Is it Disrespectful to Call Another Person Lost?
Examining the Harmful Dynamics of “Lost” and “Found” Labels
Amazing grace,
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
but now I’m found
Was blind
but now I see
The sweet refrains of Amazing Grace, the grand old hymn written by John Newton in 1779, have become so well-loved that we rarely stop to think about the lyrics.
John Newton worked in the slave trade, buying and selling human beings at a time in history when such practices were common and accepted. He even captained slave trading ships for several years, delivering hundreds of miserable iron-clad prisoners from their homes to their destined lives of bondage.
It was during one of these perilous voyages that Newton experienced a spiritual awakening. In a ferocious storm, faced with the imminent threat of death, he began to question the morality of his actions and pondered the consequences of his involvement in slave trading. This marked the beginning of his journey toward faith and redemption.
Eventually, John Newton abandoned the slave trade and underwent a dramatic personal and spiritual transformation. He denounced his former way of life and became a prominent abolitionist, vehemently advocating for the abolition of the slave trade.
