Rock N' Roll Grace

Last updated on: November 10, 2007 at 12:19 pm by Dave Dunham

Rock N' Roll Grace 2007-11-10T12:19:49-07:00 Dave Dunham

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It is arguably the most famous hymn in the Christian tradition and more non-Christians know it than any other: Amazing Grace. The author of this august hymn is John Newton (1725-1807), an 18th century English Puritan. The hymn has been used, however, in various songs throughout history since its publications, for example: The American rock band The Eagles used it as the chorus to “Peaceful Easy Feeling”. The most recent use of the song is in a particular track from a Christian alternative band: The Almost.

In their song “Amazing, Because it is” lead singer Aaron Gillespie sings those famous words:

Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound, That Saved a Wretch Like Me.
I Once Was Lost But Now I am Found.
Was Blind, But Now I See.

One can’t help but wonder what Newton would think of his words being used in rock music. The period in which the whole collection of The Olney Hymns was written was one of both sobriety and exuberance. Between the Old Dissenting Anglicanism, and the revivalist Wesleyan Methodism there was a mixed bag of spirituality. Newton fit somewhere between the two, and neither he or his hymns were stringent or “charismatic,” so to speak. So what does all of that mean for the use of Newton’s classic hymn in modern rock?

Well of course I can only speculate what John Newton would think, and most likely he would say something more profound and impressive than I will, but I am inclined to think he would have some mixed feelings. On the one hand he would be pleased to see solid theology being disseminated to the masses, and yet he would probably find it inappropriate to put that theology in music that had roots in entertainment. I would like to think, however, that as culture has evolved and music along with that, that Newton could see that rock n’roll has since become a viable expression of worship. Perhaps, not the best, but nonetheless a viable option, and while neither he nor I would condone it for the corporate worship setting of the local church it can be a great expression of the souls longings, cries, and even direct us godward.

So perhaps Newton wouldn’t rock out in the mosh pit, but he might, in his closet, say to this generation of Christian rock, “Rock on brothers, rock on!”

Music

The Almost

Previous Post

November 9, 2007

Strike Sadness

Next Post

November 11, 2007 Short Bibliographies for Christians and Culture

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz