Published Aug 09, 2022
Echoing the comments from Dr. Jeff Iorg for the inaugural column in the series, it’s almost impossible to pick a single book for every believer to read. Forgive me for offering two biographies I’ve found particularly inspiring and convicting for those seeking to live out their faith in our culture.
Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas introduces you to the incredible life of William Wilberforce, the 18th-century British statesman and abolitionist hero. You may have seen the excellent 2006 movie adaptation that powerfully dramatizes his decades-long campaign to end the transcontinental slave trade. This biography goes further, giving a deeper look at the sincere devotion to Christ that animated Wilberforce’s 45 years of public service as a member of British Parliament. The book and the film powerfully illustrate the Apostle Paul’s words in Galatians: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.”
Similarly, Fighting for Life by Lila Rose shows how followers of Jesus must continue the battle for human rights. This 2021 autobiography gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the current struggle to protect unborn children from America’s abortion holocaust. Rose, 33, displays wisdom far beyond her years, approaching the issue of life in the womb with clarity, conviction, and compassion.
In my work at CFC, I’m grateful to partner with California Southern Baptists to advance God’s truth for Life, Family and Liberty through our state’s Church, Capitol and Culture. For leaders and laypersons seeking to live out their faith in an increasingly hostile society, the lives of Wilberforce and Rose remind us we need not hide our light under a bushel, especially in California.
