Vote for Wilberforces!

“What are you going to do about the election?” asked my friend.

“I’m going to pray for more people like William Wilberforce to be raised up,” I answered.

She looked at me blankly.

William Wilberforce was a member of Parliament in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, and is best known for making slavery illegal in the British Empire. No small task, it took him decades to succeed, but he died knowing that his goal was reached. I read a bit about him in a book called Seven Men and the Secret of their Greatness, by Eric Metaxas. From it I learned two things that I didn’t know before.

1)    He did more than remove slavery, Wilberforce changed the culture. “He was the most influential social reformer that ever lived…” The book goes on to describe how he made it acceptable to give to the poor, to help others in distress- things we take for granted in western society now.

2)    Even though the king in power was, well, evil, (reportedly he had slept with thousands of women), that didn’t stop Wilberforce from making a difference in the culture. He didn’t complain about the wicked deeds of the king, he just overcame them with his goodness.

Hmmmmm- doesn’t that sound scriptural? Overcoming evil with good?

We can find Congressmen and Senators, both on the state and national level who aspire to change the culture. Statesmen whose ideas of helping the poor and those less fortunate are strong. Humble people who do not make agreeing with them a pre-requisite for working together. Strong and meek people who don’t grandstand and berate those who are wrong. Men and women who will fight in a gracious way, persuading those on the fence because of their graciousness. 

So pray for God to raise up more people like William Wilberforce. Our country needs us!