GS 2025 Article 182 – APPENDIX A-2

Suggestions from the churches not to approve specific alternate psalms and additional hymns that were recommended for approval by the SCBP

1.    Suggestion not to approve Alternate Psalm 4

• 1.1    Observations:
  • 1.1.1    The Orangeville CanRC believes the melody is not an improvement and not suitable for congregational singing.
  • 1.1.2    The SCBP notes that the text provides a complete rendition of the Psalm, and the melody is unique compared to our current collection.
• 1.2    Considerations:
  • 1.2.1    The SCBP has already received and dealt with the feedback provided, and it recommends including this song.
• 1.3    Recommendation: To approve Alternate Psalm 4 for inclusion as per the SCBP’s recommendation.

2.    Suggestion not to approve Alternate Psalm 13

• 2.1    Observations:
  • 2.1.1    Orangeville says that because this psalm speaks about enemies and because there is relative peace and prosperity in Canada, the occasions for singing this psalm are few.
  • 2.1.2    Orangeville asserts the proposed song is not thoroughly biblical. It fails to present the uniqueness of this song as the lament of the oppressed.
  • 2.1.3    The SCBP notes that the text captures the main truths of this song and that the melody is appropriate.
• 2.2    Considerations:
  • 2.2.1    The SCBP has already received and dealt with the feedback provided, and it recommends including this song.
• 2.3    Recommendation: To approve Alternate Psalm 13 for inclusion as per the SCBP’s recommendation.

3.    Suggestion not to approve Alternate Psalm 22

• 3.1    Observations:
  • 3.1.1    Orangeville objects to the fact that the proposed version only represents Psalm 22: 22–28 and that the joyful lyrics do not fit the contents of the psalm.
  • 3.1.2    The SCBP notes that this song is only a partial versification of Psalm 22 and is not intended to replace the current rendition of Psalm 22, and that this song will allow the churches to sing the last part of Psalm 22 in a cheerful tune.
• 3.2    Considerations:
  • 3.2.1    The SCBP has already received and dealt with the feedback provided, and it recommends including this song.
• 3.3    Recommendation: To approve Alternate Psalm 22 for inclusion as per the SCBP’s recommendation.

4.    Suggestion not to approve All Creatures of our God and King

• 4.1    Observations:
  • 4.1.1    Fergus (Maranatha) believes this hymn has some biblical inaccuracies. They question whether the sun, wind, clouds… “need” to lift up their voices and sing or if it is more accurate to say that these do already lift up their voices, but we humans do not. Fergus (Maranatha) asserts there is very little biblical depth in this hymn.
  • 4.1.2    This hymn like many of the psalms calls on inanimate objects to praise the Lord.
• 4.2    Considerations:
  • 4.2.1    The objections noted by Fergus (Maranatha) are invalid.
  • 4.2.2    The SCBP recommends this hymn.
• 4.3    Recommendation: To approve All Creatures of our God and King for inclusion as per the SCBP’s recommendation.

5.    Suggestion not to approve Christians, Awake

• 5.1    Observations:
  • 5.1.1    Orangeville notes that the melody is challenging and that there are other Christmas hymns being proposed.
• 5.2    Considerations:
  • 5.2.1    The SCBP has already received and dealt with the feedback provided, and it recommends including this song.
• 5.3    Recommendation: To approve Christians, Awake for inclusion as per the SCBP’s recommendation.

6.    Suggestion not to approve Come Thou, Almighty King

• 6.1    Observations:
  • 6.1.1    Fergus (Maranatha) opposes the archaic language of this hymn. It suggests there are enough songs celebrating Christ’s birth. It asserts that this hymn adds details to the angel’s song that are not recorded in Scripture.
  • 6.1.2    With respect to archaic language the SCBP notes that this classic hymn ought not to be changed. Many of the churches have specifically requested the addition of songs celebrating Christ’s birth. Fergus (Maranatha) does not show how this hymn adds details that are not recorded in Scripture.
• 6.2    Considerations:
  • 6.2.1    The SCBP recommends including this song.
• 6.3    Recommendation: To approve Come Thou, Almighty King for inclusion as per the SCBP’s recommendation.

7.    Suggestion not to approve Guide Me O My Great Redeemer

• 7.1    Observations:
  • 7.1.1    Fergus (Maranatha) says that this hymn has no clear association to the Apostles’ Creed; it tries to bring OT details into modern life like the spirituals; it deals mainly with personal anxiety that so hinders one from relying on God.
  • 7.1.2    Kerwood (Grace) has concerns that the Old Testament imagery could be difficult to understand, that this hymn is not suited to the New Testament church.
  • 7.1.3    The adoption of the hymn does not depend on fitting it into a structure based on the Apostles’ Creed. The SCBP acknowledges that although the imagery used in this hymn may not be totally clear, it uses biblical imagery referring to the pilgrim’s journey.
• 7.2    Considerations:
  • 7.2.1    The SCBP already received and dealt with the feedback provided and it recommends including this Hymn.
• 7.3    Recommendation: To approve Guide Me O My Great Redeemer for inclusion as per the SCBP’s recommendation.

8.    Suggestion not to approve Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

• 8.1    Observation:
  • 8.1.1    Fergus (Maranatha) suggest that details of the song are not scriptural.
• 8.2    Consideration:
  • 8.2.1    The SCBP has already received and dealt with the feedback provided, and it recommends including this song.
• 8.3    Recommendation: To approve Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, for inclusion as per the SCBP’s recommendation.

9.    Suggestion not to approve O Come, All Ye Faithful

• 9.1    Observation:
  • 9.1.1    Fergus (Maranatha) states this hymn includes archaic language. It asserts there are enough songs celebrated Christ’s birth. It also adds details to the angels’ song that are not recorded in Scripture.
• 9.2    Consideration:
  • 9.2.1    The SCBP has already received and dealt with the feedback provided, and it recommends including this song.
• 9.3    Recommendation: To approve O Come, All Ye Faithful, for inclusion as per the SCBP’s recommendation.

10.  Suggestion not to approve O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

• 10.1  Observation:
  • 10.1.1  Fergus (Maranatha) suggests that “I claim you as my own” is not a biblical concept. They state that “dearest Friend” is not used appropriately.
• 10.2  Consideration:
  • 10.2.1  The SCBP has already received and dealt with the feedback provided, and it recommends including this song.
• 10.3  Recommendation: To approve O Sacred Head Now Wounded for inclusion as per the SCBP’s recommendation.

11.  Suggestion not to approve Take My Life and Let It Be

• 11.1  Observations:
  • 11.1.1  Fergus (Maranatha) states this hymn includes archaic language. They state that this hymn has no clear association to the Apostles’ Creed.
  • 11.1.2  The adoption of the hymn does not depend on fitting it into a structure based on the Apostles’ Creed.
• 11.2  Consideration:
  • 11.2.1  The SCBP has already received and dealt with the feedback about archaic language, and it recommends including this song.
• 11.3  Recommendation: To approve Take My Life and Let It Be for inclusion as per the SCBP’s recommendation.

12.       Suggestion not to approve How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

• 12.1  Observations:
  • 12.1.1  Devon expresses concern about the line, “the Father turns his face away,” suggesting that it may imply an ontological change within the Trinity or promote a misunderstanding of the atonement.
  • 12.1.2  Devon maintains that the Father never ceased to love the eternal Son and warns that many members may misinterpret the line as implying divine displeasure with Christ’s person rather than with the sin he bore.
  • 12.1.3  Devon appeals to Psalm 22:24 (“he has not hidden his face from him”) to argue that Christ’s cry of dereliction should not be understood as literal abandonment.
• 12.2           Considerations:
  • 12.2.1  The phrase “the Father turns his face away” is a poetic expression conveying Christ’s experience of divine forsakenness as he bore the full weight of sin and judgment on the cross. “To turn the face” either toward or away is a biblical way to express whether favour/help is granted or not (cf. Ps. 27:9, 102:2).
  • 12.2.2  The Word of God makes it clear that on the cross Christ took upon himself our sin and all its just consequences. “It pleased the Lord to crush him.” (Isaiah 53:10) “For our sake he made him who knew no sin to be sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).
  • 12.2.3  The Reformed confessions affirm that Christ suffered the wrath of God in both body and soul (Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 15,16). This suffering included real covenantal abandonment—not a rupture in the Trinity, but the judicial withdrawal of divine favor as Christ bore our guilt. The phrase in question seeks to express that truth in devotional language.
  • 12.2.4  The concern that the line could be misunderstood is pastorally understandable. However, the possibility of misinterpretation does not render the line theologically inaccurate. Many faithful expressions in Scripture and song require instruction to be rightly understood. This is a normal aspect of catechesis and worship leadership.
  • 12.2.5  Psalm 22:24 (“he has not hidden his face”) expresses the ultimate vindication and deliverance of the Sufferer, not the absence of forsakenness. Psalm 22 includes both real abandonment and real restoration. Jesus’ quotation of the opening verse on the cross must not be reduced to a mere signal of hope—it was also a genuine cry of desolation under wrath.
  • 12.2.6  The line in question does not assert a change in the eternal relation of the divine persons, but rather depicts the redemptive moment in which the sinless Son bore divine judgment in the place of sinners. That distinction between Christ’s divine person and his mediatorial office is upheld in Reformed theology and is preserved in this line when read with confessional care.
• 12.3  Recommendation: To approve How Deep the Father’s Love for Us for inclusion as per the SCBP’s recommendation.