Thread by @davidwaters79

Privileged to preach this morning.

Exactly 250 yrs ago, in Olney, Bucks, someone else did the same. His name was John Newton. He’d also written a hymn to go with his New Year’s sermon. He called it “Faith’s Review and Expectation” - we know it better as #AmazingGrace …a thread

The hymn didn’t make much of an impact. Didn’t even make Newton’s top 60! Then it emerged in America in the 1830s with the tune we know today. 2/9

It went on to become one of the most recorded songs in history; a hymn, a pop song, a folk song, recorded by the likes of Mahalia Jackson, Aretha, Elvis and more. It is estimated to be sung 10 million times a year across the globe. 3/9

It was also an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement which may seem particularly surprising when you know more about its author. 4/9

Newton was a bad, bad man in his youth. A debauched sailor & slave trader. He personally, forcibly relocated 511 African people. He did and saw unspeakable things to the people on those ships, African people who never got chance to be remembered. We must never forget them. 5/9

The thing about grace is that it is what makes Christianity so radical (though many of us Christians are very poor examples of it). Grace is boundless love we don’t deserve. And when we’ve received that grace we are to show it to others. 6/9

The grace of Jesus says nothing and no one is beyond the love of God. There’s nothing and no one that cannot be changed. Even a wretch like John Newton. Even the evil horrors of slavery. I’ve seen it change countless lives. Mine included. It is … well … Amazing. 7/9

Newton went on to be a key player in the abolition of the slave trade, even mentoring a young William Wilberforce. His simple hymn has touched millions of lives because, I believe, it speaks an eternal truth.
8/9

Happy New Year. Know that you’re loved beyond measure and that there is always hope and may you be amazed by Grace, I firmly believe it’s the only thing that can change this world. 9/9