TheBoringBaptist
Puritan Board Freshman
Welp. You learn something new everyday.
Is worship from false churches ok ?
- Thread starter berechiah2025
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Theoretical
Puritan Board Professor
A quick lookup suggests he was at least sound enough on the points in question when writing it, though again it does raise the questions about uninspired writers and what to do with their works in terms of their errors.
Was Horatio Spafford a False Teacher When He Wrote “It is Well with My Soul”?
In 1873, Horatio Spafford penned the lyrics of one of the most-loved hymns of all time, It is Well with My Soul. But should we sing a song by one such as Spafford, in light of the fact that he is known to have promoted beliefs contrary to Scripture?...
www.biola.edu
Venator Veritatis
Puritan Board Freshman
If you're interested in a deeper read. Though I can't vouch for the verity of all the cited sources.
TheBoringBaptist
Puritan Board Freshman
Welp. You learn something new everyday
Indeed. It's why Im gravitating towards Psalmody. At least to be used predominantly in worship. None of these concerns are an issue if one just sings the PsalmsA quick lookup suggests he was at least sound enough on the points in question when writing it, though again it does raise the questions about uninspired writers and what to do with their works in terms of their errors.
Was Horatio Spafford a False Teacher When He Wrote “It is Well with My Soul”?
In 1873, Horatio Spafford penned the lyrics of one of the most-loved hymns of all time, It is Well with My Soul. But should we sing a song by one such as Spafford, in light of the fact that he is known to have promoted beliefs contrary to Scripture?...
No Other Name
Puritan Board Senior
A quick lookup suggests he was at least sound enough on the points in question when writing it, though again it does raise the questions about uninspired writers and what to do with their works in terms of their errors.
Was Horatio Spafford a False Teacher When He Wrote “It is Well with My Soul”?
In 1873, Horatio Spafford penned the lyrics of one of the most-loved hymns of all time, It is Well with My Soul. But should we sing a song by one such as Spafford, in light of the fact that he is known to have promoted beliefs contrary to Scripture?...
What questions does it raise? I am lost as to what they would be.
While it is true the shallow self-centered theology of Bethel et al produces songs of shallow and self-centered theology, it does not necessarily follow that is always the case.
eg. Wesley's Arminianism did not proceed into many of his hymns leading many to say "Amen" to some of his hymns (O for a Thousand Tongues). (I am one of those who agrees with Dordt in categorizing Arminianism as "heresy").
A couple of years ago I myself just learned about Spafford's development on heresy over the years after writing "It is Well".
I was met with SHOCK by some EP adherents when I indicated how little I cared. Why would I? There is not a hint of universalism or denial of judgment or anything in the hymn *itself* that Biblically connects with Biblical assurance for those who have faith in Christ no matter what happens to them.
I believe It is Well is Hymn 476 in the OPC's excellent Trinity Psalter Hymnal. It is a fallacy to charge any of us as complicit in Spafford's heresy unless one can prove the song itself contains said heresy and our continued acceptance of *the hymn's* Biblical alignment as mistaken.
Venator Veritatis
Puritan Board Freshman
I suppose one would have to ask if the original intent of the song mattered. If indeed they were written by heretics then they were never written to worship the One True God, but only the idol of man's imagination. If I sang uninspired hymns, and when I did, this was a factor for me. I don't want to teach and exhort others with the words of a false professor, no matter how eloquent.
darrellmaurina
Puritan Board Junior
The OPC decision carries weight with me. While all synods and councils can err, and have erred, the OPC is not known for downplaying doctrine.
For clarification, because I don't have a copy at home, do you mean the OPC/URC Trinity Psalter Hymnal or the OPC Blue Trinity Hymnal or the OPC/PCA Red Trinity Hymnal? I assume you mean the joint OPC/URC product, and if you do, that goes double. The URC is even more known for theological precision in its songs and that was part of the issue of why the URC refused to accept the CRC's 1987 Gray Psalter Hymnal, arranged a special reprint of the CRC's older 1959 Blue Psalter Hymnal, considered working with the Canadian Reformed, and eventually decided to work with the OPC to produce what is now the Trinity Psalter Hymnal.
No Other Name
Puritan Board Senior
*Biblically aligned.
Please be fair to the psalter-hymnal editorial process even if one does not agree.
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Venator Veritatis
Puritan Board Freshman
It was not my intent to misrepresent. That was just the positive word choice that came to mind.
darrellmaurina
Puritan Board Junior
Thank you. Yes, that's the OPC/URC joint project.
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