A child for $3

May 4, 10:05 AMSeattle Protestant ExaminerKevin Austin

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Watching the chaos at the border crossing between Thailand and Burma, I followed my guide through the maze of immigration. I was one of many tourists crossing over in the damp heat of the afternoon. Once across, young men, selling lighters and playing cards, kept asking me if I wanted a boy or a girl. There were plenty of children around, begging in clothes worn thin. My guide stated bluntly that I could, in fact, buy a child for $3.

One of the harsh realities of our world, of which there are many, is that there are an estimated 27 million slaves in the world today. These slaves are not just poor children in South East Asia. There are children, women, and men, in every country, forced to work without pay, under threat of violence, and unable to walk away. There are even slaves in the United States of America.

The Hebrew and Greek scriptures of our Christian faith speak out strongly against this injustice.

“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

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness [a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Isaiah 58:6-9

Jesus, in declaring his mission in Luke 4:18, stated that he came to “set the captives free. . .”

Christians have stood by these statements in the past. Quakers fought slavery and founded the first modern abolitionist society, today known as Free the Slaves. Both William Wilberforce and John Wesley worked against slavery in 19th Century England. The Free Methodist Church in America was born out of freedom issues, one of which was the abolition of slavery, in the 1860’s.

Where does the church stand on this issue today? There are many Christians, from various faith communities, who are deeply concerned and active in the new abolitionist movement. How about you? Where do you stand on this issue?

It’s easy to read words and think about statistics. It’s easy to move onto the next thing, moving from news to entertainment. It’s easy to say we’ll pray, but then forget. However, our faint motivates us to act. The knowledge of this reality coupled with the Biblical witness compels us.

Doesn’t it?

What do you think? Write to me at: Kevin1austin@gmail.com and share with me your thoughts. Watch for more about this issue in the weeks ahead.

Note: The photo is of an Ahka boy on the border, March 2009

For more information:

www.notforsalecampaign.org

www.freetheslaves.net

An unrelated request – I want to know what’s going on in your church or denomination. Let me know, at the address above, what special events are going on in your faith community and I’ll pass the information along. Thanks!