I’ve sung this song for years. Been going to church most of my life, but I
also sing it on my own. Its verses have
clear meaning to me. John Newton
published this song in 1779. His past
was one of rebellion, profanity, abuse as a servant, slave trading, and near
death on more than one occasion. I’m
sure he was filled with a lot of regret for some of his past actions after he
became a Christian, just as many of us are.
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
It was a few
years ago standing at a funeral in a Catholic Church that I raised my voice to
sing this great hymn and discovered they had changed one simple word that only
served to anger me: wretch* became soul. Why?
Because of our feel good, fear of damaging self esteem, positive
thinking only world? Isn’t it true that
we are wicked sinners before we are born again?
In fact, we are still sinners after we become Christians only Jesus’
righteousness is imputed to us.
I still do not
understand the need to forget our past in the sense that we should remember
where God has brought us from. Sure, it
is good to not dwell (reside, stay, inhabit, settle) in our past, for this may
hold us back from reaching forward to God’s will for us. But we need to remember where we once were so
that we also remember from where God has brought us. Wicked sinner- redeemed sinner.
Should we forget?
And Jesus said
to him, No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for
the kingdom of God
(Paul) …but one thing
I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things
before, Php. 3:13 (forgetting past shame and accomplishments both which
may hold you back from reaching the high calling of God v.5,6)
We should remember
you
shall be on guard lest you forget Jehovah who brought you forth out of the land
of Egypt 6:12 (slave to sin Jh. 8:37 )
Remember
His marvelous works which He has done… Ps. 105:5
Give
thanks to Jehovah, call on His name, make known His deeds among the people.
1Ch. 16:8
Therefore
remember from where you have fallen, and repent… Rv. 2:5
Yes, I was a wretch. Yes, sometimes I still behave like a
wretch. I have no problem singing “that
saved a wretch like me” for that is what God did- He saved me from my sin, my
sins, my shame, my own wicked heart and the wicked life I lived. He saved me from myself. He redeemed my life from the kingdom of the
enemy to His own kingdom. Now I am
His. His child. I did nothing to deserve it, but His
salvation was freely given. Given to
this wretch.
I am forever grateful Oh Lord!
*Webster’s
1828 dictionary
-a miserable person in deep distress
-worthless and contemptible person
-a person sunk in vice, shameless wickedness