Public Address:
Friday Evening 15 June, 2007
Delivered by Society Executive Director David Lane
The Grand Hall at Parliament, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
“Let us Now Praise Famous Men” Ecclesiasticus 44:1
This year marks the bicentennial of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain and all its colonies. 200 years ago on the 25th March 1807, William Wilberforce MP, a committed evangelical Christian who had first introduced his bill to abolish the slave trade in 1788, witnessed the British parliament enact the Slave Trade Act. He bowed his head and wept for joy when the result of the vote was announced in the House. For 18 years he had persisted in introducing anti-slavery motions before parliament without success, enduring sustained apathy, derision and insult from his many opponents. In fact, at one point he was referred to as the “most hated man in England”. At first, he stood almost alone. However, Methodist evangelist John Wesley and Rev. John Newton, former slave-ship owner and author of the enduring hymn, “Amazing Grace”, both encouraged him, along with many other evangelical Christians. Newton told him: “The Lord has raised you up to the good of His church and for the good of the nation”.
After the Slave Trade was abolished in 1807, it took Wilberforce and his reformers another 26 years of political activism before a law was passed emancipating existing slaves in British territories. On July 25, 1833, while the retired MP was gravely ill, the Bill for the Abolition of Slavery was passed. Three days later, Wilberforce died and entered the presence of his Lord, shortly after hearing the joyous news about his bill’s success. After his death he became known as “the conscience of a nation”. The nation honoured him by erecting a statue in his memory and buried him in Westminster Abbey.
Christian abolitionism emerged from the evangelical revival of the 18th century, which gave birth to dynamic Christians with clear-cut beliefs on morality and sin and they all approached the issue of slavery from this standpoint. Evangelicals holding to the innerancy of Scripture, affirmed the teaching of Genesis, confirmed by Jesus Christ, that Man was made in the “image of God”, as well as the Apostle Paul’s teaching that all of mankind is descended from one man (Adam) and is of “one blood (Acts 17:26). The slave trade was therefore a moral evil that must be eradicated, for all men are created equal and bear God’s image.
Given all the foolish and naïve talk today about how the Christian faith and Judeo-Christian values must be kept out of the political process, it is worth looking afresh at the life of one of the key players in this victory, British parliamentarian William Wilberforce (1759-1833).
LESSONS FOR CHRISTIANS TO APPLY:
1. Know Christ personally and make Him Known. Be led and empowered by the Spirit of God
Wilberforce made a commitment to Christ at the age of 12, having come under the influence of godly evangelical grandparents who raised him. His father died when he was just nine. Sadly, during his studies at Cambridge University he began to drift away from his Christian faith. At the age of 21 he became MP for Hull and about four years later, through the influence of an evangelical scholar, he became convinced of his own sin and his need for renewed repentance. He wrote of “a sense of my great sinfulness in having so long neglected the unspeakable mercies of my God and Saviour.” His tireless efforts to promote Christian missionary work, especially to India matched his political zeal.
2. Have clearly defined Kingdom goals and a clear sense of God’s call in Mission.
In 1787 Wilberforce wrote in his diary, “God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners.” Yes, Wilberforce was also a leading morals campaigner. He set up a highly influential Society that sought to promote Community Standards in the Moral Sphere and curb Vice.3. Perseverence reaps its reward.
His battle for the black man’s freedom was no small task. Britain had practised slavery since 1562. It was a vital component of Britain’s commerce and wealth. As much as two thirds of the British economy depended on slavery. Those involved in the slave trade often paid handsome amounts to bribe politicians. Moreover, the cruelty, which the slaves experienced, was considered inconsequential, since the slave was deemed to be merely the property of his owner. Over two centuries of ingrained practice and vested interests had to be challenged and overcome.
His Christian faith sustained Wilberforce during difficult times of sustained opposition. Early on in his struggles, John Wesley wisely wrote him these encouraging words in 1791: “…Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God is with you, who can be against you?… O be not weary of well doing! Go on, in the name of God in the power of His might…”
And he did indeed persevere. Wilberforce stated, “Never, never will we desist [rest] till we . . . extinguish every trace of this bloody [slave] traffic, of which our posterity, looking back to the history of these enlightened times, will scarce believe that it has been suffered to exist so long: a disgrace and dishonour to this country.”4. Ground Roots support. Use all means and methods to get the message out.
Wilberforce could not have achieved his goals without the dedicated support of thousands of committed Christians. In addition to seeking changes in Parliament, he and his colleagues also tried various other methods, such as holding public meetings, composing poems and songs, distributing pamphlets and circulating petitions. Organising boycotts of slave-grown sugar was another tactic – anything to create publicity for the cause.
5. Diligence in Research
Another key component of his strategy was to really do his homework. He thoroughly researched the issue, such as the actual conditions of slaves, and armed with a wealth of information and facts, he was able to cogently and forcefully argue his case in Parliament.
6. The Social Dynamics of Faith
Wilberforce and evangelicals of his day did not divorce their faith from society, but actively sought to live out their faith in the social arena. He was a dedicated philanthropist active in numerous social reform movements.7. Don’t Expect Support from the Established Church
Interestingly, the Church of England was often resistant to the efforts of Wilberforce and the reformers. In February 2006 The Church of England acknowledged the role it played in the evils of the slave trade, in a gathering of bishops who voted to apologise to the descendants of victims, “recognising the damage done”.MESSAGE FOR TODAY
Most people today look back several centuries ago with shock and disbelief that “civilised” societies could not only tolerate but condone slavery. Perhaps with a lot of hard work and perseverance today, future generations will be able to look back at our age and say with equal horror: “how barbaric that those ‘civilised’ societies tolerated and condoned the killing of unborn babies, the elderly, and others not deemed to be fully human.” The battle against such evils as abortion, the child-sex trade and pornography may not seem winnable at the moment, but looked at through the lens of history – and with the help of God’s grace – they become just another challenge of Christian faith. With God ALL things are possible. Not by might nor by power but by MY SPIRIT says the LORD.
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