Humanity on the line

While preparing to teach on justice, I watched a video which began with a man named Rob Bell. Now you may or may not have heard of him. You may or may not like him. You may or may not agree with him. But this story should touch you.

A few years ago, he went to Africa, because he wanted to see. He had a guide to show him. They hailed a cab from the airport. The guide said, "Take us to the most dangerous part of the city." Now this particular city is one of the most dangerous in the world. The cabbie kept saying "This is not a good idea." Finally, they pulled down a street and stopped. The guide said, "Get out." The cabbie said, "This is not a good idea." Rob Bell exited the cab, along with the guide, and the cab pulled ahead about a block.

As they walked down the street, girls came out of the shadows, whispering things. These girls were 12-16 years old. Rob asked, "What are they whispering?" "A dollar amount," the guide explained. "They have worked all day in the fields. They are AIDS orphans who have siblings that they are raising, but they do not make enough to feed thier brothers and sisters. In American dollars, they are offering themselves for the night for 25 cents."

The US State Department believes that 17000 slaves are smuggled into this country every year. They work in sweat shops. They work as under-age prostitutes (Half work in "commercial prostitution" in massage parlors, etc that disguise brothels. 27% work in homes, as maids, etc. in places like Virginia. 10% in the construction industry, with another 10% made up in agriculture.) There are hundreds of girls kidnapped from happy, "safe," middle-class suburban homes and used as prostitutes. Many are force fed a diet of drugs and alcohol to keep them passive and from running home. They are so psychologically abused by their pimps (which is a nice way of saying "owner") that even when arrested for prostitution, they take the fall rather than turn on them. And we see just another "crack whore" and despise these girls.

As Rob Bell said, we strip their humanity from them. And if we see people in these situations and do nothing, we risk losing our own humanity. So what can you do? There are many things. Child sponorships though CMFi, World Vision, CICM, are good starts. Moreover, you can give directly to these issues through International Justice Mission. Jesus said he came to set the captives free (Luke 4:18). Will you?