“Amazing Grace: Lessons on Cultural Engagement from William Wilberforce and His Friends” With Dr. Nathan Finn

Join the Davenant House for this film viewing, lecture, and discussion as we learn from the Clapham Saints and consider how to apply their vision to our contemporary context in post-Christian America.

Some Christians are “doctrine people” who are deeply committed to orthodox theology and ethics shaped by Scripture and the best of the Christian tradition. Other Christians are “piety people” who are mostly concerned with walking closely with Christ and pursuing personal holiness and spiritual maturity. Still other Christians are “justice and mercy people” who are committed to challenging injustice and promoting the common good. Finally, some Christians are “Great Commission people” who are passionate about spreading the gospel to the spiritually lost and promoting mission work among the unreached. While this sort of division is overly simplistic, we are always tempted to overemphasize some elements of the Christian life at the expense of others. In William Wilberforce (1759-1833) and his close friends, the so-called Clapham Saints, we have a historical example of holistic Christian faithfulness that embraced the importance of both doctrine and piety, both justice and evangelism.

Dr. Nathan Finn serves as Provost and Dean of the University Faculty at North Greenville University in Tigerville, SC. He is a historical and systematic theologian with expertise in Baptist history and thought. Most recently, Nathan is co-editor of Historical Theology for the Church (B&H Academic, 2021) and the forthcoming Theological Handbook for the People of God (B&H Academic, 2022). He has also published popular essays for The Gospel Coalition, Public Discourse, Baptist Press, Christianity Today, and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Nathan is an ordained minister in the Southern Baptist tradition who frequently preaches and teaches in local churches. He has been married to Leah for 21 years and is the father of four children.