This afternoon I went to see Amazing Grace, the film version of the life of William Wilberforce. As an English parliamentarian, he dedicated most of his life to abolishing the British slave trade, finally seeing it banned throughout the colonies just before his death in 1833.

I'd give the film an unqualified recommendation. The acting is a bit awkward in places, and the story is necessarily somewhat romanticized. However, Wilberforce issues a challenge to all of us to live what we believe. He saw a gross injustice, and instead of conveniently ignoring it, suffered great personal cost to bring it to an end. As a Christian, he allowed his personal beliefs to influence the way he lived, and in turn, to influence society. He lived with passion and purpose for a cause greater than himself.

His life speaks to us today. In particular, it challenges me to think about what issues I can and ought to devote my time and energy to changing. Nowadays we take it for granted that slavery is wrong. But if one man, and others with him, hadn't stood up and fought, it might still exist.

What injustices do we see around us, in our neighbourhoods or the world at large, that we ought to fight? Even if it looks hopeless, and even if it takes us the rest of our lives? Or conversely, what issues do we ignore because "that's just the way it is" or "somebody else will do it" or "it's too difficult and inconvenient"?

Those are the questions this film leaves me with.