One of the world's most courageous men of all time is finally getting some of the recognition he deserves. William Wilberforce was a member of the British Parliament who stood up and spoke up boldly against the international slave trade and against slavery in the British Empire. His efforts and those of others ended slavery in the British Empire during his lifetime.
A new movie is coming out about Wilberforce called: "Amazing Grace". It comes out February 23, 2006.
Wilberforce was a bold Christian who believed both in the reality of the Living Jesus Christ and in social justice. He wrote a wonderful book called "Real Christianity". Here are a few quotes from it:
"The very tendency that we feel to hide our faith from the world's view confirms that we are more influenced by the world's opinion than we are by God's." --William Wilberforce
"Always turn away from the dangerous false wisdom that says, 'I will do evil so that good will come.'" --William Wilberforce
"When our humility grows, our faith will also flourish; but when our humility begins to fail, so will our faith." --William Wilberforce
"Nominal Christians are nothing like the real thing. Their lives are cold copies of the reality, faint lines traced by a dull pencil, conveying nothing of faith's force and grace." --William Wilberforce
"Unless we bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, we have no reason to say we have received that Spirit of Christ -- and without it we are not His." --William Wilberforce
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In his Foreward, Mark Hatfield writes of William Wilberforce:
"Wilberforce's practical spiritual disciplines not only undergirded him, but provided a striking witness (along with other Christian models throughout the centuries) of the power resulting from faithful p;rayer, medititation and Bible Reading. This was a practice from which Wildberforce was seldom to deviate. Further, he submitted hmself to a pesonal accountability relationship with Isaac Milner regarding the conduct of their lives. And as well, for his benefit and for that of the entire church in the years to come, he kept a spiritual journal."
How rare are these disciplines among those who call themselves disciples of Jesus of Nazareth today!
I once thought Mark Hatfield was going to be president. When he was caught fondling the women on his staff (pun?), he was disgraced from office.
Yes, all of this good post is true. Any man who can order the bombing of innocent people, and children, can not be a man, who walks with Jesus.
There is much hypocrisy, and we have a good percentage of it in our own White House.
Throw them OUT!
But, have a great day first!
Joe