People Who Inspire Me: William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce was a member of the British Parliament in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Early in his political career, he experienced "the great change" in his life due to a friend who shared the message of Jesus Christ with him as they vacationed together over the summer. He placed his faith in Christ and made a genuine commitment to follow him as Lord.

At first, he seriously considered leaving his position as a member of Parliament. Prior to following Jesus, Wilberforce had not done anything of true significance as a politician. He had been concerned merely with his own position in society, his own fame, wealth, and power. However, a former slave ship captain changed his way of thinking on the subject. John Newton, the author of the song Amazing Grace, urged him to live out his Christian convictions while serving the nation as a politician. Newton encouraged Wilberforce with these words: "It is hoped and believed that the Lord has raised you up for the good of His church and for the good of the nation." As an evangelical Christian committed to doing good for his nation in political circles, William Wilberforce became best known for leading the effort to abolish the trans-Atlantic slave trade and eventually slavery in the British empire.

Why does William Wilberforce inspire me?

1. He had a strong commitment to sound doctrine. This led to faithfully living out the implications of those doctrines. He pursued mercy and justice because he saw the God of mercy and justice through the pages of the Bible. His understanding of sin, grace, and Christ led him to oppose sin, extend grace, and honor Christ in every aspect of his life.

2. He was evangelistic. In his personal relationships, he sought every opportunity to share his faith. In the Parliament, he worked with many unbelievers. Some opposed him in every way. Others were his friends and allies. In both cases, he tried to persuade them of their need for Jesus. He even wrote A Practical View of Christianity, a popular book in which he shared his faith with the population at large.

3. He had a strong commitment to doing good. In addition to fighting the slave trade, he was heavily involved in the British Foreign Bible Society, the Church Missionary Society, and the Society for the Manufacturing Poor. He worked to alleviate harsh child labor conditions and to improve prison conditions. He was a founder of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He did not limit himself to seeking good in one area. He sought every opportunity available to him to improve his world and to honor his Savior.

4. He persevered. Wilberforce endured years of poor health and problems with his children. He faced entrenched political forces that opposed everything he supported. He was slandered in public and humiliated in many ways. But he never gave up. He continued to seek the best for his family, his friends, and his society.

William Wilberforce was a man worthy of honor, because he was a man who consistently honored the name of God.

Important and Useful Information

In the latest edition of the Christian Chronicle, I read an inspiring article about Dean and Sherry Adams, a couple who serve a small Church of Christ in Dickinson, North Dakota. They have been incredible assets to the network of Churches of Christ in that state for the last 30 years. Now they are facing a difficult time in paying the medical bills for their children who were born with hypogammaglobulinemia, a genetic disorder which hampers their bodies' abilities to fight infection. They have had a small, but very significant, ministry which has honored Jesus Christ for decades. Now they could use our help. If you would like to learn more about the Adams family, please go to http://natepercell.com/helptheadams. Please consider sending a little (or a lot of) money to help a family that has helped so many over the years. (If the Christian Chronicle places the story on its web site, I will edit this post in order to provide the link to it.)

At http://www.michaelclancy.com, you may read about the amazing story and see amazing photographs of a pre-born child who reaches out and grabs the finger of the surgeon who is operating on him. If you do not agree with the pro-life position, you may change your mind about the humanity of pre-born children and the need to provide legal protection for them after viewing this web site.

At http://www.nrlc.org/news/2008/NRL04/Wilberforce.html, you may read the thoughts of William Wilberforce's great-great-grandson. He says that his ancestor would be involved in the pro-life movement today if he were alive. William Wilberforce led the efforts to abolish the slave trade and slavery in Great Britain's parliament 200 years ago.

At http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200804/20080426_realperseverance.html, you may read a devotional piece about real perseverance. It will encourage you to keep on going when you read about what others are enduring for the sake of God's glory.

At http://sharedhope.wordpress.com, you may read the blog of an organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking and slavery in the United States and around the world. (Yes, it still exists despite its illegality. So it needs to be fought.)

Thanks for reading and for considering helping the Adams family with their needs!

Thoughts on Taking a Stand by Rubel Shelly

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21, NASB).

I read an interesting article by Rubel Shelly at http://www.rubelshelly.com/content.asp?CID=19613. Although I do not totally agree with his reluctance to engage in social activism, he offered some good ideas about how to combat evil in different ways. (In the spirit of William Wilberforce, I do not mind asking the leaders in government, business, or the media to act responsibly. I believe that social activism can be done in a noble and Christ-like manner.) Some of Rubel's ideas included:

"Taking a stand" on teen pregnancy is better done by offering kids something productive and holy to do than by railing against condom distribution and picketing Planned Parenthood.

"Taking a stand" on alcohol and drugs is better accomplished by parental example than parental threats.

"Taking a stand" on homosexuality looks more Christ-like when gays are treated with dignity rather than made the butt of mean jokes.

"Taking a stand" on TV sex and violence is better done by playing outside with your children than by sending $100 to a clean-up-TV campaign.

"Taking a stand" on spouse abuse is better done by funding shelter and legal help for victims than by frothing at the mouth.

The entire article may be read at the link mentioned earlier in this post.

Another Amazing Grace Movie Review

Amazing Grace can be seen at discount (or dollar) movie theatres now. The film describes the efforts of William Wilberforce to end the slave trade in Great Britain. Soon, I'm sure, it will be available on DVD.

You may read an excellent review of the movie by Darryl Tippens at http://www.christianchronicle.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=683.

Amazing Grace

My family just watched Amazing Grace, the new movie about William Wilberforce's political fight against the British slave trade of 200 years ago. We enjoyed the movie on many levels. While watching it, four passages from the Scriptures came to my mind.

A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel (Proverbs 12:10, NASB).

I noticed William Wilberforce's kindness toward animals. Throughout the movie, he cared for both wild and domesticated animals. His future wife mentioned that Mr. Wilberforce founded the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous (Luke 14:12-14, NASB).

I also noticed Mr. Wilberforce's kindness toward the poor, especially in his habit of welcoming them to dinner at his mansion.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary (Galatians 6:9, NASB).

William Wilberforce's perseverance in fighting the slave trade in the face of overwhelming resistance for decades eventually led to the triumph of goodness. So many hearts were changed by his efforts that the laws of the British empire eventually were changed.

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16, NASB).

William Wilberforce's kindness and persevering faith in God attracted and inspired his wife. She joined him in his cause, becoming his greatest ally and source of encouragement. His life made the Christian faith appealing to the people nearest to him. On his deathbed, Prime Minister William Pitt expressed the desire to have a faith in God similar to Mr. Wilberforce's faith. His faith was infectious, as Jesus intended it to be.

Amazing Grace was a movie worth seeing ( and even purchasing on DVD when it becomes available).

Ending Modern Slavery

If you are interested in ending slavery in modern times, you may want to sign the petition at http://theamazingchange.com. The movie Amazing Grace will be in theaters on February 23. It tells the story of how William Wilberforce worked to end the slave trade in Great Britain 200 years ago. Hopefully, it will inspire others to care about people who are enslaved as laborers and prostitutes today. You may also want to check out the link to the International Justice Mission at the bottom of my home page for more information about the struggle against slavery today.