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William Wilberforce is an important figure in the history of the church. As a politician he was able to make changes to the UK and reform government. He championed, and succeeded first in the abolishing of the slave trade, and (due to his efforts) later the abolishing of slavery as a whole....

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William Wilberforce Analysis

William Wilberforce is an important figure in the history of the church. As a politician he was able to make changes to the UK and reform government. He championed, and succeeded first in the abolishing of the slave trade, and (due to his efforts) later the abolishing of slavery as a whole. Instead of just talking about injustices, he took a stand and stood up against those who supported the slave trade. His stance wasn't popular, however he knew it was correct and followed it anyway. He didn't let his Christianity just stay in his Personal Life, he took his beliefs and used them to make the world a better place. 

In our world we see things that are  injustices or wrong that many people believe are fine. We can all do more than just yell loudly. We can go out and make a change. We can write to politicians like Wilberforce so they can make a change. We can help feed the poor and work with different groups. 

Wilberforce used his position to further the kingdom. How do we use our positions? We aren't politicians, but we have jobs, how do we further the kingdom through our jobs? Do we only use our job as a way to make money? Or do we use our job to make a difference to further the kingdom of God? I work on a dairy farm, and what I do is try to work the hardest I can, and the best I can, presenting a good role-model for coworkers to follow. I'm planning on going to ministry so furthering the kingdom of God will be easier there. However it will still be difficult at times to remind myself why I'm doing it. 

[Aaron Gockley]

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[Aaron Gockley]

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[Aaron Gockley]

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Quote 1

“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”

William Wilberforce

[Aaron Gockley]

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William Wilberforce Project

William Wilberforce was a politician. He was very vocal and didn't care what people thought about what he said. He had something that God told him to do, work on abolishing the slave trade in the British Empire. He saw how terrible the slaves were treated and in particular how badly the ones on the slave ships were treated. Since he saw the blacks as human beings made in the image of God, he couldn't stand to see them treated as such. Human dignity is why he decided to take a stand against slavery. He was also an advocate for other reforms. However he is best known for the abolishing of the slave trade. His entire focus was on using what he learned from his Christianity to make the British Empire better. His entire focus was on making it so that Christian values were made to be a large part of the values of the Empire.

Aaron Gockley

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William Wilberforce Documentary

A short documentary on William Wilberforce.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WR6fe-VaLE

[Aaron Gockley]

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William Wilberforce Theology

William Wilberforce isn't known for theology, he is known for his contributions to the ending of Slavery in the British Empire. Slavery isn't condemned in the Bible. However those slaves were treated well, and had a way for getting free. The slaves of the British Empire were not always treated well, and were often beaten. They also had no way to become free easily. Slavery needed to be abolished, he first worked to abolish the slave trade. He saw a slave ship and how the slaves were treated, and as a Christian he couldn't see how "Christian" men could participate in such a terrible practice. He was outraged by it and set out to correct it. His Christianity drove his fight against the slavery.

This all began after he came to Christ as an adult. He was a very worldly politician. He had an experience where he began to believe in God again. His Faith began to show up in politics at that point. He also began to show he was different from his political peers, he stopped gambling, and carousing. He remained faithful to his wife and children. He is more of a good role-model for Christians, than he is for theological discourse. 

[Aaron Gockley]

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William Wilberforce Sources

[Aaron Gockley]

1. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Ed. F. L. Cross and Elizabeth A. Livingstone. 3rd ed. rev. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.

  2. Christian History Online. "William Wilberforce Fighting the Slave Trade." William Wilberforce and the Abolition of the Slave Trade: Did You Know? (1997): n. pag. Christian History Online. Christian History. Web. 27 Sept. 2014. <https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org/uploaded/50cf830f28e266.63027674.pdf>.

  3. Wilberforce, William. "“Abolition Speech” by William Wilberforce." The Art of Manliness. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2014. <http://www.artofmanliness.com/abolition-speech-by-william-wilberforce/>.