John Newton, a great English singer and powerful preacher of the gospel, was at one time in his life perfectly content with a secondhand religion and the external performance of religious duties.

Aboard his slave ship on Sunday he faithfully read the prescribed religious service for the day. During the week he read his Bible topside. But while he read his Bible each day and conducted the worship service on Sunday, he could hear the poor, enchained, and miserable slaves, groaning in pain under the terrible conditions in the hold of the ship below.

After he came under the influence of the Great Awakening evangelists John Wesley and George Whitefield, he exchanged his secondhand religion for a firsthand experience that made a significant difference in his life.

Out of this new experience he wrote the most popular Christian hymn today—Amazing Grace.

from Beyond the Shadows: Embracing Authentic Worship