Hymns & Hymn Writers: Only A Step

The song dates to 1890. We are familiar with this statement: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." This was made by Neil Armstrong of the Apollo 11 crew that went to the moon in July 1969. Some people who have to take a step from their pew to the front row to announce their desire to be baptized have perhaps felt they were taking the giant leap when it is but a small physical step. Indeed, becoming a Christian is a major step, and the decision is not to be made lightly. The song “Only A Step” points out that the path is laid before us if we will but walk in it.

Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (1856-1932), Lyricist & Composer

Charles Hutchinson Gabriel was born August 18, 1856 in Wilton, Iowa. He was taught singing by his father and self-taught music on a reed organ. He became the Music Director for the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in San Francisco, CA. He edited at least 35 songbooks and wrote some 7-8000 hymns or music for hymns. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Francilla “Fannie” Woodhouse, but he divorced her and then married Amelia Moore. His first wife survived him and died in 1940, but his second wife died before him in 1931. He had a child with each wife. Gabriel was fond of writing with pseudonyms; e.g., S. B. Jackson, Jennie Ree and others. We sing several of the hymns he created: “God is Calling the Prodigal”, “He Lifted Me”, “I Stand Amazed”, “Just A Few More Days”, “Only A Step”, “Send the Light”, “Sweet is the Promise” and several others. Gabriel died September 14, 1932 in Hollywood, California.

Only A Step

The song starts with “Hear the sweet voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me…” Jesus does not whisper these words in our ears literally, but He did say: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV). And Jesus truly did say “I am the way”, but He said this as recorded in Scriptures: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NKJV). We are called but we are called by the gospel: “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 NKJV).

There was a preacher in restoration history during the days of Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, and Barton W. Stone that was able to call people to the gospel with statements like this: “Join yourself, then, to the body of Christ, and you will receive the Spirit of Christ. How am I to do this? If you believe in Christ, and think that God means what he says, I would venture to quote my text as an infallible direction in order to get the Spirit: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Does this please you? Then obey God. Disobey him, and you are lost.” (Walter Scott, A Discourse on the Holy Spirit). People were being taught wrong. They were being taught that a direct operation of the Holy Spirit would tell them to obey the gospel when the Bible was telling them to obey the gospel all along!

We talk about the “Steps of Salvation” quite a bit, and rightfully so. Are you prepared to take the step to be immersed and be added to the Lord’s church? The choice is for you to decide. We invite you to come to the Savior: “He’s the same loving Savior yet, Jesus the Crucified.”

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SOURCES:

“Charles Gabriel.” No Pages. Cited 26 August 2018. Online: http://nethymnal.org/bio/g/a/b/gabriel_ch.htm.

“Charles Gabriel.” No Pages. Cited 26 August 2018. Online: http://www.hymnary.org/person/Gabriel_Charles.

“Charles H. Gabriel.” No Pages. Cited 26 August 2018. Online: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_H._Gabriel.

“Charles Hutchinson Gabriel.” No Pages. Cited 26 August 2018. Online: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6680394/Charles-Hutchinson-Gabriel.

John P. Wiegand, Editor, Praise for the Lord, Nashville, TN: Praise Press, 1997.

V. E. Howard, Editor, Church Gospel Songs & Hymns, Texarkana, TX: Central Printers & Publishers, 1983.