Just As I Am- the Hymn sung around the world

 

This will be the last of my hymn stories, so I wanted to talk about one of my favorites. I’d never heard Just As I Am until I became a Christian and attended a revival. Not only was the hymn used at altar calls in the church I attended as a teen but is known worldwide because the Billy Graham Crusades used it as their altar call hymn. Mr. Graham felt it was the most biblically accurate hymn when calling sinners to surrender their lives to Jesus.

What surprised me is this popular hymn is almost two-hundred years old. 

Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871) was born in Clapton, England, one of six children. Her father was a clergyman as were her two older brothers. Charlotte was a pleasant woman whose talents were portrait painting and writing humorous poems. She led a rather carefree life, ignoring her religious upbringing, until in her twenties she became seriously ill. There is no record as to what the illness was, but it also brought on severe bouts of depression that plagued her for the rest of her life. In 1822, while living in Brighton, England with her married brother Henry, a Swiss evangelist, Dr. Ceasar Malan, visited the Elliott family. He challenged Charlotte regarding her faith. She insisted she needed to clean up her life before she came to the Lord. But Dr. Malan encouraged her to come to Christ as she was. She did and celebrated May 8^th as her spiritual birthday every year as a reminder of God’s great love for her.

 Charlotte wrote hundreds of hymns published in various collections. “Just As I Am” first appeared in the Invalid’s Hymnbook in 1836. She was inspired to write the poem while her brother’s family was at a bazaar raising money for a home for poor clergymen’s children. She wanted so badly to help in some small way. The words Dr. Malan had spoken to her so many years ago came flooding back and when her sister-in-law returned home to check on her, she showed her the poem. Those words raised more money for the children’s home than anything sold at the bazaar. God used those simple words to change lives.

Thomas Hasting joined the tune “Woodworth” by American gospel composure William Bradbury to the poem “Just As I Am Without One Plea. The moving melody sets the tone to the words.

Original Poem

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!

Just as I am - of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just As I Am goes around the world and through the decades

This hymn has been translated into many languages and sung over the centuries. You can find gospel albums from various artist, from Johnny Cash to Carrie Underwood who include this song in their hymn albums.

Here is a link to Carrie Underwoods rendition of the song.

https://youtu.be/qRbrK6Pydgs

Often on hearing this hymn, I was brought to my knees in repentance and gratitude that I belong to Jesus.

When was the first time you heard Just As I Am? How did it affect you? 

Cindy Ervin Huff is a multi-published award-winning author. A 2018 Selah Finalist. She has a passion to encourage other writers on their journey. When she isn’t writing, she feeds her addiction to reading and enjoys her retirement with her husband of 50 plus years, Charles. Visit her at www.cindyervinhuff.com.

Cherishing Her Heart

 

 

 

Jesus Loves Me--A Simple Hymn with Global Appeal and an Grammy Winner

 

Today I’m continuing my hymn history posts. Last month, I mentioned the Battle Hymn of the Republic. You can read it here if you missed it. I tried to choose hymns that are well-known by many. With that in mind who hasn’t sung Jesus Loves Me? The story behind it is fascinating, as is the author.
This tune written in 1860 is still sung today in Sunday School and Children’s church in many churches globally. It wasn’t originally written for a hymn book but rather a work of fiction entitled Say and Seal by Susan Warner. She enlisted her sister Anna to write a poem to be read to her character, a young boy who was dying. Although no one can recall the plot of the story, this poem, now a hymn, lives on.  

Anna and Susan Warner
Raised in a prosperous family and tutored at home, Susan and Anna Warner were very well-educated for women of their time. After their father’s death, the family moved to Constitution Island located in the Hudson River. The family succeeded in maintaining their cottage there. Both women were Bible teachers as well as note-worthy authors. Neither married and both were active in temperance, abolish and suffrage movements. They taught a bible class to Westpoint cadets every week. Their home was near Westpoint. The cadets adored the ladies.

William Batchelder Bradbury

Thanks to William Bradbury, a musician, organist , choir director  and owner of Bradbury Piano Company found the poem 1862 and asked permission of Anne Warner to set the words to music and add the chorus. It was published multiple times in various song books.

Note the Gospel truths in the four original stanza
Jesus loves me—this I know,
For the Bible tells me so:
Little ones to Him Belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.
Jesus loves me—He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide:
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
Jesus loves me—loves me still,
Though I’m weak and very ill;
From His shining throne on high,
Comes to watch me where I lie.
Jesus loves me—he will stay
Close beside me all the way.
Then his little child will take
Up to heaven for his dear sake.

Bradford changed the last few lines to: If I love Him, when I die, He will take me home on high.
Then he added the chorus that is so familiar to all of us.
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me—
The Bible tells me so!

Notable history of Jesus Loves me.
It is one of the first hymns taught to new converts on mission fields. At one time it was the most popular hymn sung in China. The hymn was even titled China for years. Easy to sing, it became a popular Sunday School song.
It has been translated into more languages than any other song. Although people may view it as a children’s song many adults have and still do sing it all over the world.
In 1943 the natives of the Solomon Islands sang it as they rescued the crew of PT-109 from the Pacific Ocean and brought them to safety. The ship’s commander was John F. Kennedy who would later become the 35th President of the United States.
For such an old song it not only has never gone out of print but also remains popular. Many celebrities have recorded varying versions of the song on many albums from 1972 to 2022. Tennessee State University’s Aristocrats of Bands recorded it in their debut album, The Urban Hymnal. This college marching band went on to win the 2022 Grammy for the Best Roots Gospel Album. Jesus Loves Me is among the selections on that album.

Here is the You Tube link to Tennessee State University Band playing Jesus Loves Me.

Do you know this hymn? How old were you when you sang it?

Cindy Ervin Huff, is a multi-published award-winning author. A 2018 Selah Finalist. She has a passion to encourage other writers on their journey. When she isn’t writing, she feeds her addiction to reading and enjoys her retirement with her husband of 50 plus years, Charles. Visit her at www.cindyervinhuff.com.
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