Amazing Grace

I love this movie! It's based on the life of William Wilberforce, an anti-slavery pioneer. It amazes me that one man could accomplish so much and help so many people. His progress was typically slow and unfruitful, yet he persevered in his fight against slave trading. And after a long, difficult struggle he was able to change the world and save his fellow men from bondage. How many lives did he save? How much pain did he alleviate? I'll probably never know, but I'm grateful that he possessed the courage and determination to stand up and fight for his convictions.

After watching the movie, I wanted to learn more about John Newton, the author of the song Amazing Grace. Popular belief asserts that he converted to Christianity while running a slave ship and immediately turned the ship back to Africa and set the slaves free. The reality is quite different. In fact, he became a slave ship owner after his conversion to Christianity. It was only many years after his conversion that he became a voice for abolition.

Reading about John Newton's life reminded me of the gradual process of conversion. It is a day by day, little by little process for all of us, and we grow line upon line, precept upon precept.

On a lighter note, each year my parents visit a small branch in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Guess what they have glued onto the back page of their hymnals??