Those words, which are at the end of the Pledge of Allegiance, which most Americans can quote from memory often at the beginning of certain events as our flag of freedom is presented.
On July 4th, 1776 the Second Continental Congress heard the Declaration of Independence, penned by Thomas Jefferson as it was presented to them. This document declared all 13 colonies in North America were independent of the rule of England and it’s King George III.
The second sentence reads;
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…”
I want to write to you at this point in time with the Covid-19 virus has killed at least 383,165 people around the world of which 108,159 deaths occurred within America.
Added to that the history we are seeing unfold after George Lloyd died by 4 policemen stopping him, putting him on the ground, and one officer placed his knee on George’s neck for 8 minutes and 45 seconds. George’s pleaded for the man to get his knee off of his neck because he could not breathe. His pleas were ignored, and he died on that spot for no apparent reason other than he was a black man in Minneapolis. This event has ignited an explosion of protests in many of the major cities in America and on almost every continent around the world.
So, why am I writing about this? Because even though I may be putting some of my subscribers at risk of losing you I feel I must say something. I hope my thought will stir us to action and begin to not only denounce the history of slavery in the world and the inequality many have suffered since the fall but to make you aware that slavery is far worse now, around the world, than it has ever been.
This is especially true in the area of sex trafficking with women and children enslaved and used as sex objects for men with a ravenous hunger for sex tied to abuse as well. Here is a quote from the International Labour Organization;
“The International Labour Organization[5] estimates that, by their definitions, over 40 million people are in some form of slavery today. 24.9 million people are in forced labor, of whom 16 million people are exploited in the private sector such as domestic work, construction or agriculture; 4.8 million persons in forced sexual exploitation, and 4 million persons in forced labor imposed by state authorities. 15.4 million people are in forced marriage.” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_21st_century
Here is what I want to emphasize today to all of us who have used porn, women, or men for our own sexual pleasure. Do you realize that you are using another person for your own personal pleasure? Many people in porn movies are doped up so that they can perform the things they do. Some are enslaved and forced to do it. When any of us access this garbage just to get our rocks off what should that say to us? Are you ok using women and men for your sexual pleasure while their very lives are in danger if not from their owners but from sexually transmitted diseases?
If you are looking for motivation to quit using all forms of porn stop for a second and realize you are part of the reason these industries are making hundreds of billions of dollars using your perverted sex drive to find your sinful pleasure at their expense.
Is there any good reason at all that as a follower of Christ you should be engaging in these acts and this industry? One statistic I found is that they estimate 1.2 to 1.38 million of these slaves are sex slaves. Mostly women being used against their will and even children well below the age of 10.
What if when you are being tempted instead of turning on your sex drive you turn on your conscience? May we all stop the abuse of other human beings and begin to see every person as created in the image of God. And we have no right to use them like another piece of meat to be devoured and the bones thrown away.
Paul writes to the Galatians 3:26-27;
“For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Yes…Black Lives Matter…but also All Lives Matter … and shame on us for not doing something more to create more equality for our brothers and sisters in Christ and sharing with them from the abundance that has happened in our lives and creating for them the opportunities and help they need in employment, education, health-care, and opportunity.
There is a biblical principle that I love when it comes to our possessions. Seek to hoard it and you will never have enough. Seek to share it and you will always have all you need.
Father, I pray for healing in our world not only from the pandemic virus but also from the racial pandemic so many people have toward others whether they are in Christ or not.