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Many have heard of William Wilberforce (1759–1833)—the tenacious and eloquent Brit who fought, over the course of decades, for the abolition of the slave trade and then the emancipation of all slaves. Eventually, he would see the end of both. British Parliament abolished the slave trade in 1807 and then voted to emancipate slaves in 1833.
Many opposed Wilberforce through the course of his struggle which began in the 1780s. And that fact compels us to ask, “What led him to engage in this fight rather than promote himself politically, and what allowed him to persevere in it?”
According to Wilberforce, it was his Christian conversion.
He converted to Christianity while touring Europe from 1784–1785. In 1787, he wrote in his diary that he believed God called him to two great ends: 1) the abolition of the slave trade 2) the reformation of manners (i.e., morality).
Over ten years after his conversion to Christianity, he published A Practical View of Christianity in order to distinguish a true form of Christianity from the common Christian sentiments and practices in his culture. He was thirty-eight.
Though wordy by our standards, gems for life and thought pervade the text proving useful for those who consider them. Plus his eloquence still dazzles us hundreds of years later. Below, I wanted to share few takeaways from this book written by a man who can be called A Hero for Humanity.
Live to Promote the Happiness of Others
The abolition of slavery in Britain was not Wilberforce’s purpose in life, but a method for him to fulfill his purpose. In a broader sense, Wilberforce believed Christianity taught him that it is his duty to promote the happiness of others—doing as much good in life as is possible with the time and resources he had.
In his own words, he says:
“…that it is the true duty of every man to promote the happiness of his fellow creatures to the utmost of his power….” (Kindle 348–352)
Understand Real Christianity
Wilberforce labored to understand and represent, as best he could, legitimate Christianity. He studied the Scriptures with constancy and in great detail to ascertain the truth from it that he may better know what to believe as well as what to do.
As he studied the Bible and developed a stronger grasp of theology and Christian practice, he noticed others in his society not having the same conceptions or practices so he set himself to write A Practical View over the course of about four years.
Here’s why he wrote it:
“The main object which he has in view is, not to convince the Sceptic [one who doubts the truth of religious doctrines], or to answer the arguments of persons who avowedly oppose the fundamental doctrines of our Religion; but to point out the scanty and erroneous system of the bulk of those who belong to the class of orthodox Christians, and to contrast their defective scheme with a representation of what the author apprehends to be real Christianity.” (Kindle 359–362)
Here’s his diagnosis of why Christianity was in a weaker form than it should have been in his country during his day:
“The truth is, their opinions on these subjects are not formed from the perusal of the word of God. The Bible lies on the shelf unopened; and they would be wholly ignorant of its contents, except for what they hear occasionally at church, or for the faint traces which their memories may still retain of the lessons of their earliest infancy.” (kindle 433–436)
Feel What You Believe
Deep emotion, more than most experiences in life, creates the consuming awareness that “I’m alive.” We even enjoying seeing deep emotions in others.
One thing we don’t like seeing is dispassionate belief and the same was true for Wilberforce regarding Christian beliefs. How is it possible to believe in eternal paradise where tears are wiped away and everlasting torments with fiery heat…and not be moved with the greatest joy or sadness?
Wilberforce couldn’t understand this, so he wrote:
“But we must not only assent to the doctrine clearly, but feel it strongly. To this end, let the power of habit be called in to our aid. Let us accustom ourselves to refer to our natural depravity, as to their primary cause, the sad instances of vice and folly of which we read, or which we see around us, or to which we feel the propensities in our own bosoms; ever vigilant and distrustful of ourselves, and looking with an eye of kindness and pity on the faults and infirmities of others, whom we should learn to regard with the same tender concern as that with which the sick are used to sympathize with those who are suffering under the same distemper as themselves.” (kindle 806–810)
And he wrote:
“Let us beseech him to give us a true spirit of repentance, and of hearty undivided faith in the Lord Jesus. Let us not be satisfied till the cordiality of our belief be confirmed to us by that character of the Apostle [Peter], “that to as many as believe Christ is precious” [1 Peter 2:7]; and let us strive to increase daily in love towards our blessed Savior; and pray earnestly that “we may be filled with Joy and Peace in believing, that we may abound in Hope through the power of the Holy Ghost” [Romans 15:13].” (kindle 1623–1626)
There’s No Middle Ground
There’s an urgency in Wilberforce in his attempt to persuade others of Christianity—though it isn’t the kind that leads to frantic or irrational behavior. On the contrary, the urgency we find in the Bible is meant to lead to prayerful and calculated living by using our time as best we can.
The urgency in Wilberforce comes from the biblical fact that there is no middle ground. There’s no passive Christianity. There’s no way to exist outside of both God’s dominion or Satan’s—we’re in one or the other.
Wilberforce says,
“It is stated, that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan are both set up in the world, and that to the one or the other of these we must belong.” (kindle 3092–3093)
This truth often ends friendships or any cordiality between believers and non-believers when proclaimed because of its imposition—and it is an imposition, but Christians themselves don’t have to be imposing. There’s a difference. Wilberforce was known to be passionate in what he believed, articulate in his beliefs, but also kind and winsome in his presentation…hopefully Christians today can do the same so that the offense doesn’t come from us, but the Gospel.
Pursue Holiness by Embracing the Gospel and its Benefits
Enjoy the Gospel. Let its truths sink in. Let its power flow through your veins. That is holiness.
Take time each day to think on the remarkable story that we were once children of wrath, destined for wrath, but have been made new and destined for an eternal inheritance. You can enjoy that eternal inheritance in part, today, by partaking in the Gospel’s power to transform us and give us the peace and joy we desire.
Here’s how Wilberforce puts it:
“But the nature of the holiness to which the desires of the true Christian are directed, is no other than the restoration of the image of God: and as to the manner of acquiring it, disclaiming with indignation every idea of attaining it by his own strength, all his hopes of possessing it rest altogether on the divine assurances of the operation of the Holy Spirit, in those who cordially embrace the Gospel of Christ. He knows therefore that this holiness is not to PRECEDE his reconciliation to God, and be its CAUSE; but to FOLLOW it, and be its EFFECT. That, in short, it is by FAITH IN CHRIST only that he is to be justified in the sight of God; to be delivered from the condition of a child of wrath, and a slave of Satan; to be adopted into the family of God; to become an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ, entitled to all the privileges which belong to this high relation; here, to the Spirit of Grace, and a partial renewal after the image of his Creator; hereafter, to the more perfect possession of the Divine likeness, and an inheritance of eternal glory.” (kindle 3387–3396)
*Quotes come from: Wilberforce, William, and Belmonte, Kevin Charles. A Practical View of Christianity. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2006. Kindle.