“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.” (Saint John Newton).
I recently read a story about the Saint John Newton who was born into the 18th century and died in the early 19th century.
When he was only eleven years old, Saint John Newton began working as a slave trader. When he was 23 years old, the slaving ship in which he was sailing was caught in the midst of a terrible storm. During that storm, Saint John Newton prayed to God to save him. That ship survived the storm. Still, Saint John Newton continued in his work as a slave trader. Later, while he was aboard a slaving vessel bound for the West Indies, Saint John Newton became ill with a violent fever. Again he asked God to save him and again he was saved. Despite these miraculous saves, Saint John Newton continued in the slave trade for many years.
You see, Saint John Newton at that time was like the Pharisees, who Christ described as “blind”…
“Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, ‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.’ Jesus called the crowd to Him and said to them, ‘Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.’ Then the disciples approached and said to Him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?’ He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.’” (Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14).
And I have been reflecting on this experience of Saint John Newton while I have been reflecting on this response of my Beloved… “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.’” (Matthew 15:14).
You see, it occurs to me that there is none so blind as those who would not see – and Saint John Newton has proved that to me. After all, obviously, Saint John Newton believed in the power of God. And he demonstrated that by praying to God not once but several times in his life when all seemed lost and hopeless. And yet – despite this firm belief – Saint John Newton remained blind to the sin of his work as a slave trader. Perhaps it was inconvenient for him to make a change. He was making a living as a slave trader after all. He did not know what else he could do. He did not make the system – he was just working within it. He treated the slaves better than other slave traders. Perhaps he even told himself that the slaves were not human at all and therefore, were less worthy of respect and freedom and dignity than other humans…
In this, Saint John Newton and I are very much alike… You see, I believe in the power of God. And I too, blind myself to the sins in my life. There was nothing else I could have done. I did not create the system – I am just working within it. I treat people better than others treat people. I am doing okay… Or at least that is what I tell myself…
But Saint John Newton eventually realised the gravity of his sins. And once the scales fell from his eyes, his blindness could not continue. Once he could see, he felt only sorrow for what he had done and spent the remainder of his life working to abolish slavery.
And the words of his sorrow are captured so beautifully in the hymn that he wrote…
“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.”
And today, as I reflect on the life of Saint John Newton, I cannot help but pray for the “Amazing Grace” to be able to “see”.
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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