In Christ Alone

For other uses of "In Christ Alone", see In Christ Alone (disambiguation).
"In Christ Alone"
Song
Released 2001
Genre Christian
Writer Keith Getty (music)
Stuart Townend (lyrics)

"In Christ Alone" is a popular, modern Christian song written by Keith Getty (Northern Ireland) and Stuart Townend (England), both songwriters of Christian hymns and contemporary worship music. The song, with a strong Irish melody, copyrighted by Getty and Townend 2001 Kingsway Music Thankyou Music, is the first the two songwriters penned down in their partnership of songwriting.[1][2] The music was by Getty and the original lyrics by Townend.

"In Christ Alone" is considered a Christian credal song for belief in Jesus Christ. The theme of the song is the life, death and resurrection of Christ,[3] and that he is God who even death cannot hold:

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me

Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

The song is commonly known as "In Christ Alone (My Hope Is Found)" and "In Christ Alone (I Stand)" taking verses from the song and has become very popular and has been subject of many cover versions[4] and many language translations.

The Getty/Townend song should not be confused with the similarly titled song "In Christ Alone" co-written by Don Koch and Shawn Craig, originally recorded by Michael English on his self-titled debut solo album Michael English, and covered by Brian Littrell on his album Welcome Home as a bonus track, and many others.

Popularity

The song was composed in 2001 and gained increased popularity first in Ireland and the UK and then in the United States and internationally. By 2005, it had been named by a BBC Songs of Praise survey as the 9th best loved hymn of all time in the UK;[5] By 2006, it rose to the No. 1 position on the United Kingdom CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) charts.[6] "In Christ Alone" appeared on CCLI's "Top 25 CCLI Songs" American songs list for the first time in the February 2008 report although it had appeared in the CCLI chart for Canada, Australia and New Zealand prior to that.

In 2010, Owl City's Adam Young recorded a version and offered it through his blog. About the song he wrote: "I'm twenty four years old, yet something about this song makes me bawl like a baby. The way the melodies and lyrics swirl together is so poignant and beautiful. If I were to count on one hand, the number of songs that have ever deeply moved me, this one would take the cake. Last night I probably spent more time actually crying at the piano than I did recording it. Such are the secret confessions of a shy boy from Minnesota".[7]

A committee of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) opted not to include "In Christ Alone" in the church's 2013 hymnal Glory to God! for various reasons cited by Mary Louise Bringle in The Christian Century, "Debating Hymns" 1 May 2013. A committee statement explained the copyright holders would not grant the copyright request to reprint the hymn exactly as found in Celebrating Grace, a hymnal published in 2010 by a large group of Baptists. Variations in the hymn versions concerned the differences in theological significance of the line published in the Celebrating Grace Baptist hymnal: "Till on that cross as Jesus died the love of God was magnified" and the line the copyright holders prefer, "Till on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied." The question concerns interpretations of atonement theory, particularly penal substitution theory and the satisfaction theory of atonement.[8][9] Such questions also address the attributes of God.

In 2013, the song was sung at the enthronement of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury.[10]

Versions

(selective)

References

  1. ""In Christ Alone" page on Keith Getty website". Gettymusic.com. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Songfacts: In Christ Alone by Newsboys". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  3. "Stuart Townend - "In Christ Alone" song page". Stuarttownend.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  4. Debra Akins, Contributing Writer (22 July 2004). "Debra Akins in Crosswalk.com: Song Story - "In Christ Alone"". Crosswalk.com. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  5. BBC Songs of Praise data; article no longer accessible
  6. "CCLI Top 25 Songs". Ccli.com. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Adam Young (25 October 2010). "In Christ Alone". Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  8. Articles by Mary Louise Bringle (1 May 2013). "Debating hymns". The Christian Century. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  9. Smietana, Bob (5 August 2013). "Presbyterians' decision to drop humn stirs debate". USA Today. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  10. http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/data/files/resources/5036/EnthronementService-v2-PRINT.PDF
  11. "Lord of Every Heart - Audio CD" (21 March 2006). "Amazon.com". Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  12. "Secrets of the Vine - Various Artists - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  13. "Worship Together: Be Glorified - Various Artists - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  14. "It Takes 2: 15 Collaborations and Duets - Various Artists - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  15. 'Let the Worshippers Arise - Audio CD (28 September 2004). "Amazon.com". Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  16. In Christ Alone - Audio CD (28 August 2007). "Amazon.com". Retrieved 4 February 2013.

External links