The concept of grace often gets oversimplified in my opinion; it’s a common word that is often used for common things. It’s a name, an attitude, a mindset, a hardship, a goal, a gift, a presupposition –something different for everyone, yet somehow paradoxically the same for us all at the exact same time. Grace as a whole revolves around the idea of a sacrifice of some kind – one person letting go of one thing, something owed to them ethically and logically, to extend benevolence and reprieve to another. When one really thinks about it, that act in and of itself is undeniably amazing.
“Amazing Grace” is like the cozy sweater, the warm drink, the fire on a cold day of all hymns – familiarity lyrically embodied. A unifier within reasonable social contexts, even non-believers are often tuned into the power behind the words. And in my experience, behind powerful words is usually a powerful story.
“Amazing Grace” is a hymn that has arguably been the capstone of Christian songs for centuries. The lyrics were written by John Newton when he was 47 years old. A former slave trader who became a minister and abolitionist in the late 18th century, his story is one of a marvelous redemption. Following in his father’s footsteps, he worked in his youth along the coasts of Africa seeking out people to force into slavery for profit. On one journey, however, Newton and his crew faced a massive storm that swept some of his men overboard to their own demise. Fraught with fear for his life, he cried out while clinging to the wheel of the boat: “Lord, have mercy on us.” Eleven hours of desperate steering later, the storm calmed, and he was able to get the rest of his men to safety. He marked March 21 for the rest of his life as a day for prayer, humility, and praise for how the Lord had heard his cry and delivered him. It is recorded that he was around 23 years old at the time this happened.
After this life-changing experience, Newton was struck with the error and inhumanity of his ways. No longer seeking profit from slavery, he completely subverted his purpose in life by fighting against slavery from that point forward. He eventually went on to become a prolific writer for the abolition of slavery as well as an Anglican minister. It was through some of his writings that abolitionist Wilber Wilberforce was encouraged to continue his work in the fight against slavery in England.
Newton, never quite getting over the magnitude of God’s grace over his life, began writing the lyrics to “Amazing Grace” in the year 1772. The hymn was first published in 1779, with the title “Faith’s Review and Expectation.” Though every believer’s redemptive story is unique, something about the words to this song resonates with most everyone to the experience of the life-altering moment of experiencing God’s mercy over their life. In addition to “Amazing Grace,” Newton wrote many other hymns and religious poems.
Though his memory began to fade in his later years, it is recorded that Newton stated that he could never forget two things: “That I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” He died on December 21, 1807 at the age of 82 – but he lived long enough to see The Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade signed on March 25, 1807.
Mirroring in some regard the conversion of Saul recorded in the New Testament book of Acts, where God turned a persecutor of Christians into instead Paul, God likewise used Newton’s story in powerful ways. Paul became one of the greatest evangelists to have ever lived, and Newton’s works wound up being hugely influential in the abolition of slave trade – a monumental mission for millions.
There is no one that God cannot redeem, no one beyond God’s reach. No matter how lost you are, you may always be found and gifted renewed purpose in sharing the earth-shattering, truly amazing grace that the Lord offers to us all. As Paul wrote in Romans 8:38-39: “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Do you have a hymn or song you would like to know more about? Feel free to send in a request at savannah.pearce@bibbcommunitymedia.com or by giving me a call at 205-926-9769. I would love to hear from you!
