Today, as part of the Reading Classics Together effort, we begin looking at the next classic of the Christian faith—William Wilberforce’s Real Christianity. We’ve gone from C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity to Wilberforce’s Real Christianity. It’s nothing more than coincidence.
If you are interested in reading along with us, there is still plenty of time. Over the next seven weeks we will be reading this classic of the Christian faith, one chapter per week, and posting thoughts and reflections at this blog. You can go ahead and purchase a copy of the book or even find it online. Do note that the book has gone through many editions and revisions, some substantially longer than others; I will be reading from the David C. Cook edition edited by James Houston.
Our task today was really just to make sure we all have the book and to ensure we have at least a sense of what it is all about. In this excerpt from Wilberforce’s original introduction to Real Christianity (originally titled “A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Higher and Middle Classes in This Country Contrasted with Real Christianity”), we see his reason for writing it:
I’m not going to attempt to either convince skeptics or answer the questions unbelievers always seem to ask, but rather point out some of the problems with the beliefs and actions of those who already claim to be Christians. I’d like to attempt to contrast what we see in the lives of many, perhaps most, who make this claim with what I understand the Bible teaches about what it means to believe in Christ. I am disturbed when I see the majority of so-called Christians having such little understanding of the real nature of the faith they profess. Faith is a subject of such importance that we should not ignore it because of the distractions or the hectic pace of our lives. Life as we know it, with all its ups and downs, will soon be over. We all will give an accounting to God of how we have lived. Because of this fact, I’m not going to pull any punches in what I write. I hope you will seriously consider what is contained within these pages.
He offers this encouragement to his readers: “If what I write seems too rigid or austere, I would only ask that you check what I have to say against what the Bible teaches. That is the only opinion that counts. If you accept the authority of the Bible, I assume you will agree.”
So it is that simple. The purpose of this book is to help readers discern true faith from false beliefs. It is written in the context of eighteenth century England where Christian faith was assumed; there was a cultural Christianity that led everyone to claim Christian faith even if there was little evidence to back the claim. In that way it is probably not too different from twenty-first century America. And for that reason I think we will find this book both relevant and applicable. I am looking forward to diving into it.
Next Week
For next week, please read the first chapter. Then come back here on Thursday, March 12 with any questions or comments.
Comments (20) »
1. Belinda
March 5, 2009
9:59 AM
Looks like this is going to be a great discussion. I’ve gotten my book in and am looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say. Thanks, Tim! B.
2. Jude St.John
March 5, 2009
11:01 AM
Tim, I notice that your excerpt is considerably modernized when compared to my edition. I have commented about the introductory material on my blog. Here is my post:
The more things change the more they stay the same.
I want to consider some of the author’s comments from the introduction that are reminiscent of things that we hear said today. Despite Wilberforce first publishing the book in the 1790s, these thoughts can be heard in daily conversation in the year 2009.
Longing to write this book, Wilberforce was hoping for a “…vacant season, in which he might devote his whole time and attention..” (pB) to his writing. How many of us long for the same thing; a period of relatively ‘un-busy-ness’ in which we can accomplish something; renovating a room, reading a book, visiting a friend, or studying a particular book of the Bible. Whatever the task, we often wish for a break in our schedule where doing this task might be a little easier. But that break never comes. We go from being busy, to really busy, to crazy busy and the enterprise we have in mind never gets beyond our wishful thinking. But we, like Wilberforce, need to realize “…life is wearing away…” (pB) and we “…might wait in vain for this season of complete vacancy.” (pB) That is the life we live in 2009. Apparently they lived a similar life in Wilberforce’s time.
The author expresses another opinion of what Christianity of his time was like: “Often it has filled him with deep concern, to observe in this description of persons, scarcely any distinct knowledge of the real nature and principles of the Religion which they profess.” (pB2) Again, it sounds like the state of things in North American Christianity now.
And so it seems his book will be a timely read despite its original publishing date. Though, I guess that is one of the things which make it a ‘classic’. I’m looking forward to journeying through this book with the rest of those who frequent Challies’ blog.
3. J.P.H.
March 5, 2009
11:55 AM
I was going to comment that the language in that introduction seemed very modern compared to what I might expect. So was it modernized somehow?
4. Tim Challies
March 5, 2009
1:43 PM
This version is, yes. There are a whole lot of different versions of the book available. Different lengths, different modernizations, etc, etc. I chose to read this version based on a few different factors (including the pretty cover). But you really can’t go wrong with any of them.
5. Lerrina
March 5, 2009
1:43 PM
Tim,
I had a late start, and without having a copy of the edition you are using, I have had to rely on the electronic edition available online. However, I am so thankful I was forced to do so. While I can hardly wait to get into the book itself (the USPS is winging the edition you are reading my way - Lord willing), I have found the Introductory Essay (in the online edition) written by Rev. Daniel Wilson, A.M., Vicar of Islinton, an amazing study in and of itself. In fact, like Jude, I posted from this reading to my blog.
While there is much fodder in this 40 plus page essay, I felt compelled to address his remarks on the ‘revival’ which swept through England - at least in part as a result of Wilberforce’s book. Not only that, but I also saw distinct comparisons between England at that time and America now (although, I believe, we are further down the slippery slope than they were at that time).
I look forward to reading through this book, and I thank you for bringing it to my attention.
6. Lisa notes...
March 5, 2009
3:07 PM
The intro by Sen. Hatfield piqued my interest to continue reading on. The statement quoted of his character, using Wilberforce’s words, surely hits home with many of us:
“How careful ought I to be, that I do not disgust men by the inconsistency between the picture of a Christian which I draw, and which I exhibit!”
I posted a few more quotes and my thoughts here from the intro. I look forward to reading this together and learning from the comments of everybody else.
Blessings,
Lisa
7. David Porter
March 5, 2009
4:39 PM
Tim,
Got the book in hand, introductory material finished, and looking forward to the meat, and discussion.
I will not be blogging my way through this text, as usual, because I already have too many things on my plate.
Here is my blogs invitation to this reading: http://tinyurl.com/c76xnz
I also Twitter’d, and mentioned on facebook.
I am looking forward to this.
8. Benjamin S. Dinkins
March 5, 2009
4:48 PM
I have been wanting to get in on these classics readings for some time, but the Lord hasn’t seen fit until now for me to do so. Several of my brothers are also reading along, so I look forward to the spurring. As for the intro, I appreciated the Senator’s perspective, especially this:
He (W.W.) understood that many people in cultures surrounded by the influence of the church make intellectual agreement to doctrines without realizing the personal significance, especially as it involves conviction of SIN.
Being from the deep South, where else is there a culture more “surrounded by the influence of the church?” Intellectual agreements are everywhere, but don’t tell these gentlemen about their SIN! O, that sleepers would be awakened. Looking forward to Chapter 1.
9. Tim Irvin
March 5, 2009
5:10 PM
Does anyone know if this is available as a download (PDF, HTML) from anywhere? Thanks.
10. Mark@DR
March 5, 2009
5:22 PM
Tim (#9),
You can find the text of the Wilberforce book in HTML here: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/25709
Mark@DR
11. Tim Irvin
March 5, 2009
8:14 PM
Thank you. I hate being such a tight wad but I’ve purchased two books already this month and that’s all I can buy….. she said :)
12. Michael Sherman
March 5, 2009
10:25 PM
Hey Guys-
I am really looking forward to joining you all in Reading the Classics for the first time. I’ve posted my introductory blog post to our shared reading here: http://scholarsandsaints.com/christian-classics-wilberforces-real-christianity.
Two verses that I came across which I thought were relevant to Wilberforce’s stated purpose (as noted by Tim in his blog post) were Titus 1:16 and 1 John 2:4. As I say in my blog post, it is good to evaluate whether what we profess with out mouths is evident in the way we lead out lives. I look forward to our mutual introspection in this regard.
Blessings,
Michael
13. Socorro Alaniz
March 6, 2009
12:46 AM
Got my copy, read the intro and happy to be joining such a group of “brainiacs”. I can’ t wait to read the insightful comments that this book will surely bring forth… : )
14. Naomi Goegan
March 6, 2009
4:05 AM
I skipped ahead and read Chapter 1 thinking it was being discussed today. Aside from the language, I don’t see how it wasn’t written in 2009! Looking forward to next week :)
15. Curtis
March 6, 2009
9:51 AM
Tim Irvin said…
“Thank you. I hate being such a tight wad but I’ve purchased two books already this month and that’s all I can buy….. she said :)”
Yours and mine can get together for coffee, and we’ll go to the next shepherds conference, I hear they have a book store of sorts there ;)
16. Curtis
March 6, 2009
9:56 AM
All I ask is that people don’t contextualize Wilberforce as they do the scriptures, in fact ,STOP contextualizing the scriptures!! It already has its own context! In love, curtis
17. Joshua
March 6, 2009
3:00 PM
Tim, got it rolling. Also I’d like to introduce a Twitter hashtag for this Reading the Classics Together, as #rtct. This can be used to follow and tweets about this group. My “repost” of yours can be found at, http://tr.im/rtctintro #rtct
18. Tammy Schindel
March 10, 2009
2:37 PM
I have JUST finished the introduction alone and am delving into chapter 1. The introduction alone was enough to cause me to eagerly anticipate devouring the book. Thank you!
19. Tammy Schindel
March 10, 2009
2:43 PM
..by the way…am I the only one not able to link properly to the basics conference you have posted as an advertiser?
20. Rob
March 11, 2009
9:20 PM
The primacy of the Scriptures certainly comes out in his opening chapter and the grand privilege we have of reading it and learning of God’s way and mind in all areas of life. The fact that he intimates that the vast majority of so-called “Christians” in his time period have an unopened Bible on the shelf is one of the facts that calls into question their genuine conversion. The accountability that we have before God is another truth that comes out a few times and seems to be an important concept to him. As he ends so will I end my comments, “And when finally summoned to the bar of God, to give an account of our stewardship, what plea can we have to urge in our defence if we remain willingly and obstinately ignorant of the way which leads to life, with such transcendent means of knowing it, and such urgent motives to its pursuit.”