HAPPY MONDAY!
One of my favorite scriptures (that I don’t apply very well) leads to today’s word-of-the-week…
FOR
I believe scripture tells us to be “for” things.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8)
Former Reddit CEO Ellen Pao recently declared that the trolls are winning the battle for the Internet. The information in her article is daunting, adding to what we already know about cyber bullying and other online abuses.
And that’s just the Internet. Mass media, politics, and face-to-face interactions often aren’t a lot different. The truth is, one can swim in muck 24/7 online or off.
It does not have to be that way.
Through our work with the FREEDOM TOUR we’ve become involved with the issue of human trafficking. As one of our team members recently said, “When you choose to engage with this issue you’re confronting the grimy underside of society, in many ways the absolute worst of what humanity has to offer.”
He’s right. A continuous focus on traffickers and their activities would leave us drained, pessimistic, and hopeless. That’s the path of opposition: the endless rant, the divisive, polarizing, screaming-and-shaming speeches and Facebook posts that don’t change much of anything. Folks who choose this path gather in an ever-tightening circle of agreement (with each other). They fortify the walls, yell about what angers them, and wonder why those on the outside don’t get the message.
We try to focus instead on hope and reconciliation for both victims and perpetrators. We encourage the relationship-building model employed by Project Rescue and work to support 22 kids in a Home Of Hope who have an opportunity to live in freedom.
Of course we’re not blind to the need for law enforcement to prosecute offenders. But our friend Bob Goff has demonstrated that prosecution and reconciliation don’t have to be separated when Jesus enters the equation. He’s promoted both legal systems and schools in Uganda on the simple premise: Love Does.
Society will never prosecute or legislate sex trafficking out of existence, any more than we’ll prosecute or legislate substance abuse or any other evil out of existence. They’re heart issues and must be addressed on the demand and restoration side. We encourage initiatives like Harvest Farm and Restoration Project.
It comes down to a simple, often-repeated, truth:
We’re known either for what we’re for or what we’re against, what we oppose or what we encourage.
A companion truth: supporting, encouraging, being “for” someone or something, leads to hope. If you continue reading in Philippians, the next verse concludes “…And the God of peace will be with you.”
Yes, we must increase awareness, but darkness won’t disappear because we shake our fists at it. Awareness, by itself, changes nothing. We need to commit to solutions.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.
If this approach seems impractical, as it often does to me, then we must ask ourselves my favorite question:
Do we really believe what we believe?
It’s Monday! What will you be “for” this week?
Please leave a comment here.
Want to receive free updates?
Click below to get Bouncing Back
delivered directly to your inbox.
