Amazing Grace: One Man’s Lifelong Quest
by: Karen Cole - Feb 19, 2007 - comments: 1
Image from the “Amazing Grace” movie.
Amazing Grace, the must-see movie about William Wilberforce’s nearly lifelong effort to abolish the British slave trade, is opening in theaters this Friday. The February 23, 2007, release marks the 200th anniversary of the British Parliament’s vote to ban the transport of slaves by British subjects.
William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was the son of a wealthy sea merchant who chose to enter the world of politics and social reform rather than the family business.
Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Richard Land highly recommended the movie in remarks to Baptist Press: “Anyone would be uplifted by seeing this movie, and people of faith should be inspired by it. I thought it was an excellent movie that shows what happens when a man of true faith takes seriously the command to be salt and light.
“Wilberforce should be an inspiration to every person of faith who takes seriously the obligation, responsibility and commission to make a difference in society,” he continued.
Land noted Wilberforce’s persistence in spite of initial cultural apathy and years of legislative defeat: “[Wilberforce’s] task at the outset seemed impossible, humanly speaking. The power and influence of the planters and all of those who benefited from the slave trade were enormous. And yet, he continued to chip away at it, in righteous indignation, until finally it imploded of its own moral indefensibility.”
The movie takes its name from the beloved hymn composed by former slave ship captain John Newton, who served as an evangelical pastor after a dramatic religious conversion while steering his vessel through a storm. Newton and Wilberforce became friends and allies while Newton was serving as rector of a London church.
Unfortunately, the issues and sinful attitudes Wilberforce fought are still present today.
“You’d have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to see the parallels between, first of all the abortion issue and slavery, and, second, the general condition of the culture then and now,” Land observed.
“Slavery didn’t end in the 19th century. It’s still alive and well today—both sexual and non-sexual slavery,” he said. “In many countries around the world, there is unfortunately a very lucrative and major trade in human flesh for sexual purposes and also for involuntary labor.
“And it must be stopped,” Land reiterated. “I’m happy to be able to say that the United States has taken a lead in leading the international community to address this issue directly.”
The movie has fired an awareness campaign shining a light on those held in modern forms of slavery. On February 18, thousands of U.S. churches joined in celebrating Amazing Grace Sunday by singing the hymn and praying for the abolition of those held in bondage around the world. The event will be celebrated March 25 in Great Britain.
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1 comments (post your own) feed
1 On Feb 20th, 2007, at 11:16am, Willard wrote:
A review of the movie was included in the recent AFA Journal. In the review it was stated that there was significant profanity (15-20 times). Can anyone who has seen the movie verify or deny this?
I have a problem recommending any movie that includes profanity. I appreciate your comments.
P.S. I have not seen the movie.