Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord.
J. I. PackerRead
William Wilberforce...w as a great man who impacted the Western world as few others have done. Blessed with brains, charm, influence and initiative, much wealth ... he put evangelism on Britain's map as a power for social change, first by overthrowing the slave trade almost single-handed and then by generating a stream of societies for doing good and reducing evil in public life... To forget such men is foolish.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the significant impact William Wilberforce had on society through his efforts against the slave trade and for social reform.
William Wilberforce is portrayed as a pivotal figure in history whose initiatives and dedication to social reform made a profound impact on the Western world. His work in abolishing the slave trade marked a moral shift in society, demonstrating how an individual's commitment to evangelism and social justice can lead to significant change. The quote by J. I. Packer emphasizes the importance of remembering such influential individuals who have shaped the course of history through their actions for the greater good.
Themes
WilberforceSocial ChangeSlave TradeEvangelismInfluence
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on social justice, one might quote Packer to inspire students about the power of individual action.
More from J. I. Packer
All quotes →He that has learned to feel his sins, and to trust Christ as a Saviour, has learned the two hardest and greatest lessons in Christianity.
J. I. PackerRead
We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the psalms, and that the habit of celebrating the greatness and graciousness of God yields an endless flow of thankfulness, joy, and zeal.
J. I. PackerRead
The fruit of wisdom is Christlikeness, peace, humility and love. And, the root of it is faith in Christ as the manifested wisdom of God
J. I. PackerRead
Were I asked to focus the New Testament message in three words, my proposal would be ADOPTION THROUGH PROPITIATION, and I do not expect ever to meet a richer or more pregnant summary of the gospel than that.
J. I. PackerRead
Only when it is seen that what decides each individual's destiny is whether or not God decides to save him from his sins, and that this is a decision that God need not make in any individual case, can one begin to grasp the biblical view of grace.
J. I. PackerRead
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