This body of the Presbyterian church (not to be confused with the more conservative but smaller body known as the Presbyterian Church in America) wanted to publish the song in their new hymnal but wanted to make a modification to the lyrics. Ultimately, the hymn authors, Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, did not approve the request to change the lyrics. To be fair, the change had already been published in a different hymnal and so, PC(USA) thought that the other hymnal publisher had previously gotten permission (which they had not.) As the authors and holders of the copyright, Townend and Getty own the song and own the rights to how it can or can't be modified. If I paint my house blue and you don't like it and come over and paint it green...you can't do that...it's not YOUR house, it's mine. You can't, without permission, change the words to a copyrighted song. PC(USA) decided their only option was to leave the song out of their hymnal.
The problem came down to a part of the song that says: "...on the cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied." The Presbyterian Church (USA) does not agree with the theology of that particular line. They wanted to publish their hymnal with these revised words: "...on the cross as Jesus died, the love of God was magnified." Musically, I think it is a pretty good revision. The number of syllables remains unchanged, the word "magnified" and "satisfied" both rhyme beautifully with the last word ("died") in the previous line just like good songs should. You would never really notice any difference singing the original words or the new words. It's not like they were wanting you to sing "Amazing Grace" to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun," or "Peaceful, Easy Feeling," or the theme song from Gilligan's Island. It's just a couple of simple words!
What's the big deal? Good songwriters generally choose their lyrics carefully. I doubt that Townend and Getty disagree that God's love was, in fact, magnified on the cross. It's not what the Presbyterians wanted to add to the song that was the problem...I think it's what they wanted to remove. Theologically, some have a problem with the idea that God's wrath was "satisfied" by Jesus' death on the cross. Debate exists over what Jesus' death on the cross meant. Presbyterians disagree. I'm a Baptist. I'm sure fellow Baptists disagree on this theological point. I won't try to explain the many points of disagreement because that would take up more space than a blog allows.
So, who are these picky people that scrutinize the words of songs that closely? My gosh, it's a great song, with a great tune and I hear it played frequently on my local Christian radio station so...it must be a good one. Personally, I have no problem with the original lyrics and believe I understand what Townend and Getty were saying in the song... including the line in question.
As a worship leader, I get requests sometimes daily about a song that someone believes would be a great new song to include in our Sunday morning repertoire. The song may have a great driving beat that will generate lots of energy into the service..or it may have a really great "hook" in the song which is always a powerful attraction. Or it might be a song that was sung at a recent conference or is popular at other churches in town. It may have a really sweet piano part throughout or a really cool guitar ride after the chorus. It might be a real toe tapper or hand clapper or even one that may move you to tears.
I do wonder sometimes, though, if folks read or pay attention to the words in the song they request or suggest. I sometimes want to ask, "can you tell me a little about what the song says?" Should it be important to think about what is actually being said to or about God in that song? Now, I understand many songs, especially those in modern, contemporary music, are just good, fun songs not meant to convey any deep theological message. But do you even agree with the words you want to sing? Look, I'm not a music snob that turns his nose up at certain songs or certain styles or genres. I have heard Christian hip hop songs that have lyrics that are more true and relevant than songs that have been in the Baptist Hymnal for the last 60 years.
I think the words we sing in worship matter just as much as the words we pray and the words that the pastor preaches. I know it is difficult some Sunday mornings to sing songs that do not convey where you are at that moment. I know it can be very hard to sing a song of joy if, at that moment in your life, you are feeling as low as you can be. On the other hand, I believe that by singing words that are beautiful and true, it can lift us up closer to God as we sing to glorify and praise Him.
Like the title of my blog says...this is... one man's opinion. Thoughts?
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