Photo by IV Horton
I cannot recall when I first heard In Christ Alone, music written by Keith Getty and words by Stuart Townend. There have been several songs with the same exact title, though not the same song as this; However, this is my favorite.
Keith Getty is an Irish composer with a focus on modern hymnals. His most famous works include In Christ Alone, The Power of the Cross, Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed, and By Faith. Rather than summarizing his career as a composer, it would be far simpler to simply link to it.
English artist Stuart Townend began his career in 1995 with his first album Classical Praise Piano: Come Holy Spirit. Since then, he released thirteen other albums, including:
- Say the Word (1997)
- Personal Worship (2001)
- Lord of Every Heart (2002)
- Monument to Mercy (2006)
- The Best of Stuart Townend Live (2007)
- There is a Hope (live) (2008)
- Creation Sings (2009)
- The Journey (2011)
- Ultimate Collection (2012)
- The Paths of Grace (2014)
- The Best of Stuart Townend Live, Volume 2 (2015)
- In Christ Alone: Songs of Stuart Townend & Keith Getty (2016)
- Courage (2018)
Insofar as I am aware, this artist has not received any prestigious awards; However, he regularly collaborates with Keith and Kristyn Getty.
As the title says, I will be tackling In Christ Alone in this review. It landed in some controversy with the Presbyterian Church, which sought to include their song in their hymnal. They asked Keith Getty to change the lyric “Till on that cross as Jesus died/the wrath of God was satisfied” to “wrath of God was satisfied” to “the love of God was magnified.” He refused to change the lyrics, resulting in non-inclusion, sparking a debate regarding the theological doctrine of propitiation, a position I happen to hold.
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1. What message does the song communicate?
This song epitomizes praise and worship, replete with:
- Attributes of God. He is the source of our light, strength, song, and peace. He is the chief cornerstone, love, and sovereign over creation. Nothing can separate us from Him!
- Actions of God. He destroys darkness, doubts, and fear in us, comforts us, and demonstrates His love through payment of our sins. The last, of course, is the Gospel message, front and center.
- Our response of eternal praise to Christ’s actions.
Stanza 4’s “life’s first cry” might be interpreted by some that life begins at birth/cry and not at conception, potentially opening the door to support the idea that womb-dwelling creatures are potential humans and not actual humans.
Score: 9/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
Lyrics posted with permission.* Since it does not follow the typical verse/chorus/bridge format, I added stanzas for delineation.
[Stanza 1]
In Christ alone my hope is found
Straight out of John 14:6, this line expresses Jesus as the sole and only path to hope.
He is my light, my strength, my song
All three are in Scripture in terms of our access through God and Jesus:
- Light – Matthew 5:14-16, Ephesians 5:8, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 1:5-7, 1 John 2:7-11
- Strength – Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 22:19, Psalm 28:7-8, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 118:14, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 33:2, Isaiah 40:29-31, Habakkuk 3:19, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 6:10, and Philippians 4:13
- (New) Song – Psalm 40:3
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Christ is the chief cornerstone that is the foundation for the church (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 and Ephesians 2:19-22).
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
References the wise and foolish builder parable in Matthew 7:24-27.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
Summarized in Romans 5:6-8, Christ’s love for us is expressed in sacrifice. Though Christ came the first time not to bring peace, but a sword of division (Matthew 10:34), we may attain Christ’s peace through following Him (see John 14:27, Romans 5:1, and Galatians 5:22-25).
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
Following Jesus leads to fearlessness, much like others who chose to follow God (see Genesis 15:1, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 56:3-4, Psalm 94:19, Psalm 115:11, Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 41:10-13, Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 54:4, John 14:25-27, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:38-39, 2 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 13:5-6, 1 Peter 3:13-14, 1 Peter 5:6-7, and 1 John 4:18). We no longer live for ourselves, but for God, summarized eloquently in 2 Corinthians 5:15 and Galatians 2:20.
My comforter, my all in all
See Psalm 23:4, Psalm 71:21, Psalm 119:50-52, Psalm 119:76, Psalm 119:82, Isaiah 51:3, Isaiah 57:18, Isaiah 61:2, Isaiah 66:13, Zechariah 1:17, Matthew 5:4, Matthew 11:28-30, and 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.
Here, in the love of Christ, I stand
Keith Getty & Stuart Townend plant their flags, standing firm in Christ alone (Philippians 2:16).
[Stanza 2]
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Summarized in John 1:14 and Philippians 2:5-7, Jesus is God who became a man.
Fullness of God in helpless babe
Refers to Mary’s pregnancy through the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 1:21-23 and Luke 1:31).
This gift of love and righteousness
Both love (1 John 4:8) and righteousness (Exodus 9:27, Deuteronomy 32:4, Judges 5:11, 1 Samuel 12:7, 2 Samuel 23:3-4, Ezra 9:15, Nehemiah 9:8, Job 37:23, Psalm 7:11, Psalm 9:8, Psalm 11:7, Psalm 36:6, Psalm 35:24, Psalm 40:10, Psalm 48:10, Psalm 50:6, Psalm 65:5, Psalm 89:14, Psalm 96:13, Psalm 97:2, Psalm 97:6, Psalm 99:4, Psalm 103:6, Psalm 119:137, Psalm 71:19, Psalm 111:2-3, Psalm 119:7, Psalm 119:142, Psalm 129:4, Psalm 145:17, Isaiah 5:16, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 45:21, Isaiah 46:13, Isaiah 51:8, Jeremiah 9:24, Jeremiah 11:20, Jeremiah 12:1, Lamentations 1:18, Daniel 9:14-16, Micah 6:5, Zephaniah 3:5, Zechariah 8:8, John 17:25, 2 Timothy 4:8, and Revelation 15:3) are attributes of God. The greatest gift God could offer us is Himself.
Scorned by the ones he came to save
Refers to the cross.
‘Til on that cross, as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin, on him, was laid
Jesus’ death paid the penalty for our lawbreaking (see Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).
Here, in the death of Christ, I live
It is through Jesus that we attain eternal life (see Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11 , Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4).
[Stanza 3]
There in the ground, his body lay
Jesus was buried in a tomb that nobody had laid (John 19:38-42).
Light of the world, by darkness, slain
Refers to the death of Jesus.
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave, he rose again
Jesus has risen (see Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8)! This is likely where thunderous applause will be heard throughout the congregation.
And as he stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
We are no longer slaves of sin, but slaves of righteousness (see Romans 6:15-23).
For I am his and he is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
Christ’s invaluable shed blood purchased our redemption (see Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19).
[Stanza 4]
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
That is, we no longer face condemnation from breaking God’s Laws (see Psalm 32:1, John 3:16-18, Romans 4:7-8, Romans 5:1, Romans 8:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and Galatians 3:13).
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
In other words, Jesus is sovereign over creation (see Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 10:14, Joshua 2:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 93:1-2, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 45:9-10, Isaiah 46:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrews 1:8, James 4:15, Revelation 4:11, and Revelation 20:11).
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from his hand
The gates of hell cannot prevail against us (Matthew 16:17-19). Nothing can separate us from God (see John 10:28-30 and Romans 8:35-39).
‘Til he returns or calls me home
Here, in the power of Christ, I stand
Our eternal praise occurs regardless of when we die, or when Christ returns (see Nehemiah 9:5, Psalm 30:12, Psalm 52:9, Psalm 86:12, Psalm 89:1, Psalm 115:18, Psalm 145:1-2, Psalm 145:21, and Revelation 5:9-13).
The last line here repeats the last line in Stanza 1.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Anyone with a vague notion of Christianity should easily see the hymn style and the worship that comes with it. With its overt and obvious reference to God, Jesus, salvation, and Christ’s goodness, an unbeliever must go out of their way to interpret this differently than a praise song to God.
My commentary on “life’s first cry” is especially alarming for unbelievers, who might see this as hearty approval to declare the unborn not human, potentially granting them Biblical support for abortion for any reason.
Score: 8/10
4. What does this song glorify?
If the title wasn’t enough to demonstrate God’s glory through uplifting Christ, the song removes any lingering doubt.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
I have thoroughly enjoyed dissecting the biblical depths of Keith Getty and Stuart Townend’s In Christ Alone. It is among the best hymns I have ever heard, up there with Amazing Grace. 100% of its lyrics are biblical, praising and glorifying God with its moving and amazing message of God’s redemption for our transgressions. However, I am concerned that Christians and unbelievers alike will see “life’s first cry” as tacit justification for abortions for any reason.
If that last point could be addressed on stage, then this song would be suitable for corporate worship.
Final Score: 9.5/10
Artist Info
Track: In Christ Alone (listen to Keith & Krystyn Getty’s version of the song)
Artist: Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Album: In Christ Alone: Live Worship at Church of Christ the King (Stuart Townend), In Christ Alone: New Hymns of Prayer and Worship (Keith Getty)
Genre: Hymn
Release Year: 2001
Duration: N/A
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2002 Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding Europe which is adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family. Songs@integritymusic.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Updates:
02/10/2023 – After prayerfully considering karen gould’s comments, I decided to include her concerns into the review concerning life before birth and its implications on abortion for any reason. This lowered the overall score from 10/10 to 9.5/10, and modified my corporate worship recommendation to “perhaps”.
05/03/2022 – Changed the review to title Keith Getty & Stuart Townend as co-artists, with the exclusion of Krystyn Getty. I also included an artist profile for Stuart, lightly edited the review to include proper artist references, and updated the Artist Profile section. Thanks to Phil Harman for reminding me to change this review!
01/19/2022 – Clarified in introduction that Keith wrote the music and Townend wrote the lyrics. Thank you Jay Thompson!
10/12/2021 – Thank you Phaythful for correcting me about authorship! I removed Kristyn as this song’s writer.
Comments
U
This was written by Stuart Townsend, Keith sent him the tune and Stuart wrote the lyrics. It was the start of many songs by this calibration, Stuart’s lyrics and Getty’s tune. I don’t see a mention of him in your review and he was the one that gave the Getty’s the platform to become there own “artists” – the rest is history.
tastywallet
U,
Thanks for that factoid! I included it in the introduction section, first paragraph.
-TastyWallet
Kim Stark
As clarification, the lyrics were written by Stuart Townend. (no letter S) Stuart Townsend is an actor.
Vince Wright
Kim,
Thanks! I corrected it.
-Vince Wright
Michael Weeks
Interesting that there were no actual scriptures supporting the controversial part of the song.
Firstly, Jesus was not scorned by those He came to save. He was crucified by evil people who confirmed the rightful pouring out of God’s wrath on those who oppose God. The one’s He came to save were horrified by the crucifixion and still are.
Secondly, and most importantly, there is not one scripture that supports the idea that the Father poured out His wrath on Jesus. In fact the opposite – the scriptures say the Father was pleased with Jesus’ sacrifice. Pouring wrath out on oneself is an obvious nonsense.
The scriptures are as clear as can be that it was the curse of the law that had to be covered, so it was a legal requirement, that Satan would have used the authority of to try to save himself or, otherwise, to ensure our death. This is why it is called a ransom and why the scriptures tell us, plainly, that Satan had the power of death over us. Satan would definitely have used that power of death over people to attempt to justify himself.
It was not God who poured out His wrath on Himself but people in human authority. It was God who submitted Himself to the unrighteous secular and religious authorities who did whatever they wanted to Him. When you pay a ransom you pay it to the bad guys – not to the father. When there is a ransom to be paid it is the father who usually pays it. The idea of paying a ransom to yourself is an absurdity.
Jesus’ act means that Satan cannot use legal arguments against us and we can be availed of God’s mercy which He has planned to give to us from the beginning. The scriptures are absolutely clear about this.
Vince Wright
Michael,
Thank you for your challenge! I respectfully disagree with both points.
1) According to 2 Peter 3:9, God’s desire is for all to repent. He wants all of us to have a personal relationship with Himself. That includes those who scorned Him. He came to save those who are lost (Matthew 18:11 and Luke 19:10). He came to heal those who knew that they were sinners (Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17, and Luke 5:31). He asked the Father to forgive them because they were ignorant of their actions (Luke 23:34). I’m uncertain how you can argue the opposing viewpoint.
2) According to Merriam-WebsterMerriam-Webster, wrath has two definitions:
a) strong vengeful anger or indignation.
b) retributory punishment for an offense or a crime: divine chastisement.
I think we’re both using the second definition in the context of debt payment. I’ll address that using Scripture.
a) Yes, Isaiah 53:10 tells us that the Father was pleased; However, it also tells us that the Father crushed the Son! If we go a few verses back, to Isaiah 53:4, it also says that the Father had smitten the son. “Smitten” is the past tense form of “smite”, which meanswhich means “to strike”. Why was the Father doing this to His Son?
b) According to John 3:36, Romans 5:9, and 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Christ’s sacrifice saves us from the wrath of God. We both agree that apart from Christ, the Father’s wrath would be poured out on us. Where did that wrath go?
c) Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:36, and Luke 22:42 speak about a cup that Jesus drinks. Though it does not identify this cup as the “cup of wrath”, we see this phrase used in the Old Testament (Isaiah 51:17-22, Jeremiah 25:15-16, Lamentations 4:21; Ezekiel 23:28-34, and Habakkuk 2:16) and in Revelation 14:9-10. For completion’s sake, there are also two verses that speak of the “cup of the new covenant in [Jesus’] blood” found in Luke 22:20 and 1 Corinthians 11:25. This is the cup that we drink during communion!
To me, this is ample evidence that the Father’s wrath poured out on the Son.
I think we have a disagreement on who owns our sin-debt. While there is plenty of Scripture to conclude that Christ’s sacrifice paid a sin debt (Colossians 2:14 is one of my top go-to verses), who owns our sin debt? Is it Satan or the Father? I get your argument, that ransoms in human affairs are paid to bad guys; However, let us take it a step further.
Let’s suppose that a group of individuals kidnapped a rich person’s daughter demanding money for her release. They will kill her if they don’t get the money in 24 hours. The rich person has two options:
a) Pay the ransom and (hopefully) receive their daughter back, unharmed and unspoiled.
b) Don’t pay the ransom in time, resulting in his daughter’s death.
In this scenario, it is easy to see that the bad guys make a threat to the woman’s life, demanding payment to ensure her safety.
What about us? Who threatens our lives? Certainly not Satan! He will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Aside from special permission to kill Job’s family (Job 1:1-22), the only power that the Devil has is to tempt us away from God (Genesis 3:1-7). To say that God paid a ransom to Satan is more absurd to pay Himself!
As absurd as it might sound, I think it makes more sense that the Son paid a ransom to the Father for the penalty we deserve than any payment made to a creature whose end will be the lake of fire for all eternity.
-Vince Wright
J
To add a few things in support:
I’m also reminded of Genesis 9:5 (context: Genesis 9:4-6) (compare Ezekiel 33:6) where God requires the blood of those who eat or shed blood.
It’s also worth noting that ‘satan’ means ‘accuser’ (compare Zechariah 3:1). His power over death could reasonably be explained as him having the position to demand God exact the punishment that we rightfully deserved. (Until Jesus repaid the debt, took our punishment, in our place.)
Jon A
Great review on a beautiful song! However, Just be reminded for other readers’ sake, that there are 2 major Presbyterian groups in America. PCA (Presbyterian Church of America) is the conservative and Reformed adherent group.
While the PCUSA, (Presbyterian Church in the USA) liberal and a great deal more inclusive and tolerant is the group that wanted to change the original phrase. God bless brother!
Vince Wright
Jon,
Thank you and great to know!
-Vince Wright
7sawdust
I was at a wedding, and after the bride and groom ascended the steps together and stood before the pastor, this song was performed. I have a picture of the bride with both arms raised high in praise to her Savior. It was a sight I will never forget.
Greg Parden
Vince, I agree 100%. In Christ Alone is one of the greatest hymns ever written. It encompasses the whole law and gospel of Christ in a concise and eloquent way. It is beautiful and easy to sing. It is theologically rock solid. It is as good as any hymn from any era in church history. Great review.
Phaythful
I’m a bit late to the party as I’ve only recently discovered this site, but I think you should correct the paragraph in which you said ‘In Christ alone’ was written by Keith and Kristyn Getty, with Stuart Townend as co-writer.
I was written only by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, and every version I’ve heard credit Stuart and Keith and writers of the song, not Kristyn Getty.
Kristyn Getty may have sung the song several times, but was never involved in the writing thereof.
Other than that, great breakdown of the song’s lyrics. I also believe it’s one of the best hymns ever written and, for me, it’s in my top five of favourite hymns.
Vince Wright
Phaythful,
Thank you for your correction and compliment! I removed her as an author.
-Vince Wright
Jay Thompson
Shouldn’t it be music by Keith lyrics by Stuart? That’s what it was originally and how it’s listed when you research it. Agreed that the breakdown of the lyrics was amazing!
Vince Wright
Jay,
Thank you for correcting me! I updated the introduction.
-Vince Wright
Phil Harman
Rather than include “Artist Info” for a recording, perhaps it might be more helpful to include CCLI’s copyright info for the actual song?
CCLI Song # 3350395
Keith Getty | Stuart Townend
© 2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Integrity Music Ltd)
Despite amendments to the article, your title remains misleading. Kristyn Getty only became so in 2004. Keith and Kristyn weren’t even “an item” when the song was written.
As others have pointed out, you initially missed out Stuart Townend entirely – though from a “Berean Test” perspective, surely he is the author of the text you are critiquing? You have not included any biographical notes about Stuart.
I have a reliable anecdote that the only textual change that Keith Getty made to the text was in the first line, which was originally “My hope is found in Christ alone”.
Vince Wright
Phil,
Thanks for letting me know! I updated the review.
-Vince Wright
karen Gould
I would like you to reconsider the following phrase: “From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny”.
Having worked in the pregnancy center arena for almost 30 yrs, both believers and unbelievers when facing an unwanted pregnancy grasp on to life’s first cry or first breath to justify abortion until birth. I love everything except that phrase and because I KNOW it is giving excuse to abortion, I cannot sing it.
God is Sovereign over us at conception.
Vince Wright
karen Gould,
Thank you for your comments!
I don’t understand what the problem is. My review says that God is sovereign over creation. Naturally, this would also include the unborn and newly conceived.
-Vince Wright
karen gould
Thank you for responding. More times than I can count, I’ve worked with “Christian” women who have been told that biblically, a baby is not a living soul until they take their first breath by well meaning family, friends, etc. (They twist scripture in Genesis) At that point the women are looking for anything that will give them permission to choose abortion. Carenet says 4 out of 10 women who had an abortion attended church at least once a month. When we sing in our churches “from life’s first cry to final breath”, we are reinforcing the idea that life begins with first breath – the first cry, after birth. It can give the idea that while God is Sovereign and ending life is wrong, abortion is ok until it becomes a living soul. Life’s first cry does not mean the same thing as conception especially to a woman and man conflicted. I’m speaking from my experience as a pregnancy medical center director for 15 years. I also play piano at my church and so I share with you the importance of worshiping in truth.
Vince Wright
karen gould,
I understand now! They take “first cry” literally, as though birth (or more specifically, the child’s first cry) is the point where life begins, potentially opening up the door to declare that life before birth is not really human life.
I’ll have to think and pray more about this one before updating this review.
-Vince Wright
Kevin P
I appreciate Karen’s deep committment to protecting life and serving vulnerable women who make the right choice. You will receive a glorious crown for your contribution to God’s kingdom!
However, I cannot agree with your view that the lyric in question “reinforc[es] the idea that life begins with first breath”, nor your conclusion that it should not be sung congregationally for this reason. I agree with you that those who use the lyric to rationalize murder are grasping at straws and willfully perverting the text of Scripture. But they are also willfully perverting the text of the song!
Imagine if someone took the next segment, “to final breath”, and concluded that if a person stops breathing it is acceptable to murder him! People stop breathing all the time for too many reasons to enumerate here. Even holding one’s breath could be construed as not breathing. And, the tortured logic could go, if the person is killed in a state of not breathing, the killing technically occurred after his “final breath”, therefore Jesus has no say in that person’s destiny any longer and the killing is not murder.
This is an unfair burden to lay on songs and songwriters- that no poetic allusion can be made, lest the blood-guilt of innocents be on your head! Truly, what song has zero poetic or metaphorical language? No, it is completely the fault of the women and those pressuring them to commit the most evil act imaginable who willfully pervert the clearly intended meaning of the lyric.
Karen, I understand that for you this is a song or a line in a song that you cannot sing. I can only imagine the pain it causes you to see women you’ve counseled choose death and all the consequences that come with that. To sing that line probably stirs up painful memories. It’s OK for you to not sing it, or to step out as the song is sung. But it is another matter to ask or expect others to make the same association on behalf of people seeking out excuses to sin. Under such burdensome requirements, what song can possibly stand? What sermon could possibly stand, what Scripture even? This test leads to the tyrrany of not only the weaker conscience, but of the irrational, fearful one.
Rather than find fault with churches or songwriters for putting forth the words, find fault with those who willfully pervert them! Call out the twisted logic for what it is. If it isn’t this song, it is bound to be something else, because, simply, the will seeks out justification for sin.
That is all I have to say on the subject. Thank you for taking the time to consider my thoughts. Even if I have not persuaded you, I hope you receive my passionate words not as a personal rebuke (for that is not my intent), but as an encouragement to consider the problem from a different angle. I want to repeat that I am so thankful for you and so many others like you who have fought the fight for life on the front lines for so long! God bless.
Andy Treece
“Life’s first cry” is just a poetic way of the beginning of life, and the rest of the line contrasts that to the end of life with our “final breath” – in other words, it’s saying that all of our life “Jesus commands my destiny.” I believe life begins at conception, and I’m sure Getty/Townend do, as well. The complaint on this is just nitpicky, ignoring the poetic license in hymn writing. Besides, when do we each celebrate our birthdays? When we were conceived, or when we were actually birthed? So I guess we are all complicit in approving abortion when we celebrate our birthday and not our conception day, which shows the absurdity of the objection. Vince, I urge to reconsider your rating change on this song for this baseless objection.
Dave Whitcroft | KDMusic
I fully accept Karen’s point about ‘Life’s first cry’ from her work context and those surprising statistics about churchgoers. I do think that when we read scripture, we are supposed to take into account the intent and context of the author, otherwise we could twist scripture to make any word have the meaning we would prefer.
Keith & Kristyn Getty have spoken out clearly and regularly, in support of pro-life campaigns in Northern Ireland in recent years, so I think it’s unequivocally clear their intent is for ‘from life’s first cry to final breath’ to be used as strong visual language (and a common idiom) for ‘every single second of human life’.
If someone else chooses to wilfully misinterpret that, (and I’m shocked they do) I don’t think the song should be held accountable? All the same, what an interesting, sad, and helpful insight from Karen!
Given the clear public intent of the authors, I think, of all songs, In Christ Alone merits a 10/10.
Christopher M. Brannen
I would suggest that your commentary on the “life’s first cry” lyric is a little far fetched, fam. 🙂
Alan Versaw
It’s dangerous to assume you have something useful to add in a conversation like this one, but I’m going to give it a try.
Those who’ve talked about the poetic license involved in lyrics seem, to me, to be on the right track. I don’t for a second presume to speak for Getty and Townend, but I think I can offer something worthwhile in defense of the lyrics. Clearly, the writers of this hymn want to express that Jesus commands my destiny (itself a poetic expression, for we could easily quibble about this line leaving out a lot of details along the ways of our lives) over all of life. So, how do you say “all of life” poetically?
There are two things all persons do involuntarily over more or less all their life–we breathe and our heart beats. Neither one completely satisfies the pro-life (and I can’t myself among these folks) position. The first heartbeat doesn’t occur at conception. Heartbeat is also problematic from a poetic perspective in that you don’t want to use the same word twice, but what else would you use in this case? “Life’s first cry to final breath” gives us a poetically pleasing way to express from first breath to last without repeating the word. In short, it’s a poetic way of saying that Jesus commands my destiny through the entirety of life.
Poetry is the language of affections; prose is the language of theology. That doesn’t mean that the two can never speak to each other, but it’s wise to recognize that affections and theology don’t speak the same native tongue. It seems we more easily assent to this same idea in another arena when we recognize that the assurances given us in Psalms and Proverbs are not meant as iron-clad-always-true promises. They, rather, express general truths in poetic form.
I deeply appreciate Karen’s concerns, but if affections were not allowed to speak in poetic form, we would all be the poorer for it. The human heart is reliably deceitful when it wants something it knows to be wrong. Twisting poetry to affirm something other than its intended meaning is one way, among many, it practices that deceit.
Karen Gould
Thank you Alan for considering my position and for your thoughtful, respectful reply.
I am going to assume that we all agree that God is sovereign in all things and that human life is sacred from the moment of conception.
Our disagreement seems to be whether the song, using poetic license communicates the truth of God’s sovereignty in all things.
My position is that we cannot wrap inaccuracy in poetic allusion and sing into the hearts and minds of the congregation doctrinal error. Not everyone is as “educated” in the art of reading what is not clearly said.
I believe scripture in the original to be inspired and without error. The music we sing cannot make the same claim unless it is scripture. Therefore we must be very careful to examine it before singing it back to God in worship and planting it in our hearts. Music can and often does shape our theology.
While you may have the ability to see past the words of the author to a different meaning, people in desperate situations cannot. A desperate person often looks for a sign that will give them permission, a peace, about doing what they really want to do. I hope desperate people are coming to our church for the answers they need! This song however, literally gives the wrong message.
I realize not everyone has the experience I do of working with women and their partners in an unplanned pregnancy. That is why I write and respond here. Please hear my heart as I speak from the perspective of prolife ministry and of warfare with the enemy.
One of the biggest lies the enemy offers is that a baby is not a “living soul” until first breath. The enemy, an expert who twists scripture, uses it with the weak and vulnerable.
For examples of the argument:
http://www.thechristianleftblog.org/blog-home/the-bible-tells-us-when-a-fetus-becomes-a-living-being
https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/buttigieg-life-begins-with-breath-bible-backs-late-term-abortion.html
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/531126-pro-choice-pastors-like-raphael-warnock-have-the-bible-history-on-their-side/
The church, you and I, are to be the pillar and support of truth.
But in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15
We, the church, must be mindful of those that are weak in the faith.
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. Romans 14:13
(Jesus said) God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24
Alan, I truly wanted to be convinced this song was good for us and pleasing to God. The music is stirring and the author’s intent was to remind us and comfort us with God’s sovereignty. But that one portion, those very small words “life’s first cry” is a poison that can and is used by the enemy to negate the sovereignty of God over life from conception, until our final breath.
Your sister in Christ,
Karen
finessenif
I don’t necessarily think “from life’s first cry” is in support of abortion… When a child is born and cries, it is in fact, for the first time…
Jolee
that makes sense. also, the artists are christian so it would be weird if they believed in abortion.
Max
Regarding the “life’s first cry” discussion, it does not say that life begins at the first cry. It also does not imply that all life beings at the first cry, because it is implied from the next line that life only means “my life”. So there is no way to arrive at some sort of pro-choice position without a deliberate twisting of the lyrics, even if understood literalistically.
Someone else here pointed out something else that could be objectionable: the line “scorned by the ones he came to save” would most likely be understood in a way that violates limited atonement, but of course whether this is right or wrong depends on one’s theology. It’s ironic that PCUSA raised an objection against “wrath of God” rather than this.