Reflections on "Amazing Grace"

I just saw the movie “Amazing Grace” yesterday and highly recommend it! It was superbly done and has given me a lot to think about. It is one of those movies that gets even better as I reflect on it.

Here are a few thoughts I would share from the film:

• Marginal Change: The movie portrayed an excellent example of how positive social change and change in public opinion often comes through small, incremental changes rather than through major event.
• Perseverance: Related to marginal change is the importance of perseverance in accomplishing goals, facing trials and setbacks, and in working towards positive social change. (See my writing on Earnest Shackleton for more on this and read "Endurance" for more.)
• Faith: William Wilberforce's Christian faith was foundational not only in shaping his moral convictions against the slave trade, but also in giving him hope that it would one day end. (Read this biography on Wilberforce [PDF] by John Piper for more on how his faith affected his life and work.)
• Coalition: The slave trade was not ended solely by Wilberforce, but through a growing network of people who influenced and supported one another. None of them could have accomplished it alone and their work was a continuation of others who had gone before them. It was not shown in the movie, but the people who elected Wilberforce to office and kept him there also played an instrumental in ending slavery in the British Empire.
• Purpose: One individual driven by clarity of purpose can sometimes be the tipping point towards effecting positive social change. (Read Malcom Gladwell's book, "The Tipping Point" for more on this. See a summary of his book here.)
• Influence: It is interesting to see the interconnectedness of many of the lives of the characters in the film and how they influenced and encouraged one another. Of particular note is the influence John Newton, the former slave trader turned Anglican priest (and author of the song "Amazing Grace"), had on Wilberforce. (See Mark Skousen's excellent essay on Persuasion and the book "Influence" by Robert Cialdini.)
• Passion: Being passionate about convictions and purpose is a critical element in influencing other people, developing skills and talents, and maintaining clarity of purpose. While passion alone in not sufficient to effect change or be successful, it is a necessary component of any type of long-term success.
• Vocation: Wilberforce's early struggle with feeling called to serve God in ministry versus continuing in Parliament and his final decision to serve God by working in Parliament illustrate the importance of the idea of vocation for Christians. The concept of vocation refers to the theology initially taught by Martin Luther that every Christian is called by God to serve in various duties and roles in life. The idea is that an individual can serve God in nearly any "secular" capacity and that all vocations -- both inside and outside the church -- are equally legitimate ways to serve both God and man.
• Talent: Each of us has a unique set of gifts and talents. Discovering your interests, passions, and abilities is a fundamental aspect of selecting a vocation.
• Public Choice: The story in the movie revolved around Parliament, politics, and political actors in England during the late 1700s and early 1800s. The complexities of voting systems, conflicts of interests, logrolling, and political maneuvering were all well portrayed.
• Spouse: The movie portrayed Wilberforce's wife as being a pivotal figure in supporting and encouraging him in his life mission. I don't know the historical accuracy of this portrayal, but the importance of a loving spouse who shares similar convictions and beliefs in life and supports you in your goals is immensurable. (Linus Pauling, the only Nobel Laureate to win Nobel Prizes in two separate fields, credited his wife's support as key to allowing him to devote his time effort on his work.)
• Redemption: While a more minor theme in the movie, the story of John Newton and his conversion from being a slave trader to becoming influential in helping end slavery is a beautiful story of redemption. (Read Henry Nouwen's "Return of the Prodigal Son" for a theological look at redemption and John Maxwell's "Failing Forward" for some excellent thoughts using mistakes in the past towards a more fruitful future.)
• Liberty: Slavery is an abomination to the dignity of man because it denies men the right to be free to pursue their own goals, make choices about their life, own property, and direct their own affairs. (Read Milton Friedman's "Free to Choose" and David Henderson's "The Joy of Freedom" for two excellent treatises of the importance of liberty.)

In case you can't tell, I really enjoyed the movie and felt deeply moved by it. I am challenged by the question:

"What will I do in my generation to carry on the legacy of faith and freedom left by those who have gone before me?"

It is a question perhaps we should all ask ourselves.

Further Reading:

• See my previous posts on Wilberforce and "Amazing Grace" here, here, and here.
• Two articles in The Economist magazine -- one on ending the slave trade and the other on William Wiberforce.
• Wikipedia's article on the Slave Trade Act of 1807.