No – this is what we learn from William Wilberforce

For many Christians in politics the example of Wilberforce in his tireless campaign to abolish the transatlantic slave trade is a model to follow. So too for much of the Christian public as they look to Christian MPs to stand up for their Christian principles.

I recall Ann Widdecombe telling a tale of when she was out campaigning in her old constituency of Maidstone in an open-top car with her loudhailer and a bunch of leaflets entitled ‘My Christian Principles’. Suddenly a big gust of wind blew her leaflets out of the window leading Ann to shout, still with loudhailer to hand, ‘I’ve lost my Christian principles’!

Many Christians may be tempted to think this of Christian MPs after they have made it to Parliament. A type of ‘Wilberforce Bingo’ comes into play. Christians mark off whether MPs have abolished abortion, ended modern slavery, eradicated child poverty, strengthened marriage and families. We can end up disappointed and longing for the next Wilberforce.

However, I think Wilberforce would first wish us to be ever dependent on God’s grace. We can idolise Wilberforce as an ever-strong, sorted and impactful politician. However, if you read his diaries, you will encouragingly see someone who, like the rest of us, is mindful of his shortcomings and burdened by his responsibilities to his family and work. The Christian titan Wilberforce describes ‘how absolutely helpless I am in myself.’ So what does he do? ‘O God, I fly.’ Not away from his Christian principles or responsibilities, but ‘through the Saviour’ to the foot of the cross, humbly and penitently to ‘implore fresh supplies of strength and grace’.

Second, we need Wilberforce MPs who will champion the second task which God put before him alongside abolishing the slave trade – the reformation of manners. Not of course concern for please and thank yous but pursuit of godly goodness. MPs who take the grace of God into the battleground of politics will lean on Titus 2:11-13: ‘the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.’

It means making, in the words of one Wilberforce biographer, ‘goodness, compassion and integrity fashionable’.

Third, we need Wilberforce MPs to champion causes which have the modern-day equivalence of the social evil of the slave trade. For some it may well be modern- day slavery, or abortion, but there is another issue which strangely has been overlooked. It is a trade which bears the hallmarks of the battles Wilberforce faced – commercial and political vested interests and a domestic and international trade which undermines human dignity. It is prostitution, which was actually a focus of the movement for the ‘reformation of manners’. Sadly, it has had scant attention by Parliament in recent years, despite prostitution having at its core exploitation and violence against women and being the most dangerous ‘occupation’ in the world.

A recent book by Helena Croft, founder and CEO of Streetlight UK, No Little Girls’ Dream, calls for a Wilberforce-type national movement to support women exiting prostitution; stop the commodification of women, being fed by pornography; and end prostitution by legislating to make paying for sexual services an offence.

Finally let’s heed the words of Wilberforce so ‘my time may not be frittered away unprofitably to myself and others, but that I really may be of use in my generation and adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour.’