Just As I Am

📖 The Scoop

I am in my mid-fifties and grew up in church on the old hymns such as "Just as I Am" and "I Surrender All." As much as I love contemporary Christian music, I must say the old hymns have much stronger messages about Christ, who He is, and how we are in desperate need of salvation. This book's title "Just As I Am" is a play on that old hymn penned by invalid Charlotte Elliot in 1835. She wrote this hymn after reevaluating her relationship with Christ, the simple message of sin, forgiveness, and restoration for all who run to Jesus. However, too many use "just as I am" to stay "just as they are." There seems to be a mindset of "Jesus loves and accepts me just as I am," as though transformation isn't necessary. Too many well-intentioned Christ-followers remain in their feeble, bitter, angry, sick, sad, and sorry estate long after coming to Christ, making a profession of faith, yet remaining the same. The other old hymn I love and will reference is "I Surrender All" by Judson W. Van DeVenter in 1896. It was written on the heels of Van DeVenter grappling five years over whether to follow his talents to become famous or forsake it all for the ministry. From his surrender came this cherished hymn. This day and age, there is little, at least that I can see, true surrender. I do not wish to be critical, just accurate in my statement. I, too, fell into this Christian category for several decades until I surrendered all, forsaking everything my fleshly nature wanted, felt, and thought. This book is intended to reveal how shallow most Christians are and how to remedy the problem. I was shallow, though I thought myself mature in Christ by eighteen. After facing insurmountable trials, I recognized my helpless estate, came to Christ just as I was, but then allowed Him to transform me from the inside out-I surrendered all at thirty-one February 2000. I have never looked back, longing for more of what I want, think, or feel.

Genre: Religion / General (fancy, right?)