5. http://www.baptistmessenger.com/story/786A5E9DDCD9B8FB056EF88E4491090D (accessed  27 November, 2008).

October 8, 2008

 

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