Amazing Grace

So I have a new favorite song…make that a new favorite movie as well: Amazing Grace. This last weekend I was in South Africa while an airplane was in for maintenance. I once again found my way to the cinema and watched a great movie. I know my taste of movies don’t always match those of my friends, Dave and Shawn for instance, but I do believe this movie is a must watch.

I have sung Amazing Grace hundreds, if not thousands of times, and only now do the words really come to life.

Amazing grace how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost but now I am found,
Was blind but now I see.

The movie is about the life and work of William Wilberforce, a young British politician who fought in Parliament for the abolishment of the African slave trade. Outnumbered by his powerful opposition, he took a stand against one of the greatest evils of his time. Although he suffered many defeats he persisted until he eventually saw success.

Can silence and apathy ever be warranted in the face of injustice? What if standing up for what is right disrupts family and friends? What if correcting the wrong brings embarrassment to otherwise reputable people? What if it leads to undesirable economic outcome? What if it destroys careers?

I love this song because it reflects who I am. How often have I chosen apathy and psuedo-ignorance in return for the comforts of this world? We all are guilty of this sin in one form or another, whether it is the person who directly exploits those whom he considers a lesser human or the law abiding consumer who chooses to ignore the unjust means by which her goods were produced. How incredible it is to serve a God who can make even the vilest sinner clean? How miraculous is it to see a sinner restored to a rightful position in the Kingdom of God? Exciting stuff!

The movie is a must watch!