‘The weight of our hope’
What a great metaphor William Wilberforce uses with that reference - in an impassioned defense - to the work of abolishing slavery in England — at least in the movie.
I saw “Amazing Grace” this weekend and was absorbed by it and the expanse of its message.
Wilberforce was the hero who led a passionate 20 year fight to abolish the British slave trade and — together with a company of humanitarian activists — wanted to “make the world a better place.” He struggled early on with an inner conflict over wanting to devote his life to God and prayer and contemplation, but being called deeper into politics to lead the fight against ungodly crimes against human dignity. His great mentor, John Newton (who wrote the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’), impressed on Wilberforce how powerfully he could do both, by using the power of government to protect people.
What drama played out in the British Parliament all those years, as both sides fought fiercely and strategically over laws and the people they either favor or violate. I was struck frequently, throughout the film, by what human rights activists the Wilberforce colleagues were, and how clearly they saw the dignity and equality of every person. They were driven by the horrors being committed against slaves, considered inhuman and undeserving of life itself, other than at the will of someone with power over them.
This drive to do what’s right and good and true (at one point, an abolitionist shouted in frustration “This is about the truth!”), to protect the most vulnerable and abused and stricken humans, and to stop the tyranny of political leaders satisfied with the status quo responsible for assaults on human dignity…….this all struck me as a story that transcends what we know as partisan politics and its leanings, whether left or right. Liberal Democrats could easily see this as their story, with the traditional Democratic party standing for ‘the little guy’ against ‘a culture of wealth’. Conservative Republicans could easily see this as their story, with the Republican party generally standing for ‘compassionate social services’ (faith-based initiatives, for instance) and traditional values, against ‘the culture of death.’
It’s both/and, to some degree, but neither/nor as well. Both parties hold to those descriptions and values. But neither covers all the ground as perfectly as Wilberforce and his small but growing band of activists did in trying to make the world a better place through radical love, charity, self-sacrifice, faith in eternal truths. In other words, it’s the force of Judeo-Christian morality fighting the injustices imposed by the force of secular progressive relativism.
It’s the pro-life story of today.
This kind of faith and passion has consequences. Wilberforce’s story is a powerful reminder of the duty we all have to take personal responsibility for putting beliefs into action, party politics aside.
My friend (and my former radio show guest) Eric Metaxas wrote “Amazing Grace”, ‘William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery. Thanks, Eric, for bringing such dramatic attention to so important a life, and so great a message. When I’m on the air again with my show, you’ll be one of the first guests on…