‘In Christ Alone’ Pulled From New Presbyterian Hymnal

The popular hymn “In Christ Alone” will be left out of the new hymnal of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.

That’s because songwriters Keith Getty and Stuart Townend said they will not change the lyrics.

Some members objected to the line that says “On that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied,” spokesperson and chair of the Presbyterian Committee Mary Louise Bringle wrote in The Christian Century.

Bringle said most of the committee wanted the lyrics changed to: “The love of God was magnified.” They said they didn’t want to suggest in the new hymnal that Jesus’ death on the cross was an atoning sacrifice needed “to assuage God’s anger” over sin.

The hymn writers refused. Getty said they wrote “In Christ Alone” to tell “the whole gospel.”