Is There Anything Wrong With This Hymn?

[ICTHUS]

[quote name='Anna' date='May 22 2004, 04:02 PM'] Hi ICTHUS,

It seems to me that the hymnist is writing that he is "saved," and can boldly approach God's throne, since he (the hymnist) possesses Christ. (Note: Christ never seemed bold before His Heavenly Father.)

While I like this form of poetry and verse, I think the hymnist does commit [i]presumption[/i]. Everyone singing these words must think himself worthy of heaven because he "feels Christ in his heart."

He covers the beginning of his conversion experience, having been "imprisoned" in sin, then leaps from that right into grabbing his crown. I just think he left out a lot of living, sinning, repenting, etc., in the middle.

Well, that's my humble opinion....

Pax Christi. [/quote]
Also, Anna, as far as I know the Catholic Church teaches that sin imprisons a person in death - in fact the Rite of Baptism, I believe, says this almost explicitly, just as Wesley wrote. It takes God's grace, delivered either through Holy Baptism or prompting to go to Confession, and reception back into the Church, for the sinner to be forgiven. Thus, God's eye 'casting forth a quickening ray' could take this form in a Catholic context.

[ICTHUS]

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