This morning I happened to listen to a fantastic program on Radio 4 on William Wilberforce (my wife had changed the radio from Radio 5 that I usually listen to!). Melvyn Bragg presents “In Our Time” which you can listen again to here (or if you read this a week after posting, you will be able to find it in the archives here). Bragg looks at the life of Wilberforce, and is very explicit about Wilberforce’s faith, that motivated his life mission to see the slave trade abolished. Really worth listening too if you have a spare 45 minutes.
It was great to hear a program that did not dilute the role that Christian Faith played in the life of Wilberforce. If you look at The Amazing Change website, connected to the Amazing Grace film that is coming out in a few weeks time in the UK, you can hardly find any reference to Wilberforce’s faith. Even the name of the Clapham Sect has been changed to Clapham Circle, and no reference to them all being Christians! [HT toggietales]
It is an amazing story, which is in the media as this year celebrates the 200 year anniversary of the Houses of Parliament passing a law to abolish the slave trade. Wilberforce had found faith due to the influence of Isaac Milner, in his 20’s, and then considered giving up politics (he was MP for Hull) and going into the priesthood [there is an interesting article on his conversion at the Church Society website]. But a conversation with John Newton (author of the hymn Amazing Grace and a former slave trader) persuaded him otherwise, and to devote his life to the abolition of the slave trade. Many years later, in 1807, he had persuaded parliament to pass a law abolishing trading of human beings, but it was not until 1833, a few days before Wilberforce died, that slavery itself was abolished.
Wilberforce is an inspiration to those of us now who believe that Christians should be at the forefront of any move to bring about social change in our society [see previous posts, Visit to Cambridge or Dancing in the Aisles]. And maybe too, a reminder that there are still people who are being bought and sold in slavery today?
Tags: Amazing Change, Wilberforce, Amazing Grace, Melvyn Bragg, Clapham Circle, Slavery
Thanks for blogging this. With all these good blogs there is no need for my to update my blog
I hope the film highlight’s his faith more than the promotional material has done. I guess this is a good example of society and perhaps Christians at large wanting to promote “goodness” without promoting “God”.
I guess we could also say its a result of the post-enlightenment separation of faith and deeds. Faith/religion is private, and has no connection to what we actually do in life.
Yeah, right.
I think one of the signs of post-modernism is the breakdown of this nonsense that belief and behaviour are and must be completely separate.
Anyway, looking forward to the film!
Rupert, are you aware of any stop the trafik events happening in Edinburgh?
Thanks Alastair. I am not sure the film will highlight his faith too much. There is a good review here at blog.worship.
I will be interested to see if the film does link his faith with his actions. I too am looking forward to the film … if we can arrange a babysitter!
Hi Duncan. Thanks for popping in … good to meet other Edinburgh folk. Had a little nosey around your blog too: good stuff.
I don’t know of any events in edinburgh, although i think there is a 24-7 prayer night around this on 24th march (i think).
Rupert, thanks for that, and for the comments on the blog. Am sure I was in your church building not so long ago, for a baptism? Hadn’t been in it for c.10 years, when I was a student here. Took me back!
Do you know where the 24-7 prayer event is?
You’re on my bloglines list now, so I’m looking forward to reading what you have to say. Thanks again, Duncan
Hi Duncan - i think it in our church building. I will email you offline the contact details of the guy organising it.
THnaks for the link … i am moving platform (i think) so all housekeeping my end is in limbo …