William Wilberforce

Hey ,
so I finished up George Washington and then went straight into William Wilberforce 1759-1833, the father of the abolitionist movement he is sometimes referred due to him being the champion in the british parliament for helping to end the slave trade throughout the western world. A movie was made about him 'Amazing Grace' I haven't seen it but I hear good things.

Willam Wilberforce grew up with the social elite, he was from a wealthy family and was a christian from an early age but christianity did not play a major role in his life until later on when he began to see his role in parliament as more than just being a socially acceptable and good natured politician, but as a chance to change the course of history and end a trade which demeaned human life and went against God's word. He was a bright, intellectual person a brilliant politician and speaker. He had the gifts to make a great impact in a society that for the most part did not see God as playing a major role in their lives, that thought of being a devout and faithful christian was embarrassing and not acceptable as an intellectual. William Wilberforce found his way to God through friends like John Newton and Isaac Milner, the encounters with these two men and many others led wilberforce to make the greatest attack on the slave trade in that time. and ultimately with God's power ending it all over the world, or well making it illegal, I guess it has not ended, but still it was a great victory for human rights and changing the views of christianity in England.

It is interesting to see a man so oblivious to the reality of Christ like most of us, but yet God changed him so quickly and worked in his life so affectively. I think this is because he surrendered his life, he let go of his pride. He acted on what He knew and saw to be true. He was a great man because he did what God called him to do. He sacrificed for a cause greater than his own, and we remember him for that. We would not have remembered him if he had been just another politician. but because God used him to bring about great change and that wilberforce accepted, we are inspired by this great deed and sacrifice.

until next time

zm