Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce

In keeping with the dry theme of this blog, I've decided to start a new category called "Book Nook." This little cuddly corner of my blog will hopefully give you the opportunity to feel like we're sitting together next to a warm, cozy fire, sipping homemade hot chocolate (lots of marshmallows!) in the middle of January, discussing the most recent "great read" in our repertoire. A book review category for those without an imagination.

Honestly, I'm not well-read or at least not well-read in the theology department. To rectify that, I have started a reading campaign. I invite anyone who's interested to read my book reviews and comment in the comments section or via E-mail, their thoughts...especially if they have read the same book. A group book club would be ideal, with lots of titillating discussion, but I think I'm overshooting things a bit, so for right now, I would be completely content with any corrections or other summations of the book.

Upfront, I will give to you some patterned guidelines that I intend to follow for each review:

1) I'll personally rate each book from 1 to 5 stars (5= blow-your-socks-off-wow!)
2) I'll try to give a short, brief overview of the book. Probably plagiarized right from the book's jacket.
3) I'll try and give you a very biased, subjective opinion of what I thought about the book.

This first book choice is fairly easy because of the size of this book, although power-packed, nonetheless.










Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce by John Piper

Overall I give this book a 4-star rating.

Many are aware of Wilberforce's role in bringing an end to slavery in Great Britain, but few have taken the time to examine the beliefs and motivations that spurred him on for decades. In this concise volume, John Piper tells the story of how Wilberforce was transformed from an unbelieving, young politician into a radically God-centered Christian, and how his deep spirituality helped to change the moral outlook of a nation.As world leaders debate over how to deal with a host of social justice and humanitarian crises, a closer look at Wilberforce's life and faith serves as an encouragement and example to all believers.

(Foreword by Jonathan Aitken)
Against great obstacles William Wilberforce, an evangelical member of Parliament, fought for the abolition of the African slave trade and against slavery itself until they were both illegal in the British Empire. Many are aware of Wilberforce’s role in bringing an end to slavery in Great Britain, but few have taken the time to examine his beliefs and motivations that spurred him on for decades. In this concise volume, John Piper tells the story of Wilberforce’s transformation from an unbelieving young politician into a radically God-centered Christian and how his deep spirituality helped to change the moral outlook of a nation.
As world leaders debate over how to deal with a host of social justice and humanitarian crises, a closer look at Wilberforce’s life and faith serves as an encouragement and an example to all believers.

As a fairly quick, comprehensive reader, I was able to read this book in about 3-4 days...without much effort. It's only about 75 pages, so even without the boastful announcement, I think it's safe to say that it can be viewed as an easy read. Dr. Piper is one of my favorite authors and he did not fail me here. In this book, Wilberforce's life was portrayed in a full array of colors that any professing believer should find interesting. Piper paints a wonderful portrait of a man wrought with trials, struggles and the occasional sin (yes! even our heroes are sinful.) Wilberforce used Christianity as a basis for all that he did; not the other way around, like those with a political agenda and use Christianity as a means to an end. He showed Wilberforce's struggles within himself and clearly writes how this affected and permeated his life, family and political aspirations. He weaves a great story of facts and historical events without the usual yawn effect those types of factoids have on me.

This would be a great read, I think, for teenagers as well as adults. I would toy with the idea of having our homeschool children write a paper on this book as they get older. Oh joy!

Just a warning, though. If you are looking for an all-consuming biography on Wilberforce, then you will be sorely disappointed. I don't think that was Piper's intent, as I'm fairly sure, if it was, he would have written as such. But if your intent is to read a book that enlightens you on the highlights of Wilberforce's life; while glorifying God in the process... then this is your book.