Amazing Change

I've been surfing around websites to do with Stop The Traffik and human-trafficking, including one set up by Walden Media, entitled the Amazing Change (to link in with their film, Amazing Grace). But there's one very odd thing about the Amazing Change...

...I cannot find any reference whatsoever to Wilberforce's Christian faith?!

The Amazing Change website is well worth a look - a long look in fact. There's a wealth of information about William Wilberforce - the central character in the film - and the extraordinary changes that he triggered. But his love for Jesus, and his love for all people as God's free creatures, including slaves - this motivation for everything he achieved - is conspicuously missing.

And there's also an interesting webpage about the 'Clapham Sect', Wilberforce's group of Christian friends and co-conspirators - the ones who encouraged him and supported him as we pursued the abolition of slavery. Walden Media, however, have sanitised all Christian connotation out of their name to the 'Clapham Circle'.

I love the fact that the website encourages people to form their own Clapham Circles...

"It is easy to create a Clapham Circle. Start by getting together with a group of friends or neighbors once or twice a month to discuss slavery and other important social justice issues Use the tools on this site to facilitate discussions. For instance, read the featured “story of slavery” from our website homepage at each of your meetings and talk about its impact. Or, examine the similarities and differences between historical and modern day slavery, then discuss how The Amazing Change compares to Wilberforce’s campaign. See  the film Amazing Grace and talk about how your Clapham Circle will carry  on the legacy of William Wilberforce."

...and yet I suspect that Wilberforce would insist that any group considers Jesus' example before his own.

It was one of the Sect, one of Wilberforce's friends, John Newton, who wrote the song that the film is named after - Amazing Grace. At a time when Wilberforce was tired and frustrated and ready-to-quit politics, it was Newton who drew alongside to encourage him, "use your position for God".

Let us do the same...

Comments

[Mike]

I'm amazed. Wilberforce book "Real Christianity" lays out his beliefs in detail. I'm stunned this got missed.