Movie Amazing Grace Opening in Theaters This Friday

This Friday the movie Amazing Grace will be released in theaters. I am very excited about this movie as this is a story that has not yet received the attention that it deserves.

Amazing Grace written by Stephen Knight and directed by Michael Apted (also directed Coal Miner's Daughter) is a story of the life of abolitionist William Wilberforce. Unbenounced to many Americans, Wilberforce is credited as having begun the movement to abolish slavery decades before the American Civil War began. Wilberforce was the son of a wealthy businessmen who later chose a career in politics instead of continuing in the family business. While serving as a Member of Parliament, Wilberforce had a spiritual awakening, or some Christians would describe it as the "born again" experience.

Consequently, Wilberforce considered leaving politics to pursue full-time ministry, but decided against it as he believed he could truly be used by God in politics. Thus, Wilberforce chose to use his power to fight for humanity, and one of his biggest battles was that of the abolishment of slavery in the British Empire. Wilberforce and other abolitionists fought passionately against slavery standing upon their belief and conviction that the bible is the inerrant Word of God. In particular, they frequently quoted two scriptures -

"And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings," (Acts 17:26), and "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (Genesis 1:26).

On Friday, Feb. 23, this story will be made available to everyone who is willing to listen. The name of this movie was adopted from the well known hymn - Amazing Grace. It is so powerful that the writer of this song (John Newton), and his story is also a part of this film. Newton who was the captain of an English slave ship, encountered a major storm on one of his journeys, and the storm threatened to destroy the ship. Newton cried out to the Lord to save him, and from that moment on he says he was committed to following and becoming a student of Jesus Christ. Contrarily, however, Newton continued participating in the slave trade and even wrote many hymns including Amazing Grace. It wasn't until later in life that Newton repented for, and truly regretted his participation in slavery. Thus one of the poignant parts in the movie is where Newton says "I once was blind but now I see. Did I write that? Now it's finally true".

Wilberforce's passion was to open the eyes of the blind who did not see the error and evil of slavery. I being a graduate of Wilberforce University, an American university named in honor of William Wilberforce, hope that you'll take the time to go and see this movie. The theme song Amazing Grace is performed by Chris Tomlin and the Wilberforce University choir.