Customer Reviews

God's Politician

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I want to highly recommend the biography of one of my heroes of the faith, William Wilberforce. Wilberforce was an English citizen who in 1781 was elected to Parliament at the age of 21. While a Member of Parliament, he was converted to Christianity at the age of 24. Curious about whether he should remain in government now that he had come to Christ, he consulted with John Newton. Newton's reply to his question was, "The Lord has raised you up for the good of his church and for the good of the nation".
Wilberforce followed Newton's counsel, and over the next 18 months, formulated his goals: "God Almighty has set before me two great objects: the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners" (manners meaning the morals). As Lean writes, "The two were, of course, intimately related. On the one hand, it would take a profound moral reformation in leaders and people to obtain the suppression of the slave trade; on the other, only an unselfish battle like the abolition of the Trade would demonstrate to God and the world that such a moral reformation was genuine." (p. 47).
Wilberforce's goals of spiritual revival and the abolishing of the slave trade would not come easy. His bills against the slave trade were continually defeated, and his character was assaulted frequently by his opponents. Throughout the many battles he and his friends faced, Wilberforce remained committed both to the cause and to prayer for the cause, yet Wilberforce was also gracious and gentle towards his opponents. After many years and many defeats, in 1807, the bill abolishing the slave trade was finally passed!
Wilberforce also wrote a book called, Practical Christianity (1797) which God used to help convict many people in England of their sin and their need for Christ. Wilbeforce's book helped to bring about the "reformation of manners" that he sought in the form of the Second Great Awakening. This book was on the bestseller list in England for nearly 50 years!
I recommend Lean's biography on Wilberforce, both as an encouraging model of a Christian leader, and as a model for how societal change can occur through prayer and through Christian revival in society. Wilberforce saw that politics couldn't change society, but he knew that society could change politics. May we learn from his example!

Lean's story of William Wilberforce is a good introduction to a forgotten hero. A man who was raised with privilege and who was friends with the power brokers of Britain, staked his political career, as well as many friendships on the ending the slave trade and bringing morality into the political life of his country.

Although the book is not an extensive study, it does succinctly tell the tale of the end of the British slave trade. While the book discussed Wilberforce' conversion, it is not preachy, and seeks to discuss the conversion within the political context. This book is a fine edition to an understanding of the slave trade and its end.

Read and enjoy the life of a man who changed history. What would happen if you took the most powerful and talented politician, in the most powerful nation in the world, at a crucial time in European colonial history...and let him have a conversion experience that turned his worldview upside down? That's what happened with Wilberforce and it makes wonderful reading.

The story of the fight against slave trade that started in his mid-twenties and ended on his death bed is dramatic. And the story of a life thoroughly transformed by the influence of Jesus should prick sharply on any Western conscience.

This is the first Biography that I have read that was not Chronological from start to ending so that threw me off a bit as well as the semantics of much of the British government structure. I was more than confused on the British politics and social structure.

I would recommend a very strong understanding on British government and politics before reading this book otherwise you will wind up being lost as I found myself on more than one occasion.

I don't particularly care for Mr. Lean's writing style but the information given was not only very informative but also a work of encouragement.

Lord knows we need a Wilberforce in America's corrupted political system. The problem with most Americans are that they are either to lazy or to afraid to stand up for what is right. This becomes apparent as you see the steadfastness of Mr. Wilberforce under the threats, the accusations, the fear for retribution.

I probably wouldn't read another Garth Lean biography, I would opt out for someone with a clearer plot line and chronologically laid out such as the type of work written by Humphrey Carpenter.

I rarely read biographies, but picked this one up on my dad's recommendation, because he said with my growing interest in human trafficking/modern-day slavery, I would find it motivating to read about one of the key figures in the original fight against slavery 200 years ago. (As an aside, if you're interested in human trafficking, check out Not for Sale, by David Batstone, Disposable People, by Kevin Bales, the 09/03 issue of National Geographic, or the documentary Call+Response.) And it turns out, my dad was right. Reading about Wilberforce was worthwhile, and an excellent reminder that one person really can have an impact.

Often--whether because of political scandals, mega-corporations, the sheer size of this country, or general generational cynicism--I feel like there's no way anything I do could have a significant effect on society. The author remarks on this, and says that combating this sense of helplessness and inertia was an important goal for him in writing the book. Granted, Wilberforce had a number of innate advantages which contributed to his political success--wealth, intelligence, education, oratorical ability, and wit--but what those factors do not negate is the importance of making the right friends, gathering core group of like-minded and complementarily-gifted colleagues, and perhaps most of all, the importance of listening to your conscience and following your passion.

The only reason I don't give the book five stars is that Mr. Lean's prose isn't very memorable, just telling the story in workmanlike, well-researched way without any frills.