JUST AS I AM

The hymn by this name was for decades, the traditional ‘Invitation Hymn’ of the evangelical church in America.

Having been raised in a conservative, Wesleyan church, it was used to invite people [typically] to come forward to an altar where they would kneel and pray to receive Christ into their lives.

IT’S HISTORY:

At the age of 32 [1821], Charlotte Elliott [of London, England] suffered a serious illness that left her a semi-invalid for the rest of her life. Within a year she went through a spiritual crisis and confessed to the Swiss evangelist Henri A. Cesar Malan that she did not know how to come to Christ. He answered, "Come to him just as you are." Thinking back on that experience twelve years later, in 1834, she wrote a poem titled: “Just as I Am" as a statement of her faith.

The original tune, "Woodworth", was written by William B. Bradbury, and was published in 1849. The "Woodworth" tune was first used for another hymn and then Thomas Hastings adapted Bradbury's tune for "Just as I Am" years later.

Just as I am - without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - though toss'd about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

This song became an altar call song in the Billy Graham crusades in the latter half of the twentieth century. Graham used the title of the hymn as the title of his 1997 book - Just as I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham.

 

MY MEMORIES

This hymn was traditionally used at almost every revival meeting in my home church and also at ‘Camp Meeting’ every July.

There were others, of course, but this was the one most commonly used.

It’s powerful words and alluring tune had an influential impact on those who sang it.

Growing up in the 1950’s and 1960’s, we teens came to make a bit of fun of this hymn. Evangelists were famous for saying – as they extended the ‘altar call’ – let’s just sing one more verse.

Sometimes – to a teenager – it seemed that these ‘invitation appeals’ went on forever! I must confess that we snickered in the back of the sanctuary and made guestimates of how many more times we’d “sing another verse”!

The end of the service at Camp Meeting was filled with drama.

Sometimes, old ‘Harvey’ would let loose with his famous “Wooohooo”. It tickled us to see people jump when he did it!

There were a few little old ladies who would occasionally take off across the front of the sanctuary waving a hankie, crying and shouting “Glory to God!”

Occasionally, the district superintendent or evangelist would walk the aisles of the tabernacle and extend a personal invitation to come forward and pray! Even some of the older ‘saints’ would sometimes slip into the pew with someone and ask if they’d like to go forward to pray.

Sometimes we’d sing three or four ‘invitation hymns’ in a row. This part of the service could easily go on for half-an-hour or more. 

You may be thinking that I’m being cynical, but hey, we were teens! Just remember that there were a lot of times that we went forward during those altar calls and began the process of cementing our relationship with God through His Son, Jesus. During many of those services we felt the drawing of the Holy Spirit and responded. 

Actually, I’m writing this blog because sixty years later I get up every morning and spend hours reading and studying the Bible. It is my favorite time of the day – long before most people have even begun to stir. I never tire of this practice. I’m always finding new thoughts and perspectives.

Just today I was reading II Samuel 7 [in The Message Bible] where God initiates a covenant with David through his prophet, Nathan. It’s a pretty attention-getting passage:

[God speaking to Nathan] “So here is what you are to tell my servant David: The God-of-the-Angel-Armies has this word for you: I took you from the pasture, tagging along after sheep, and made you prince over my people Israel. I was with you everywhere you went and mowed your enemies down before you. Now I’m making you famous, to be ranked with the great names on earth...  Finally, I’m going to give you peace from all your enemies.

“Furthermore, God has this message for you: God himself will build you a house! When your life is complete and you’re buried with your ancestors, then I’ll raise up your child, your own flesh and blood, to succeed you, and I’ll firmly establish his rule. He [Solomon] will build a house to honor me, and I will guarantee his kingdom’s rule permanently. I’ll be a father to him, and he’ll be a son to me. When he does wrong, I’ll discipline him in the usual ways, the pitfalls and obstacles of this mortal life. But I’ll never remove my gracious love from him, as I removed it from Saul, who preceded you and whom I most certainly did remove. Your family and your kingdom are permanently secured. I’m keeping my eye on them! And your royal throne will always be there, rock solid.”

Nathan gave David a complete and accurate account of everything he heard and saw in the vision.

King David went in, took his place before God, and prayed: “Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? But that’s nothing compared to what’s coming, for you’ve also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow, my Master God! What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master God, just as I am.

[II Samuel 7:8-20 TM]

Now I’m well aware that this was not in Charlotte Elliot’s mind when she wrote her poem!  I’m not suggesting that this was the source material for this great hymn!

However, at the same time I couldn’t read these words without noticing them! 

David – King David – is overwhelmed with the honor that God is bestowing on him. “Your family and your kingdom are permanently secured.”

David was well aware of his humanity. Just three chapters later, we’ll find him sinning with Bathsheba!

_____________________________

It’s a pretty incredible message for all of us!

God knows us just as we are! He knows our weakness and our frailty. He knows that we’re “Prone to wander – prone to leave the God I love”.*  Yet still He accepts us, redeems us, and provides for us far beyond what we deserve!

That – my friends – is AMAZING GRACE!

 

*  From the hymn: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”