I watched a film recently about William Wilberforce. It was called ‘Amazing Grace’. It is a story of a man who wanted to abolish slavery. He believed that all men were equal. He was a member of parliament who put several bills before the House of Commons each one of them defeated because at that time slavery was ‘good business’ for Britain, especially the port cities like Bristol and Liverpool.

Wilberforce worked tirelessly to educate people to the evils of slavery but still parliament would not sanction his bills. He looked to his old preacher friend John Newton for advice and support. John Newton knew all about the slave trade because he had been a captain of a slave ship himself. He had eventually turned to God for forgiveness and trained to be a vicar. He wrote the famous hymn ‘Amazing Grace’.

Newton was remorseful of his former life and saw in Wilberforce a man who could change the evils that he had been a part of. After many years of struggle a bill was finally past to abolish slavery in the British Empire. Wilberforce had won, he believed that all men and women were equal in God’s sight.

He lived this belief out not just in the Houses of Parliament but also in the community where he lived. He was known to be a very generous man inviting people to his house and supporting local community projects.

If we belief that everyone is equal in the sight of God how does that transmit to the way we treat people today. Do we try to show everyone respect? It is not easy in the fast paced life we live. But to have this at the core of our heart to try each day to show respect for people will be a start. It may not change the other person but it will change us, it will bring us closer to God. We will begin to see other people through the eyes of God. We will begin to see how precious human life is, any human life. 

By Peter Bates Methodist minister for Dewsbury. Representing Churches Together in Dewsbury.  To contact CTiD please ring 01924 454750 or 457057