Can Christians influence culture? That’s a question I’ve been pondering lately.
According to historians, the abolition of the British slave trade was “the greatest moral achievement of the British people.” The man behind this crusade personally ignited a spiritual revival that changed British culture as well. But interestingly, he almost missed his calling.
When William Wilberforce, a young Member of Parliament came Christ at age 25 in 1785, he sought the counsel of John Newton, a slave-trader-turned-pastor and author of the hymn “Amazing Grace.” Thinking God had no interest in politics, Wilberforce felt that he should leave Parliament and take up ministry. Newton suggested that God might have him in Parliament for a reason. “It is hoped,” Newton said, “that the Lord has raised you up for the good of the nation.” Indeed he had. In 1787, Wilberforce’s investigation of the slave trade drove him inexorably to one conclusion: It must be stopped! Wilberforce wrote in his journal, “God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and the reformation of Manners.”
For the next 47 years Wilberforce worked tirelessly for God’s Kingdom, not as a pastor but as a Member of Parliament. In 1807 the Slave Trade was abolished, and in 1833 Parliament passed the bill abolishing slavery altogether. As for his other “great object,” the reformation of Manners (or moral values we would say today), Wilberforce played a key role in evangelical Christianity becoming the driving force behind a cultural reformation in 19th century England.
A number of years ago God laid a “great object” on my heart as well: To find the William Wilberforces of our time, point them to their calling, and equip them to succeed. Not everyone is called to country-wide impact like Wilberforce. But like John Newton, I encourage men and women not to abandon the place of influence and expertise God has already given them without first considering how God might use them there. My role is to help them listen to God and prepare them for God’s purposes, just as he did Wilberforce.
Can Christians influence culture? Yes! But not alone and most likely not from behind a pulpit.
