In 1990 Bill Moyer produced...
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In 1990 Bill Moyer produced a documentary on public television titled "Amazing Grace." Based upon the hymn of the same name, he showed through countless interviews with people who have sung the hymn in congregations or as musical performers that the words and music of this hymn are deeply etched in the American experience. What was strange in the course of the conversations was the fact that when asked most people did not know who wrote the hymn or the story behind it.
John Newton, an 18th century English captain of a slave ship, had his life transformed in his middle years by the power of the Christian gospel. He became a rector in the Church of England and undertook to express his faith by preparing hymns for his congregation to sing. "Amazing Grace" was his most personal hymn describing his feelings about his own conversion:
"Amazing grace How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see ..."
Newton wrote so passionately about his own spiritual turning point because like Paul he wanted to be a reconciler on behalf of God and to make sure that others did not "accept the grace of God in vain."
--Clarke
John Newton, an 18th century English captain of a slave ship, had his life transformed in his middle years by the power of the Christian gospel. He became a rector in the Church of England and undertook to express his faith by preparing hymns for his congregation to sing. "Amazing Grace" was his most personal hymn describing his feelings about his own conversion:
"Amazing grace How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see ..."
Newton wrote so passionately about his own spiritual turning point because like Paul he wanted to be a reconciler on behalf of God and to make sure that others did not "accept the grace of God in vain."
--Clarke
