To Hell with Human Trafficking. There, I Said It. | Sojourners

To Hell with Human Trafficking. There, I Said It.

Is it possible that we as Christians just aren't angry enough about injustices like human trafficking and slavery? Perhaps we've grown too desensitized, domesticated, and docile. I'm not trying to say this for the sake of the 'shock factor' -- I really believe there are times when the church needs to have a deep[er] anger about the grave injustices of the world, particularly when it involves the exploitation of children. Have we deduced our faith to convenient and self-serving pleasantries?

Because we are informed and transformed by Christ, I wonder if we just need to say:

To Hell with [insert injustice here]. Enough is enough.

What else can you say when many sources cite as high as 27 million slaves around the world? In the sex trade industry, 80 percent are women and over half are minors (aka: children and teenagers) some younger than my three kids who are 10, 8, and even 6.

I guess Cornel West has a more eloquent way of saying the above:

Indifference to injustice is more insidious than the injustice itself.

Our church community is trying to do our small part. We are compelled to do more, but perhaps it begins with this 'deep anger' over the things that anger and grieve the heart of God. We hosted a film screening of Call+Response and gave the proceeds to Break the Chains/IJM. I found out today that this initiative through our denomination has already raised $332,000. We then screened a Korean film, Crossing, highlighting the situation in North Korea and raised more funds. We had a great turnout for the film and KAC media came by for a quick report and interview:

The Crossing - Movie Screening from Joseph Jang on Vimeo.

Human trafficking and its numerous painful layers are also taking place in North Korea. Check out this brutal article from Crosswalk, "North Korean Bride Trafficking: When Escape Becomes Bondage":

The translator could never capture the experience behind Young-Ae Kim's emotional words, but he tried.

"She was raised with the idea that you have one lasting marriage