When we began, the FREEDOM TOUR often used the phrase “Fight Human Trafficking.”
It’s a great slogan. Who wouldn’t want to oppose the horrible evil of modern slavery?
I’ve said many times that my initial reaction to the abuse of children is to recruit a team of Rambo-type warriors and take out every trafficker we could find.
Except… time after time, history demonstrates the futility of fighting.
How has that worked out in the so-called “war on drugs?” How many deaths, how many lives destroyed, how many tens of thousands imprisoned? And still the drugs continue to flow, destroying families and entire communities.
2000 years ago, Jesus announced the arrival of a new kind of kingdom. A kingdom built around community and service and justice. A kingdom of peacemakers.
He was also clear – his kingdom involved sacrifice. Its members risked becoming outcasts, being persecuted. And apparently, they weren’t supposed to fight back. They were supposed to do something radical – love their enemies.
We partner with Project Rescue because they don’t “fight” human trafficking. Instead, they do the difficult, dangerous work of entering the traffickers’ world, befriending them, serving them with no strings attached.
As yesterday’s quote said, Project Rescue is slowly, painstakingly building something that will make the old model obsolete. They’re following Jesus, working to change hearts.
It’s not simple, or quick, or easy – which means it doesn’t appeal to our desire for an immediate solution. But Jesus never promised simple, or quick, or easy. In fact, he promised the opposite.
He promised service and sacrifice. He promised risk. He talked about becoming an outcast, even being persecuted.
Why would I sign up for that? Doesn’t sound much like the American dream I was promised as a kid.
But then, Jesus didn’t talk about that, either.