Start an Underground Railroad...or Something.
There's this scene in the film Amazing Grace where hero/abolitionist William Wilberforce finds himself wavering at a crossroads. Should he continue down the road of politics or enter onto the path of his new found religious calling?
His best friend, and soon-to-be-youngest Prime Minister ever, William “Billy” Pitt, outraged at such a consideration sternly asks, “Do you plan to use your voice to worship God, or to change the world?" Mutually exclusive practices...
So Pitt calls together a group of abolitionists to convince William to stay in politics and use his persuasive place in the House to do the impossible by ending the slave trade. Their call to action is gentler than Pitt’s, “We understand that you are having trouble choosing between doing the work of God and the work of the Activist. We humbly suggest you do both.”
The story of William Wilberforce ended in triumph but unfortunately today we find the need for abolitionists as relevant as ever. Here's a snap shot from FreeTheSlaves.net...
Admittedly this issue feels overwhelming and impossible. And so we find ourselves paralyzed by enormity and excusing ourselves from action while sadly the injustice continues and beautiful human beings continue to live without a life of their own.
I believe everyone can help, some can help more. Find a way. Use the Google. The underground railroad wasn't started by special ops units but by people driven to care. To change. Compassionaries.
Work of God or work of an activist? Both. The upside in working with God is that he knows a little something about the impossible...
Where's your community on this subject? In the fight? Unaware? Intimidated?
For more join us at TheIdeaCamp in Vegas at ICSEX as we take on slavery, sex and other scary subjects... Also, you can check out the online community here.
Jesse Giglio
Reader Comments (3)
This is really cool Jesse... I never drew the comparison to William Wilberforce. That's powerful, and that statement of "we suggest both" is quite convicting! I heard over on another blog this week about a youth group that got really fired up over these issues, but then couldn't figure out how to make something happen to fight it.
It would be cool to see some grassroots stuff start to rise up like the underground railroad to fight this. I think people would be amazed at what can be accomplished if we all just apply ourselves...
Great post dude! Thanks for contributing to the ICSEX blogging series again! And I can't wait to meet you in person in Vegas!
Hey Jesse. Great post. GCOA did an event focusing on sex trafficking this summer. We are talking about another one this spring. We have a great contact for a guest speaker. Perhaps you do too? Maybe we can team up on this issue for a big event in the community. Sadly, the issue of human trafficking is very much related to orphans.
Let's talk!
Thanks Dan and likewise.
Sarah, that'd be rad! Love your heart for justice.