Amazing Faith: The Sweet Sound of Grace and Freedom
The Story of William Wilberforce
by Teresa Carr
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Amazing Faith: The Sweet Sound of Grace and Freedom The
Story of William Wilberforce by
Teresa Carr The family name of Wilberforce
comes from the extraordinary lives of two English men, a father who was a
British statesman and the son a clergyman of the Church of England. William
Wilberforce born at Hull on August 24, 1759, and studied at Cambridge
University. His greatest contribution in history and to human relations was
that he led the fight to abolish the slave trade and slavery in the British
Empire. In 1780, he entered the Parliament and became a leading Tory, noted
for his eloquence. In 1786, Thomas Clarkson asked him to join in attacking
slavery in the West Indies. The reformers decided to attack the slave trade
first. Wilberforce, supported by William Pitt, led the first campaign in
Parliament in 1789. The bill to end the slave trade passed the House of
Commons in 1792, but failed in the House of Lords. In that same year, Denmark
became the first nation to put a stop to the slave trade. Clarkson and
Wilberforce continued their campaign to persuade the British government to
pass a bill against the slave trade. When such a bill became law in 1807,
Wilberforce turned against slavery itself. He retired from Parliament in
1825, but continued to support emancipation. Finally in 1833, slavery was
abolished in all British colonies with the passing of the Emancipation Bill,
one month after Wilberforce died. Wilberforce had such compassion and
conviction of the injustice brought about in an injustice world that he was
compelled to write the book Real
Christianity. This amazing book published in 1797 changed the world
and the affects of slavery upon the Christian and non-Christian that the
slave trade was put to a halt. What Wilberforce had set out to accomplish had
come to past. His hope to make all human beings free became a reality. The
affect of Wilberforce’s efforts made it across the world to the United
States. In March of 1807, the United States prohibited further importation of
slaves after Jan. 1, 1808. This act legally ended the overseas trade in
slaves, but slavery continued until the end of the Civil War. Without the
efforts of Wilberforce tenacity and courage the entire world would still be
living in the dark ages without freedom and liberty. Wilberforce’s story is
inspired in the film Amazing
Grace. The music from the soundtrack includes Chris Tomlin’s title
song written by the former slave trader turned preacher and hymnist, John
Newton. The story and the song are parallel of the two lives living in the
same time in history that were moved by the captives of injustice. Both are
an inspiration to all of us that God is always at work in our lives and
brings us to him through the saving grace of his only son Jesus Christ. In the letter to Philemon
found in the New Testament, Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus a runaway
slave as a brother in Christ. The letter answers the question that Christian
brotherly love really works, even in situations of unbearable tension and
difficulty. The same works between a prominent slave owner and his runaway
slave. Without doubt, Paul writes his letter to Philemon his brother in
Christ and fellow worker on behalf of Onesimus-a deserter and thief, but as a
Christian brother with such tact and tenderness. He asked Philemon to receive
Onesimus back with the same gentleness which he received Paul. Any debt
Onesimus owed, Paul would pay the debt. The same debt we owed for our sins we
could never pay off, which Jesus paid our debt in full on the cross at
Calvary (in Hebrew, Golgotha). Like Paul, let us be confident that brotherly
love and forgiveness will carry us through another day. As
Paul addressed his letter to Philemon he writes: PAUL,
a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly
beloved, and fellowlabourer. And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our
fellowsoldiers, and to the church in thy house: Grace to you, and peace from
God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention of
thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast
toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy
faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is
in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love,
because the bowel (heart) of saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is
convenient, Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as
Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beseech thee for my
son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds (Colossians 4:9, brotherhood):
Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and
to me: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own
bowels (heart): Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he
might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: But without my mind
would I would do nothing; that thy benefit (good deed) should not be as it
were of necessity, but willingly. For perhaps he therefore departed for a
season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but
above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto
thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? If thou count me therefore a
partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or owe thee
anything, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own
hand, I will repay it; albeit I do not say to thee how thou owe unto me even
thine own self besides. Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord:
refresh my bowels (heart) in the Lord. Having confidence in thy obedience (in
all things) I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I
say. But meanwhile prepare me also a lodging; for I trust that through your
prayers I shall be given unto you. There salute thee Epaphras, my
fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas,
Lucas, my fellowlabourers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your
spirit. Amen. Despite our modern society,
our outlook on the equality of human life, and the abolishment of widespread
slave trade, slavery still exists in the world today. In World War II, Nazi
Germany followed the old practice of making slaves of conquered people.
Russia and Communist countries began using political prisoners for forced
labor, a form of slavery. The Anti-Slavery Society, a British organization,
has reported that slave trade still thrives in Africa, the Middle East, the
Far East, and parts of South America. In our present time, the church
experiences a kind of slavery in the secular world. We are living in a time
of hostility and ignorance. The church in countries that are ruled by a
Moslem or totalitarian government suffer heavy persecution. In African
countries like Sudan, Arab terrorists sponsored by the country’s government
attack Christian villages. These Christians are brutally and savagely killed,
beaten, raped and tortured. Survivors are taken to military camps where they
are sold into slavery. Those who escape end up starving to death. These
travesties cannot go on forever. God created man in his own image. When man
rebelled against God, he lost his freedom to live a sinless life. The sin of
this world makes us all slaves. That’s why Jesus Christ came to set us all
free from sin through his blood bought sacrifice. Radical religion only
brings slavery, discrimination, and war. Christ Jesus brings equality to all
men, freedom, and peace. For this reason the Lord will bring with him the
Kingdom of God and his reward is with him. Evil will be judged and justice
and peace will prevail. This is the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ. William’s third son Samuel
Wilberforce gave new vitality to the Church of England. As bishop of Oxford
and then of Winchester, he held key positions during the crisis created by
the conversion of John Henry Newman to the Roman Catholic Church. Wilberforce
stood outside the Tractarian (Oxford) Movement. But he advocated
strengthening the Church of England ritual and tradition. Through this
revival of the Church, Wilberforce and the other Anglican leaders, John Keble
(1792-1866) and Edward B. Pusey (1800-1882) showed the people the evils of
their indifference and ignorance. Wilberforce was in great demand as a
speaker. Bishop Wilberforce was born in London on Sept. 7, 1805. The Oxford
Movement had great influence upon the Anglican world, including the Episcopal
Church in the United States. It revived the faith in the church as a divine
society, not to be controlled by the state. It made the pastor’s office
important and extended the church’s work among the poor. It awakened the
church to a broader view of their power and duty. Most of this work was
published in a notable book called Light of the World (Lux Mundi),
edited by Charles Gore. The church was more than just an institution, that it
had privileges, sacraments, a ministry ordained by Christ, that it was a
matter of high obligation to remain united with the Church. It’s through the
saving grace of Christ that gave the church, made up of God’s people, its
freedom. God has not forgot his people of the Promise Land contrary to what
others say that he has. There will be
a time that God will save the Jewish people as he had in past history. God’s
people are not slaves to this world. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there
is liberty (2 Cor. 3:17). When Jesus saved us he set us free from the bondage
of sin. One day in the coming kingdom all things will be reconciled just as
William Wilberforce hoped it would be. Oh the
unspeakable greatness of that exchange- The
Sinless One is condemned, and he who is guilty goes free; The
Blessings bear the curse, and the cursed is brought into blessing; The
Life dies, and the dead live; The
Glory is whelmed in darkness, but he who knew nothing but confusion of face
is clothed with Glory. -Lefevre Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) the British leader in the pottery
industry and anti-slavery activist created a black cameo relief on a white
background of a kneeling slave with the inscription, “Created in the image of
God. I’m I not a brother?” There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there
is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians
3:28 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in
all. – Colossians 3:11 REF: KJV Holy Bible. Philemon.
Thomas Nelson Publishers. Wilberforce, William. Real Christianity. Revised and
updated by Bob Beltz. ©2007, Teresa Carr. Skyhouse
Communications & Mega Grafx® Studio. |
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