WILLIAM WILBERFORCE: AN ADVOCATE FOR REAL CHRISTIANITY - The Eighteenth Century (pt.7)

In the Eighteenth Century, God used William Wilberforce to show forth what real Christianity looks like in action. 

VERSE: “Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would [follow] me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’” (Matthew 16:24). 

QUOTE: “True Christians consider themselves not as satisfying some rigorous creditor, but as discharging a debt of gratitude.” (William Wilberforce). 

WILLIAM WILBERFORCE: AN ADVOCATE FOR REAL CHRISTIANITY

During the eighteenth century, amidst Britain’s economic prosperity and moral challenges, Christ raised up William Wilberforce, a man transformed from a carefree socialite to a tireless advocate for real Christianity. Through Wilberforce’s faith-driven fight against the slave trade and his call for moral reform, Christ advanced His kingdom. 

William Wilberforce: A Life Transformed for Christ’s Cause

Born on August 24, 1759, in Hull, Yorkshire, William Wilberforce grew up in a wealthy merchant family during Britain’s imperial expansion, which included the transatlantic slave trade (Pollock, Wilberforce, 1977, p. 3). His father, Robert, was a prosperous merchant, and his mother, Elizabeth, instilled Anglican values, though Wilberforce’s faith faltered in youth. After his father’s death in 1768, he lived with his evangelical aunt and uncle in Wimbledon, where he was exposed to fervent Christianity (Hague, William Wilberforce: The Life of the Great Anti-Slave Trade Campaigner, 2007, p. 15). As a student at St. John’s College, Cambridge, he admitted to a youth of “idleness and pleasure,” prioritizing socializing over study (Wilberforce, The Correspondence of William Wilberforce, 2006, p. 12).

In 1780, at age twenty-one, Wilberforce entered Parliament alongside his friend William Pitt the Younger, leveraging his wealth and eloquence to gain prominence. He later reflected, “I was full of ambition, but not yet of purpose” (Wilberforce, 2006, p. 25). His life changed in 1784–1785 during a vacation with Isaac Milner, who shared Philip Doddridge’s The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul. This book led to Wilberforce’s “Great Change,” a conversion to faith in Christ, which he described as “a revolution of the heart” (Wilberforce, 2006, p. 62). Considering leaving politics, he was counseled by John Newton, a former slave trader turned pastor, to remain in Parliament, shaping his mission (Hague, 2007, p. 98).

By 1787, Wilberforce committed to abolishing the slave trade, declaring, “God Almighty has set before me two great objects: the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of [morals]” (Wilberforce, as cited in Strom, Once Blind: The Life of John Newton, 2008, p. 225). His 1789 anti-slave trade bill, though unsuccessful, exposed the trade’s horrors, as he proclaimed, “The miseries of the Africans demand our attention” (Wilberforce, 2006, p. 45). Married to Barbara Spooner in 1797, Wilberforce fathered six children, finding stability despite his demanding career (Pollock, 1977, p. 145). Physically frail, he battled ulcerative colitis, using prescribed opium yet maintaining a rigorous schedule (Hague, 2007, p. 234).

In 1797, Wilberforce published A Practical View of Christianity, urging authentic faith, which became a bestseller and influenced evangelicalism (Wilberforce, A Practical View, 1797, p. 89). He co-founded the Clapham Sect, a group of reformers driving social change (Brown, Moral Capital: Foundations of British Abolitionism, 2006, p. 56). Facing threats from pro-slavery factions, he trusted God’s protection, stating, “I am in God’s hands, not theirs” (Wilberforce, 2006, p. 112). In 1807, the Slave Trade Act passed, a triumph he celebrated with tears: “I never felt so thankful to God” (Wilberforce, 2006, p. 134). Wilberforce also supported education, prison reform, and missions, co-founding the Church Missionary Society and Bible Society (Hague, 2007, p. 201).

Retiring from Parliament in 1825, Wilberforce continued mentoring reformers. In 1833, days before his death, he rejoiced at the Slavery Abolition Act’s passage, saying, “I can die content now” (Wilberforce, 2006, p. 201). He died on July 29, 1833, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, mourned as a national hero (Wilberforce, The Life of William Wilberforce, 1838, p. 312). His son Samuel wrote, “My father’s life was spent in the service of God and man” (Wilberforce, 1838, p. 312).

Theological Lessons from Wilberforce

Wilberforce’s life teaches two profound lessons about real Christianity, grounded in Reformed theology.

First, God used Wilberforce to show that real Christianity follows Christ, not merely professes Him. Jesus calls disciples to deny themselves and take up their cross. Wilberforce embodied this, writing, “True Christians consider themselves not as satisfying some rigorous creditor, but as discharging a debt of gratitude” (A Practical View, 2005, p. 112). Reformed theologian John Owen emphasized, “True faith is active obedience, not empty profession, for it transforms the heart to follow Christ’s commands” (The Doctrine of Justification by Faith, 1677, edited by William H. Goold, 1850). Wilberforce’s prayer, “May God enable me to have a single eye and a simple heart, desiring to please God, to do good to my fellow creatures, and testify my gratitude to my adorable Redeemer” (Wilberforce, The Life of William Wilberforce, 1839, p. 256), reflects this commitment. His life challenges us to live authentically for Christ.

Second, God used Wilberforce to show that real Christianity labors to expose and abolish great evils.The prophet Isaiah calls believers to seek justice and correct oppression. Wilberforce’s fight against the slave trade fulfilled this, as he declared, “God Almighty has set before me two great objects: the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners” (Strom, 2008, p. 225). Jonathan Edwards, a Reformed preacher, taught, “The Christian is called to oppose sin in the world, using his influence to advance God’s justice and mercy” (Sermons and Discourses, 1734–1738, edited by M.X. Lesser, 2001). Wilberforce’s perseverance, despite threats, inspires us to confront injustice with courage.

Conclusion: Christ’s Victory in the Eighteenth Century

In the eighteenth century, Jesus Christ built His church through William Wilberforce, whose transformed life exemplified real Christianity in action. Through his abolitionist campaigns, bestselling book, and broader reforms, Wilberforce advanced Christ’s kingdom, impacting millions. As Philip Schaff reflects, “Wilberforce’s faith-driven labors demonstrated the gospel’s power to reform nations, glorifying Christ” (History of the Christian Church, Vol. VII, 1892, p. 148). His legacy, from ending the slave trade to inspiring evangelical reform, underscores Christ’s triumph.

Let us learn from Wilberforce, living out our faith with obedience and courage, laboring to abolish evil and promote justice. May we trust that Christ continues to conquer the nations, building His church for His glory. Let us live boldly, knowing His kingdom advances, unstoppable, until it fills the earth. Amen.

References

Brown, C. G. (2006). Moral Capital: Foundations of British Abolitionism. University of North Carolina Press.

Edwards, J. (2001). Sermons and Discourses, 1734–1738. Edited by M.X. Lesser. Yale University Press.

Hague, W. (2007). William Wilberforce: The Life of the Great Anti-Slave Trade Campaigner. HarperPress.

Owen, J. (1850). The Doctrine of Justification by Faith. Edited by William H. Goold. Johnstone and Hunter.

Pollock, J. (1977). Wilberforce. Constable.

Schaff, P. (1892). History of the Christian Church, Vol. VII. Charles Scribner’s Sons.

Strom, K. M. (2008). Once Blind: The Life of John Newton. Authentic Publishing.

Wilberforce, S. (1838). The Life of William Wilberforce. John Murray.

Wilberforce, W. (1797). A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians. T. Cadell.

Wilberforce, W. (2005). Real Christianity: A Practical View. Edited by James Houston. Victor Books.

Wilberforce, W. (2006). The Correspondence of William Wilberforce. Edited by Robert Isaac Wilberforce and Samuel Wilberforce. John Murray.