Amazing Grace – Amazing Movie
By Michael Bresciani (03/02/07)
Amazing Grace is a must see film based on the true story of British
statesmen William Wilberforce. It focuses largely on his fight in the
British parliament to end the slave trade that Britain was so economically
attached to.
It is the 20 year long chronicle of the fight that Wilberforce put up to
reform the inhuman trafficking of slaves from every quarter of the African
continent. The film would leave anybody with a heart and only half a
conscience challenged by its powerful humanity.
Wilberforce is played by Ioan Gruffudd a Welch thespian known for his part
in the Hornblower series and his role as Pip in the huge BBC production of
Great Expectations. His role is played convincingly and with inundating
conviction. It is fitting that Ioan (pronounced Yo-an) should play the
part of Wilberforce who saw nothing but defeat in the parliament year
after year. One of the quotes Ioan is most noted for saying is “They say
the most successful people are the ones who have failed more than they
have succeeded.”
Other great victories and reforms were eventually made by Wilberforce that
are equally impressive although they are not part of the film. Wilberforce
did much to improve the treatment of prisoners of war and was responsible
for creating organizations for the prevention of cruelty to animals. He
helped to improve conditions in hospitals, created better conditions for
the poor and crafted the means to aid the failing societal system of India
all in the latter years of his life.
A wonderful resource for educators and history students is available from
amazinggracemovie.com. A downloadable PDF file outlines the life and work
of Wilberforce, a timeline of events and a very detailed history of the
song “Amazing Grace” penned by Wilberforce’s mentor John Newton.
The actors and producers were not afraid to make known their understanding
that Wilberforce and almost all who stood with him in his cause were
Christians. The film clearly shows that it was their faith in Christ that
compelled them to seek an end to the cruelty of slavery. They make many
references to God and their dependence on him to aid them in their cause.
References to Jesus Christ are not hidden and adherence and obedience to
the scriptures is seen as part and parcel to their private and public
lives.
Whether we like it or not every movie good or bad has a message connected
to it, a philosophy or perhaps a philosophy of life. That message may be
vigorously put forth or only subtly intimated. Amazing Grace puts forth
several messages and it begs at least one very pertinent question
especially for Americans.
The primary message seems to be that true Christianity calls for social
action to accompany faith and obedience to God. That can mean anything
>from getting out to vote or taking a proactive stance for or against a
cause or a much needed change to benefit a community, state or the entire
nation.
Americans tend to throw in the towel when it becomes difficult to see
anything being accomplished by our august body politic. Elections have
been won by indifference which put people in power that should never have
been. That indifference is often reflected in the general lack of
political cognizance many of us display. As an example not long ago a poll
concluded that almost fifty percent of Americans polled thought that
Hezbollah was a friendly ally to the United States. If asked to define
something as simple as the difference between a liberal and a conservative
you may get more answers than you bargained for.
Between the antics and upheaval of the ACLU and a barrage of all new anti
Christian voices it may be the most important time in our history for
Christians to awake out of their political haze and get active. There is
much at stake.
A second message the movie puts forth can hardly go un-noticed. Almost
every significant move forward in the deep fabric of civilization was
driven by Christian principles as derived from the Bible. The social
status of women, better care for the sick, the poor and the outcast are
all predicated on the strong teachings of Christ regarding showing mercy
to even the lowest of mankind. The Crusades and the inquisitions stand
alone and do not reflect the true teachings of Christ. Check closely and
you will see they weren’t predicated or based on the Word of God.
A third important message easily derived from the film is that some
victories require much more than a single battle. In real warfare it is
often a series of victories and defeats with the enduring and most highly
motivated armies coming out ahead even if they were not the most powerful
to start with.
When the movie begins the parliament has a circus like air and the
seriousness of Wilberforce’s contentions are scoffed at by all. After
years of pounding, pummeling and persistence hardly anyone in the British
Parliament would dare not to take him seriously. He may have grown only
slightly more eloquent with the years but it was not his spit and polish
that finally won the day.
The British can take pride for producing such a remarkable character and
statesmen but for America the film raises a rather obvious question. Where
are the films about the great Christian statesmen and founding fathers of
this country? Perhaps even harder is the question of who has the guts to
even propose such a film in the present climate of denial about our
Christian founding principles?
It has been said often that William Wilberforce was in his time the very
conscience of the British Parliament. More of note is what guided the
conscience of Mr. Wilberforce. It is summarized by the very scriptures
that William Wilberforce took as seriously as everything else he believed.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his
own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be
in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2: 3-5
Rev Bresciani is a columnist for several online sites and his articles on
American life, Christianity and many pertinent topics are now read in
every country in the world. Please visit http://www.americanprophet.org/
(Printer friendly version) Email: Michael Bresciani
