Originally Posted by BobVigneault

The thing that shocks me and amazes me about the Psalms is that they cover the scope and depth of human emotion much more thoroughly and unapologetically than most Christian writers today would ever dare.

I had a friend who lost a young son to a rare disease and he wrote a book about it. The first Christian publisher he took the text to rejected it because it wasn't victorious enough.

The psalms never leave our eyes centered on man YET, not only are large portions man-centered, they are centered on man's emotional states - high, low and capricious. We see human emotion that causes the psalmist to dance, to start drumming on tamborines, to shout, to scream, to weep, to curse other men, to wish their infants would be killed, to disembowel humans, to laugh, to lose sleep, to feel that his bones are melting.

There is always a 'BUT GOD' in the Psalms for we are being taught to ascribe to God His supreme worth for He alone is supremely worthy, but let's not get hung up on how the Lord uses our frailty to glorify himself.

As far as rejecting an uninspired hymn I don't see where that would be different than rejecting our confessions. The best argument that I have seen the EPer give is that it's better to be safe than sorry. I just can't believe that I will have to stand before the Throne and repent of singing 'Rock of Ages' in public worship. That would make as much sense as having to repent for reciting the Nicene creed in public worship.

I'm not arguing I'm just summarizing my thoughts after watching these endless arguments. I'm going to borrow the words of Eric Liddel and make them mine for a moment: When I sing 'Rock of Ages' in worship and I can't hold back the tears of my shame mixed with the joy of my Redeemer, I feel His pleasure.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.