I am troubled by the "Failure Theology" found in one of this year's songs. I appreciate the work that Jeff Slaughter does, but does anyone check the theology found in his songs?

In "The ABC Peak," Jeff writes that Jesus "came into the world to save ev'ryone." Granted scripture teaches that Jesus came to save sinners, but if He came to save everyone then He failed in His task because everyone is/will not be saved. Baptists should not teach (especially our children) that God or Jesus failed.

Although differing theologies would view it differently, at least it would have been better to indicate that Jesus came to offer salvation to everyone or to bring salvation for everyone.

Thanks for this opportunity to express these thought.

I think you're over-thinking this! Jesus did come to save everyone, that IS God's goal, that NONE would perish but ALL would have eternal life.

It doesn't mean that Jesus failed when people reject Him, it just means that we exercised the free choice that He gave us!

If it really is a big issue to you, then take a 5-minute break to explain that Jesus wants everyone to go to Heaven, but that it is still up to us to choose whether we will let him forgive us or not.

MrsLisa,
Thank you for your reply. Just a few more thoughts.

1. It is important for Christians to think and to think about theology and doctrine. There is way too much fluff and junk out there that has been passed down to us and we are passing on to our children. Our faith is worth being accurate particularly in these times with our children going off to colleges and universities where they hear challenges to their faith and all they can lean on is tradition without clear, thoughful doctrinal teaching.

2. It is important for LifeWay to realize that there is a broader range of theological thought and if possible within the confines of scripture to accomodate those. There are many in our convention who believe that "you have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you."

3. The verse you referred to is 2 Peter 3:9
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. "
This expresses a desire on God's part for all to come to repentance but doesn't state His goal for He knows that all will not come to repentance. And, there are many (in our convention) who look at the context and read this verse as "not willing that any [of you] should perish, but that all [of you] should come to repentance."

I will use and teach the song as it is (as I am on our Associational VBS Team) although it troubles me each time I hear that line because I do not believe it to be completely accurate and true to God's Word. If I were doing the music in a local church (and could make the choice) I would probably omit the song from the Worship Rally although I was very excited a couple of years ago when they decided to put the ABC song in.

Again thanks for your comments.
Richard