The first week of the study we learned about different things going on outside of our country (and a little inside)--my group read on unprosecuted rapists. The story I read broke my heart. A lot of these men who rape people as young as 3 and 4 years old go totally unpunished. The story I read included a 4 year old little girl who lived in Kenya and was raped by her neighbor. He threatened her life, and told her she should not tell anyone. Eventually she told her Mom who went to the authorities. The man who raped the little girl threatened their family, and went unprosecuted for a long time. Then the International Justice Mission (IJM) got involved and brought justice to this situation.
There were other stories too--such as female genital mutilation...sex trafficking...etc.
This past Sunday night haunted me. It broke my heart and it still has not left my mind. We learned about sex trafficking--however the thing that broke my heart was that it occurs in the United States. I've always had a lot of interest in sex-trafficking. I saw a movie a few years ago called "Trade" by Lionsgate films...and the film was based around sex-trafficking in Mexico. However, this Sunday evening we learned that Atlanta, GA has one of the biggest sex-trafficking sites in the world. www.innocenceatlanta.org is a website that talks more on this topic. It BROKE my heart. We watched a few short clips of sex-trafficking in Cambodia. It made me so angry because there are men who will pay to take a vacation to these countries just to have sex with little girls as young as 5. One man was a doctor from America who was on vacation. Another man was caught eventually and was a fined sex offender from America. He was charged and put in prison for 22 years a few years ago. Others were only put in jail for 8 years or less. The started the sex-trafficking in Atlanta because these "vacations" were starting to get expensive. The thing that kills me the most is that these things happen... and people know about it... and nothing is done about it. IT HAPPENS IN OUR COUNTRY AND NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT! It literally makes my blood boil. I can not stand to think of the fact that this goes on in the United States... but then I remember that the United States isn't perfect either.
I feel like I have to do something now. It's not just an "o... well that happens, and that's sad but there's nothing I can do"--NO. My heart is broken for the injustice that is happening right here in our Country--supposedly the "land of the free"--that's a bunch of bull to say we're the land of the free when we have such horrid acts happening here. Free to sin. Free to be unjust. Free to ask God's forgiveness after we do something...yet continue on our mary way not thinking twice about what we're not doing to stop things.
Jaime gave us scripture to look up about how God feels about Justice... and a few stuck out to me.
"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor he too will cry out and not be answered" ~ Proverbs 21:13
"When you spread out your hands in prayer I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow" Isaiah 1:15-17
"He has showed you, O man, 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
"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18
"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you for you, LORD have never forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done. For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted." Psalm 9:9-12
"Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked." Jeremiah 20:13
I realize not everyone is called to these certain situations... but there's injustice all around. There are opportunities all around for us to take part in. Be the light God has called you to be. Show the justice God loves. Do what God has commanded. Be who God has called YOU to be =)
2 comments:
Hey of course I read your blog and I think its good stuff. I think you writing it is powerful, and even more so I think its a testimony of your faith. The world is a cruel place, all around us is "hatred and evil.. aka Satan" but God is SO much bigger and I believe that if we'd all follow our desires and passions serving God and His people, the world would be a much better place. Good job here. It's a sad reality, but a powerful calling.
You have some very good points. I think that it is actually really good that your heart broke and your blood boiled, as it were. In the book Red Moon Rising, the authors continually emphasized that what broke God's heart ought to break our own. Yet, in all this, I know that no matter the sins we commit if we show true repentance, God never fails to forgive.
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