An article I posted this week.
Do you take the time to read articles in your newsfeed on Facebook? Do you click on the links in tweets on Twitter to read further on a topic?
As many of you know, I am a huge advocate for victims of sex trafficking and try to use my social media platforms to raise awareness and hopefully serve as a catalyst for conversation. Once we have the conversation going, we can spur people into action.
We have a huge problem in the United States with sex trafficking. I know it is a global issue; however, I feel we need to take care of the home front before policing other countries. Matthew 7:3-5 may have something to do with that:
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
I often wonder who takes the time to read the articles I post. Now before you start getting nervous and look over your shoulder, the only way I know if you’ve read the article is by your comments on social media or if you tell me. I can’t even use the “like” button on Facebook or whether you retreet it as a measuring stick, because a lot of people like or share something they haven’t even read themselves. I don’t advise this, but it has been done.
Some people see the article and feel sorry for those caught up in the issue, but do nothing. Others may assume others are taking care of it. It’s not their responsibility. Or is it?
As I pondered this, I was reminded of the poem written by Charles Osgood about responsibility. In case you’re not familiar with it, I’ll share it:
There was a most important job that needed to be done,
And no reason not to do it, there was absolutely none.
But in vital matters such as this, the thing you have to ask
Is who exactly will it be who’ll carry out the task?
Anybody could have told you that Everybody knew
That this was something Somebody would surely have to do.
Nobody was unwilling; Anybody had the ability.
But Nobody believed that it was their responsibility.
It seemed to be a job that Anybody could have done,
If Anybody thought he was supposed to be the one.
But since Everybody recognized that Anybody could,
Everybody took for granted that Somebody would.
But Nobody told Anybody that we are aware of,
That he would be in charge of seeing it was taken care of.
And Nobody took it on himself to follow through,
And do what Everybody thought that Somebody would do.
When what Everybody needed so did not get done at all,
Everybody was complaining that Somebody dropped the ball.
Anybody then could see it was an awful crying shame,
And Everybody looked around for Somebody to blame.
Somebody should have done the job
And Everybody should have,
But in the end Nobody did
What Anybody could have.
Who is responsible for doing something about the issue of sex trafficking in our nation? Is it you? Is it me? Or is everyone assuming someone else is doing it when actually nobody is? What does Jesus have to say about it? These are the questions I ponder at night.
Matthew 25:40 says,
The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'”
Luke 6:31 says,
Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Proverbs 31:8a says,
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves”
We have a huge problem with sex trafficking in our country. The statistics are staggering to try and wrap your mind around. Everyone doesn’t have to quit their jobs and work at this full time, but clearly we’re all called to do something.
What will you do? How will you help those who cannot help themselves? What will you do about it?
Your message about ‘Nobody doing nothing’ is so true. In the beginning when I spoke up about this problem I did not want to offend anybody especially the Christians in the church. I was unsure how they would receive this message and I was unsure where I stood. The more I spoke up about it the more it became clear to me that in my lifetime there are millions of humans enslaved and this is just not a message to hear and feel bad about, but we can do something about it. I hear my friends tell me ‘Mel I am not called as you are, I am not passionate as you are, this is not the ministry I want to serve in,’ etc. Yes, all valid excuses but as CHRISTIANS, as worshippers of the living God this is ALL what our calling is about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Period (.)
Mel,
The Word of God says that when we help the least of these, we are helping Him [Matthew 25:40]. The way people help in this fight will look different from the way you and I are called to fight it. That’s okay. I don’t think everyone needs to do the same thing, because then there would be holes and cracks in the fight. But I do believe everyone can do something.
Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” My stance is if we see something, you say something. And at the very least, we can all share what we know about the issue with our friends and sphere of influence.
Thank you for what you do in the fight.
Blessings,
Susan