I’ve been exploring some of the very modern worship songs as an old guy 😀. But now, I’ve decided to alternate between very modern hymns, old hymns, and in-between hymns, namely the worship songs from the 60s to the 90s that feature in hymnbooks such as Mission Praise. Today it’s the turn of the old hymns.
Today’s song is Just As I Am from 1835.
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! 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, I come!
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt;
Fightings within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, 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, 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, I come!
This is a hymn that I associate with evangelistic meetings, where an appeal is made to commit your life to Jesus. And people might respond by singing this hymn and using the lyrics as a prayer. But it can also be a more general prayer for those who are already believers. It emphasizes our utter dependence on Jesus.
Charlotte Elliott, who wrote the hymn, struggled with chronic illness and depression. She wrote it during a moment of spiritual conflict and self‑doubt, when she reaffirmed her faith “just as she was.” Swiss minister César Malan encouraged her to “come to Christ just as you are.”
When I used to be a teacher, my greatest joy was helping those who were willing and eager to learn and who sought my help. They didn’t need to be brilliant students. And God Himself clearly appreciates those who are humble rather than those who feel that they can get by without Him. In fact, the key moment in the story of the temptation of Adam and Eve was the serpent telling them not to listen to God but to do their own thing. And we all follow that pattern at times – happily putting God out of the pictre. But I’d much sooner follow the pattern of this hymn.
Here are some other versions:
Hibernia Gospel 