Sick

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

(Proverbs 31:8-9 NIV)

Recently in church a man mentioned that the ministry he had started to bring people out of human trafficking* had a current caseload of about 120 women. I was astounded. In our small city of about 38,000 with an area population of around 100,000, this ministry alone was working with 120 women and girls who had been sex trafficked.

That there are this many trafficked girls in our local community makes me sick.

Then I remembered the statistics I had gathered for another project:

[Human trafficking] involves over 40 million people globally; of that 25% are children, with the average age being 12-14 (but children as young as 3 are trafficked).  A child is sold for sex approximately 20 to 30 times a day, and over 51.6% of trafficking cases in the US involved children.  Globally, human trafficking is a $150.2 billion a year industry with 55% of those trafficked and 98% of those trafficked for sex being women and girls.” https://liberatechildren.org/child-trafficking-statistics

These numbers make me sick.

Why are there people in the world who want to have sex with children? Why do they believe it is fine to force someone (child or adult) to perform sexual acts for/on them – even if the victim is then “paid?” How is it that even with the world’s laws against human and sex trafficking, we still have a global $150 billion industry?

This evil makes me sick.

And then I heard someone tell the story of an American family trying to adopt a Ukrainian orphan and fearing that child had been kidnapped into sex trafficking. In all the disruption of their society, kidnappers and traffickers are seeking out those they can use. Ukrainian families are broken apart by the violence ravaging their land and evil entities are taking advantage of the situation.

Sick. Sick. Sick.

The Bible teaches we are to care for the weak, poor and needy – including at-risk women and children. Jesus spoke of the great value God places in children – that Jesus doesn’t want us to hinder them from coming to him, and we are to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord because they are a heritage from God. The Bible teaches strongly against any sort of sexual sin – any sexuality that is outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. Sexual relations with children would obviously be sinful. “[The Bible says] sexual perversion of all kinds is soundly condemned. Sexually assaulting a child [or adult] is never justifiable; it is always wrong.”** Instead we must speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, to act justly, love mercy, and care for widows, orphans, and other victims of violence who need help.

My guess is that you probably already know of God’s position on these issues. But maybe you are wondering what you can do practically, tangibly, and today. Here are some ideas:

PRAY – Pray for children, women, and men who are victims of the human and sex trafficking industry in our world. Pray for prevention, protection, healing, and justice for all – including for the perpetrators.

GIVE – Give to organizations that fight human sex trafficking and help victims heal.

BE AWARE – Be aware of those around you whose vulnerabilities may make them potential victims and others who may already be trapped. If you see something you question, reach out for help.

CONSIDER – Consider other things God may be calling you to do.

God of Justice and Love,

Today we are mindful that there are many, many evils in the world and we know that you do not turn a blind eye to them. We know that violence against children is wicked and evil. And we realize that you require us to love justice and mercy and walk humbly with you. So today we pray for those who are caught in the sex trafficking industry – especially children, but also female and male victims – and their perpetrators. We pray in the name of Jesus that you would break the power of the wicked in this industry and would uphold and restore the righteous. We pray that worldwide law enforcement would have the integrity, information, courage, and resourses they need to help victims escape. We pray that ministries that help to protect, rescue, and heal victims would have the resources they need. And we pray for radical healing for all those who have been forced to participate in sexual acts outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. As we defend the destitute and brokenhearted, we pray your Church would rise up and bring a movement of justice and righteousness to this world. In the strong name of Christ we pray, Amen.

“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14 NIV)

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 NIV)

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” (Psalm 127:3 NIV)

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8 NIV)

“The worship that God wants is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help and keeping yourself free from the world’s evil influence. This is the kind of worship that God accepts as pure and good.” (James 1:27 NIV)

“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 14:30 NIV)

“Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
    whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 17:5 NIV)

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he will reward them for what they have done.” ( Proverbs 19:17 NIV)

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8-9 NIV)

“The power of the wicked will be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous.” (Psalm 37:17 NIV)

*https://www.hopeprojectusa.org

**https://www.gotquestions.org/sexual-abuse.html