On Facebook:

The most popular modern song about the Atonement.

How do you relate to it?

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How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that helf Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I knoww that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast inJesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

(REPEAT)
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Some responses:

‘I like the music. It reminds me of ‘Ashokan Farewell”

‘Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdVQNyQmdM4

Stuart Townend explains the ‘why’ behind his new style of hymn writing and it rests very well with this little ol’ hymn-lover. Viz.. The need to bring to life again, those most precious foundational theological truths throughlyrics and music that helps to reinforce our faith and understanding. This is what he another others like Keith Getty, who with his wife Krysten joined with Townend to write another WONDERFUL hymn ‘The Power of the Cross (Oh to see the Dawn) — see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwzt9jRUPNg.’

The problem with denying that “the Father gave his only son to die” is that you need to do a LOT of revision work on many passages in order to make it reasonable. What then do you make of Romans 3:21-26 (just one glaring obvious example), where it is written that in God’s giving of Jesus to death, the righteousness of God is displayed par excellence?’

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‘I find the idea that ‘the father gives his only son to die’ to me is the ultimate in child abuse, it’s easier to take the idea that God was reconciling the world to himself, and that Jesus was God enfleshed, and giving up his own life for me…

‘This is classic Townend – non inclusive, old fashioned phrases – and the idea that humans are crap and have to be rescued (fished out of the mess) with Jesus as the bait. Hence began the cycle of retribution.’

My response: I’m glad that caveat was mentioned.

Raises the issue (hinted at by Leon Morris in the Passion of the Christ article – URL below) that of the three major, and many other possible ‘theories of atonement’ blood sacrifice for sins, God turning his back on his Son etc. does not appeal to people in the West in this century.

But in the ancient world, and the world of ex-animists, this language is very meaningful…

We modern/post-modern Westerners are not the only people to inhabit the planet eh?

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Richard Lawton: I find the traditional music stirring, and the general thought, but don’t like some of the words. Here’s my re-write:

How deep our great God ¢â‚¬â„¢s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That God should give us Jesus Christ,
To show us we ¢â‚¬â„¢re God ¢â‚¬â„¢s treasures.

In Jesus Christ God came to us,
To tell us that God loves us,
To share good news of love and life,
To tell us we ¢â‚¬â„¢re forgiven.

God, lead us in the way he taught,
God, help us love each other,
God, give us strength to walk his way,
As we follow Jesus.

In Jesus Christ God came to us,
And called us all to follow,
He taught us how to love the world,
And everyone who ¢â‚¬â„¢s in it.

Now we find life meaningful,
Now we find excitement,
Now we find life challenging,
As we follow Jesus.

We praise you, God, for life you give,
We praise you, God, for loving,
We ask that we might share your love
As we all love each other.

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Personally, I find the doctrine of the Trinity extremely helpful in dealing with passages like this (as it assures me that all three were in one accord in this plan, as Scripture would lead us to believe, especially all those that document Jesus’ complete willingness towards and focus upon the cross in the Gospels). Also helpful is the doctrine of the incarnation, Phil 2:1-11 and all those passages which talk of Jesus’ VOLUNTARY submission (No Trinitarian subordination here!) to the Father as an example of how we should model our lives under God.

This is not to say that this understanding should be the only one, and it’s not the only one referenced in the Bible. However, we do a disservice to ourselves, our congregations and to the Bible when we sweep one aspect of the atonement “under the rug” (so to speak) because we do not yet understand it well enough to know how our Triune God planned it for good and/or how it is good.

‘Richard: Notable exclusions from your hymn were the death and resurrection of Jesus, especially as they were central to Acts and the Epistles, and the amount of weight that the Gospels give to the two (roughly half of all the Gospels could be considered “passion narrative”, some a bit less). Why the complete avoidance?’

See The Passion of the Christ – http://jmm.org.au/articles/12508.htm