Christians have a duty to fight against human trafficking
【Teaching】
▲Child labor is the cheapest labor in poor societies. They cannot go to school and are placed in dangerous areas such as mines, woods, underwater, and circuses. They work overtime and are the most pitiful victims of economic activities. Image source: http://pulitzercenter.org/sites/pulitzercenter.org/files/PricePhilippinesChildLaborProjectTeaser.jpg
"But this people has been robbed and plundered; they have been ensnared in dens and hidden in prisons; they are a prey to which no one will rescue them; a prey to which no one will return them." (Isaiah 42:22)
"Do not disgrace your daughter and make her a prostitute, or else the people of the earth will pursue sexual immorality, and the earth will be filled with great evil." (Leviticus 19:29)
“…and cast lots for my people, I will exchange my virgins for prostitutes and sell my virgins to buy wine.” (Joel 3:3)
Jenny from the Philippines had just turned fifteen years old and was seeking medical treatment for her father. She went to work in a restaurant in a big city to earn money with someone she had just met. Unexpectedly, she was deceived into a Manila brothel and stuffed into a small room where sixteen girls were already living. The youngest among them is only thirteen years old. She lived in darkness and was forced to have sex with at least twenty "tourists" or Filipino men every day. In order to make more money, the pimp forced her to use pigeon blood to pretend to be a virgin and deceive the customers. When she refused to participate in the customers' group sex activities He was beaten severely.
Baga, who was sexually trafficked in West Africa and was lucky enough to be rescued, unexpectedly had the same fate as other women from her own country and neighboring countries who were in the same situation: after being rescued, she was accused of adultery and sentenced to death with stones!
An Li, a girl who grew up in a middle-class American family, became the prey of online hunters because of her divorced parents and neglect of discipline. They pretended to be sympathetic and understanding and abducted her into a sex slave. She said: "I didn't know it when I was lured away from home." Now, no matter how tired she is, she has to receive ten to thirty "guests" every night, and she has to hand over all her income to the pimp when she steps into her "home". Only to get a meager reward. If any suspected hidden behavior is discovered, they will be punished, beaten or fined five hundred or even thousands of dollars.
Little boys in Indonesia who are only 11 or 12 years old are forced to carry heavy and thick logs, walk barefoot, and have neither warmth nor food. To this day, there is still a lack of control over wood logging and transportation in many countries, making it easy for workers, especially children, to become victims of forced labor.
In countries like Nepal, hundreds of villagers in one village are often tricked by human organ traffickers, and their kidneys or other organs are cut off and transported to black markets for sale in various places. The business is booming and the supply exceeds demand. It has only recently attracted some international attention.
In the areas under the jurisdiction of the Islamic State, the Yazidi and other marginalized religious groups suffered indescribable cruelty, especially young girls. Every time hundreds of bound Yazidi girls are brought into the black market to be sold as slaves and sold as military prostitutes or sex slaves, as witnesses said: "The girls are gang-raped by ten to twenty men at a time. I hope the United States bombs those "Where, death is more bearable for them!" The Islamic State even claims that pagan women can be "upgraded" to Islam by being raped by more than ten Islamic men.
The "modern slavery system" that shocks the world
Human trafficking, known as "modern slavery," indeed affects people regardless of country, race, wealth, class, or gender. The dark forces of human trafficking generally include sex slaves, forced slave labor, cheap servants, child labor, child soldiers, human organ sales, etc. Let us first look at the statistics of the devastation and violence suffered by women in the 20th century. It is horrifying enough: at the end of the 20th century and this century, the total number of women who were sexually trafficked in the world every year was greater than the number of black slaves sold across the Atlantic in the entire 19th century. The total is ten times higher.
According to the International Labor Organization, the total number of slaves in the world today has reached an unprecedented peak. Let’s take a look at the shocking information below:
‧ Human trafficking is the fastest growing organized crime industry, with annual profits exceeding US$32 billion, second only to drug trafficking and arms trading;
‧ Twenty-seven million people are affected worldwide, 80% of whom are women and 56% are Asians;
‧ It is estimated that one person is sold into sex slavery every 30 seconds, 80% of whom are under the age of 24, and some are only six years old;
‧ There are approximately 13 million child slaves in the world, and the average price of a slave is ninety US dollars;
‧ Thirty thousand people sold into sex slavery die every year from abuse, torture, or disease.
Human trafficking is linked to dark and evil forces, making it impossible to obtain accurate figures and fully understand the seriousness of the truth. What is known now is just the tip of the iceberg. No country or corner of the world is immune. They are either supplier countries, destination countries, or transshipment countries. Many countries have both or even all three.
▲Most residents of this village in Nepal have a long scar on their bodies, which is the mark of their kidneys being tricked into taking them away at a low price. Image source: http://hkmnews.com/site/referenceNews/15/07/20150719.html
Condemn and denounce evil acts
Since the ancestors of mankind committed crimes, gender discrimination that favors boys over girls has pervaded societies at home and abroad in ancient and modern times, such as widespread inequality in educational opportunities, medical benefits, job benefits, and property ownership. Women suffer from physical, psychological, economic and sexual abuse and harm, such as domestic violence, wife abuse, human trafficking and forced prostitution. Today, in the 21st century, it is a social issue that attracts the most global attention.
Christians should seek justice and condemn the evil crimes of female trafficking and sexual exploitation, and face up to the severe challenges they face because:
1. The image of the Creator was severely violated and destroyed in the victimized women; when women were created, their inherent value given by God was trampled upon, and their dignity was completely destroyed.
2. When these women are feared and submitted to by privilege and violence, the harm they suffer is not only physical pain and mutilation, and the subsequent fatal sexually transmitted diseases, but also leaves deep in their souls a lifelong incantation. To make up for the trauma.
3. They are double victimization. They were originally victims of other people's crimes, but they were cast aside by their relatives, friends and society. They were condemned as "filth" and "social scum", and they were "criminals" who should be alienated.
Today at the beginning of the 21st century, information technology is advancing rapidly and has reduced the size of the "global village" to the point where we are as close as we are to each other. When we pay attention to social issues, we cannot just look at the North America or Hong Kong and Taiwan around us. What's more, today's media broadcasts bring the world's "suffering" immediately before our eyes.
In addition to natural disasters, the damage caused by "sin" has caused losses to the prosperity of human beings who were created in the image of God, and what women have suffered is a loss within a loss. Christians can no longer ignore it! How should we respond when we see the God-given glory of Eden in women and children being so severely damaged, and the world God created bleeding out in agony? How can we learn from Jesus’ example?!
▲Paloma, a 12-year-old Filipino girl who was once a street friend, cried and asked Pope Francis: "Why does God allow children to become sex slaves? These children have never committed any crime." Her tears also asked Pope Francis touching the conscience of Christians around the world. Image source: http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7mRQsACYAAlRmP.png
God’s justice and mercy
The most unreasonable response to human trafficking is silence and lack of action!
Doesn’t this play right into the hands of traffickers and pimps? Isn’t it just as the book of Isaiah describes: “She/they are a prey to which no one will save; a prey to which no one will give them back”? Don’t traffickers and pimps want Christians to be ignorant? Don’t you just want the church to turn a blind eye and do nothing?
But God clearly says: "Open your mouth to defend those who cannot defend themselves, and defend the cause of all who are lonely and helpless. Let your mouth judge righteously, and defend the needy and needy." (Proverbs 31:8-9, Union Version final version). So, what is God’s heart toward the poor, suffering, and abused people? What is God’s intention towards man oppressing man and man enslaving man? How does God view the heinous sin of trampling upon women and children?
Moses, who grew up in the Pharaoh's palace, had rare knowledge, status and privileges in modern times, but he saw slaves who were humiliated because of people's arbitrary power and selfish interests! I asked in my heart: "Why do people have the privilege to oppress and enslave others? Why do people suffer and cry because of other people's sins? Does God "know"? Does God "hear"? Does God "see"?" While struggling to find the relationship between human sin and When faced with the answer and way out of suffering, Moses "... refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He would rather suffer with God's people than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a while" (see Hebrews 11:24- 25).
Therefore, Moses resolutely left the system of slavery and pressure, and saw himself as a member of the poor, discriminated, humiliated, oppressed, and exploited people! During the journey of searching, he finally heard God personally answer his life questions in the vision of "a bush being burned by fire, but not consumed": He is the God of "I AM", facing the oppression and oppression in the world. Slavery not only "sees...hears...knows", but also "sends you...to bring my people out of Egypt" (see Exodus 3:10). This "I AM" God declares that He is a just and merciful God. He not only has a just and merciful "heart" (3:7), but also has just and merciful "actions" (3:8) , and has a “mission” of justice and mercy (3:10). He sends us to demonstrate justice and mercy to free the oppressed and exploited, and his ultimate intention is to bring them to a land of abundance "flowing with milk and honey"!
Moses certainly "saw, heard, and knew" what God "saw, heard, and knew" in his generation. What about you and me?
The Whole Gospel Combats Human Trafficking
Human trafficking, a huge organized crime industry, must be fully combated with a large number of ministries working together, starting with rescue work and continuing with the five major links of recovery treatment, life reconstruction, reintegration into society, and education and defense.
In order to be considerate of God's will, "Christ's Fullness Fellowship" responded to God's call in 2011 and launched "Fengrong Ministry" in Cambodia where sex trafficking is rampant: "Fengrong Daughters' Home" and "Fengrong Girls' School" ” and “Feng Wing Women’s Center”. Focusing on the last three links of the comprehensive fight against human trafficking, the purpose is to bring the grace and truth of Christ into the lives of girls, provide them with whole-person care, and help them realize that they were created in the image of God. Created, restored and maintained to the majestic image in Christ, becoming a precious daughter of God.
The long-term plan of "Cambodia Abundance Ministry" hopes to:
‧ Encourage and train girls who grow up in "Fengrong Girls' Home" and "Fengrong Girls' School" to become future leaders;
‧ Provide vocational training and employment opportunities for girls;
‧ Develop social enterprises and encourage Christian businessmen to open factories in Cambodia;
‧ Expand the same ministry that helps male victims;
‧ Track and understand “sex tourism” websites and promotion activities in detail, and fully compete with them;
‧ Promote anti-prostitution propaganda and the treatment and transformation of prostitutes.
The pain and destruction caused by "human sin" and "man-made" are indeed widespread, and the cost of contending with them is extremely high, and the road will be long and arduous! We know very well that Jesus, who loves these women and children, His great love on the cross and resurrection from the dead are our only hope and strength!
The Christian worldview should recognize that Christ's salvation and redemption not only affect individuals and churches, but also society and culture. The sovereignty of Christ must not only be demonstrated in individuals and churches, but also in cultural, economic, social, ethical, political and interpersonal aspects. Therefore, we must have a broad vision, discern the trends of the world and society, and strategically engage in kingdom work, so that we can take the lead, guide, transform and change customs in society.Integrating evangelism and social care to focus on justice issues is also a mission entrusted by God."The Lord has shown you, O man, what is good. What does He require of you? To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)
作者小檔案 吳淑儀，放下大學教職，全時間投入「基督教角聲佈道團」事奉行列。在中國福建、廣西、貴州等省籌辦孤兒院，另又籌辦「紐約勵馨婦幼關懷中心」，關懷受虐婦女。與邱清萍、劉秀嫻合著《還我伊甸的豐榮》，三人一同榮獲「國際基督教平等協會」頒發的終身成就獎。現任北美與香港「基督豐榮團契」會長，致力於人口販賣抗衡事工。