Transforming Grace

Like many of you, my wife and I recently went to the movies to watch Amazing Grace.  Up until the time of the movie, I had only read one book about William Wilberforce and maintained merely a superficial knowledge about this man’s passion and purpose in life.  I say this to my shame.

I am not going to give a movie review here, but I would like to share a couple of thoughts that have been running through my head in recent days.  For those of you who haven’t seen the movie, this isn’t a spoiler, and you really need to go see it.  For those who have, maybe there is something here we can discuss.  Maybe not.  😉

I have often thought about what amazing grace looks like in real life.  We often sing songs soaked in radical, life-changing truths with such familiarity that they sometimes become nothing more than a broken record.  Part of the problem is that hymns like “Amazing Grace” are being sung by rote from the mouths of those who haven’t tasted the sweetness of God’s grace.  The life of William Wilberforce has changed much of that for me. 

When I watched and since then meditated on the life of Wilberforce, I see what amazing grace looks like.  I saw a man who lived in such a way as to be a conduit of such grace to others, from paupers to the prime minister.  So when I sing amazing grace, I think of shackles coming off, slaves set free, and lives transformed–by grace.

There are two dangers I face after watching a movie like this.  The first is to have a mushy sentimentality which admires the life and sacrifice of Wilberforce.  It is easy to tip the legacy with $8.50 and two hours of my time, shed a tear or two, and resume my normal daily routine.  The second danger is to develop a revolutionary mindset.  This thinking seeks to change the world without restraint, patience, wisdom, and humility.  After having witnessed the change brought about by this man, such inspiration should be a motivator to change the world, but not overthrow it.  As Wilberforce so pointedly stated, “I never want to hear that word (revolution) in my presence again.” 

I also don’t know what is worse: being in opposition and found on the wrong side of history or simply being indifferent?  I mean, the guys who were outspoken and ridiculing Wilberforce now have history as their foe and freedom as a testimony of their folly, but what about those who actually agreed with Wilberforce and were silenced by other allegiances, such as politics, power, or prosperity?  How many members of Parliament had the sentence of their conscience every time Wilberforce spoke only to find it seared in the end?  Such men, not having the courage of their convictions, some say find their resting places in the hottest places of hell.  I think the hell would be knowing the right thing to do, not doing it, and having all eternity to regret being silent for those who can’t speak and deaf for those who can’t have their voices heard.

So I am led to the type of Christian we need today.  No, we may not be facing a slave trade in the West Indies, but there are injustices abounding in our world.  From forced prostitution in the brothels of Calcutta to the child slavery to genocide in Darfur to the exploitation of the poor, such a time as this needs the spirit of Wilberforce again.  We need a Christian who is “haunted by 20,000 voices” and are awakened from the comforts of ease as we sleep in Zion.  We need a Christian who will see that singing the praises of God and changing the world is not “either/or” but “both/and.”  We need a Christian who can sing “Amazing Grace” and feel it through every fiber of their being.  We need a Christian who has been transformed by grace and has surrendered their life as an offering to transform their world. 

At the end of John Newton’s life (who was Wilberforce’s pastor and wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace”), he said, (paraphrased)

“There are many things I have forgotten throughout the years.  But two great truths I have never forgotten are that I am a great sinner and Jesus is a great Savior.” 

No wonder the driving passion in Newton’s life.  No wonder the thrust behind Wilberforce’s vision.  They were blind, but now they see.  God help us to see the world as they did, and by God’s grace, follow in their train.