Post by Rob W. Case on Mar 19, 2007 1:15:09 GMT -6
Recently, I took a trip to the movies, and with my church, saw the film “Amazing Grace” which chronicled Great Britain’s efforts to abolish the slave trade.
The film begins with William Wilberforce, a wealthy young man who is elected to the Parliament. In Parliament, Wilberforce befriends William Pitt, who ended up being Prime Minister of England at the age of 24. Wilberforce, as a new politician seeks a purpose for which he can champion. As Wilberforce once recalled, "The first years in Parliament I did nothing—nothing to any purpose. My own distinction was my darling object."
As Wilberforce is soul searching, he starts getting what I like to call visions. These visions are of slaves shackled and wanting freedom. Then, one night during a poker game with his fellow Senators, one of those senators raises the stakes of the game. “Go fetch me my nig.ger,” he exclaims. Escorting the slave into the room, Wilberforce’s convictions deeply sears into his conscience. Feeling incredibly uncomfortable, Wilberforce forfeits the game, and abruptly leaves the table. When asked of why Wilberforce reacted the way he did, he replied, “It’s like Opium. Each small dose doubles the effect.”
While this conviction is searing at his conscience, Wilberforce is confronted once again by a team of abolitionists who want the slave trade abolished. With a former slave guiding them, he shows Wilberforce how they are shackled, how they are “packed” into ships, and how slaves obtain diseases and die. As Wilberforce tries to re-connect with his faithful roots, as well as attempt to remedy the problem of slavery, he consults with the Pastor from his childhood, John Newton.
John Newton, the writer of the song “Amazing Grace” was a slave master who, after he converted to Christianity, was “haunted” by the 20,000 slaves that died under his management. “I have blood on my hands!” he tells Wilberforce. Wilberforce asks Newton if he will play a role in the abolition of the slave trade, but his wallowing in self-pity prohibits him from doing so. After realizing what he done, and really experiencing God’s grace, Newton comes to grips with his experiences, has them written down in a book, and then helps Wilberforce combat the slave trade.
Wilberforce’s activism becomes more and more intense, that he eventually falls ill from colitis, which commonly known today as ulcers. With political obstacles, the return of an old love and the quest to seek the abolition of slavery (with very skilled opposition), Wilberforce must either ask himself what good are his efforts today, or push through with faith that his efforts will some day result in the freedom of the African Slaves.
While watching this film, some insights rushed to mind regarding it.
--When God leads someone to enact his will, it is NEVER accepted by the world. In fact, earth’s reception to heavens motives result in cold reactions.
--The littlest efforts you make now, can go a long way later on. If Wilberforce embraced the “Why fight it? It’s a lost cause” mentality, his efforts would never have been sought through. Of course, decades later, in America, a politician did his part to end slavery in America, and that man was Abraham Lincoln.
--Freedom will always be contested. The elements of the world will always oppose it. Control is the way of the world. It always has been and it always will be until the return of Christ.
--People with selfish motives, subconsciously regard others as “cargo.” They have no value towards the people who made them what they are. Whenever you get a politician, a businessman, or preacher who constantly talks about you and what they will do for you, beware. They are appealing to your selfish motives to raise the platform for which they can enact their own selfish motives.
And so on….
The photography was excellent. The quality of the film was superb. It was as if the actual events from which this film is based was a 21st Century time machine, simply recording the events that occurred in the late 1700’s to early 1800’s.
The Film is directed by Michael Apted whose work also includes the HBO Mini-series Rome, James Bond: The World Is Not Enough. Apted also served as an executive producer to Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
The film is written by Steven Knight, who was also the creator of the UK version of the gameshow Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which America picked up two years later.
The film is produced by Patricia Heaton, who is most famous for her role as Deborah Barone on the hit sit-com “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
Quote:
Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly. I'm a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.
--John Newton
View a trailer for the film by clicking on the link below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6Cv5P9H9qU
You can find out more about the film at:
www.amazinggracemovie.com/
The film begins with William Wilberforce, a wealthy young man who is elected to the Parliament. In Parliament, Wilberforce befriends William Pitt, who ended up being Prime Minister of England at the age of 24. Wilberforce, as a new politician seeks a purpose for which he can champion. As Wilberforce once recalled, "The first years in Parliament I did nothing—nothing to any purpose. My own distinction was my darling object."
As Wilberforce is soul searching, he starts getting what I like to call visions. These visions are of slaves shackled and wanting freedom. Then, one night during a poker game with his fellow Senators, one of those senators raises the stakes of the game. “Go fetch me my nig.ger,” he exclaims. Escorting the slave into the room, Wilberforce’s convictions deeply sears into his conscience. Feeling incredibly uncomfortable, Wilberforce forfeits the game, and abruptly leaves the table. When asked of why Wilberforce reacted the way he did, he replied, “It’s like Opium. Each small dose doubles the effect.”
While this conviction is searing at his conscience, Wilberforce is confronted once again by a team of abolitionists who want the slave trade abolished. With a former slave guiding them, he shows Wilberforce how they are shackled, how they are “packed” into ships, and how slaves obtain diseases and die. As Wilberforce tries to re-connect with his faithful roots, as well as attempt to remedy the problem of slavery, he consults with the Pastor from his childhood, John Newton.
John Newton, the writer of the song “Amazing Grace” was a slave master who, after he converted to Christianity, was “haunted” by the 20,000 slaves that died under his management. “I have blood on my hands!” he tells Wilberforce. Wilberforce asks Newton if he will play a role in the abolition of the slave trade, but his wallowing in self-pity prohibits him from doing so. After realizing what he done, and really experiencing God’s grace, Newton comes to grips with his experiences, has them written down in a book, and then helps Wilberforce combat the slave trade.
Wilberforce’s activism becomes more and more intense, that he eventually falls ill from colitis, which commonly known today as ulcers. With political obstacles, the return of an old love and the quest to seek the abolition of slavery (with very skilled opposition), Wilberforce must either ask himself what good are his efforts today, or push through with faith that his efforts will some day result in the freedom of the African Slaves.
While watching this film, some insights rushed to mind regarding it.
--When God leads someone to enact his will, it is NEVER accepted by the world. In fact, earth’s reception to heavens motives result in cold reactions.
--The littlest efforts you make now, can go a long way later on. If Wilberforce embraced the “Why fight it? It’s a lost cause” mentality, his efforts would never have been sought through. Of course, decades later, in America, a politician did his part to end slavery in America, and that man was Abraham Lincoln.
--Freedom will always be contested. The elements of the world will always oppose it. Control is the way of the world. It always has been and it always will be until the return of Christ.
--People with selfish motives, subconsciously regard others as “cargo.” They have no value towards the people who made them what they are. Whenever you get a politician, a businessman, or preacher who constantly talks about you and what they will do for you, beware. They are appealing to your selfish motives to raise the platform for which they can enact their own selfish motives.
And so on….
The photography was excellent. The quality of the film was superb. It was as if the actual events from which this film is based was a 21st Century time machine, simply recording the events that occurred in the late 1700’s to early 1800’s.
The Film is directed by Michael Apted whose work also includes the HBO Mini-series Rome, James Bond: The World Is Not Enough. Apted also served as an executive producer to Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
The film is written by Steven Knight, who was also the creator of the UK version of the gameshow Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which America picked up two years later.
The film is produced by Patricia Heaton, who is most famous for her role as Deborah Barone on the hit sit-com “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
Quote:
Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly. I'm a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.
--John Newton
View a trailer for the film by clicking on the link below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6Cv5P9H9qU
You can find out more about the film at:
www.amazinggracemovie.com/