The Citizen column – Oct.1, 2020
This past Sunday, some churches across Canada joined in marking “Freedom Sunday”, an initiative of International Justice Mission (IJM). As we Canadians go about our business daily and travel freely here and there, it may seem that freedom is something we already possess, that shouldn’t have to be the focus of special services or dedicated non-profit organizations. But for many across the globe, freedom is something almost impossible to even imagine.
The statistics are startling. Around the world today, over 40 million people are held in slavery; and of these, 1 in 4 slaves is a child. That translates to at least 10 million children trapped in slavery. In 2016, a child went missing in India every 12 minutes. And 50% of missing children have not been found.
One form of slavery is economic bondage, or indentured servitude, in which people sell themselves (and often family members as well) in order to receive a loan – but the ensuing wages are so low that they find themselves unable to ever pay off the loan. Sometimes the loans are ridiculously small in Western terms – for example, as little as just $40 – but in local currency, the wages just never come close to covering the debt.
A more nefarious form is slavery conducted for immoral purposes. Human trafficking generates about $150 billion a year; two-thirds of this derives from commercial sexual exploitation!
On Freedom Sunday our church heard the story of Gowri, a woman in India whose husband sold himself and his family into slavery at a brick-making and wood-cutting facility. The owner was cruel to those who worked there. The wages were hopelessly low. Gowri at one point was tied in a cow-shed and beaten so badly she couldn’t stand up. The owner also threatened her children.
In our individualistic culture we might say, “What’s it to me?” and carry on our way. “That’s somebody else’s problem, isn’t it? Why should I get involved?”
For those who are Christians, God’s word prompts us to take action. Isaiah prophesied about “The Servant” God would send to bring salvation to the nation of Israel; in retrospect, we join the New Testament authors in understanding this points to Jesus, who taught brilliantly and healed sickness yet was crucified on our behalf so our sins could be forgiven. Eyewitnesses described His resurrection appearances. Still, it’s clear the “Servant’s” role was not only to impact people’s relationship to God in the sense of moral judgment. Jesus came to make it possible for us to love our neighbour as ourself: He linked that command to the greatest command, that of loving God with all one’s being.
Isaiah prophesied that The Servant would “bring justice to the nations... In faithfulness He will bring forth justice; He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.” (Is.42:1,3f) We can see that justice is a strong emphasis for the Saviour that God promised to send.
Isaiah criticized those of his day who observed religious ceremonies such as fasting and outward abasement (lying in sackcloth and ashes) yet ignored the plight of their fellow humans. That was clearly not acceptable to the Lord. Instead, God asks, “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” (Isaiah 58:6f)
Not what most people understand ‘fasting’ to be! But God clearly values more highly how we treat those around us than the merely religious motions we may go through supposing He would be impressed by our ritual practices.
Isaiah doesn’t just warn the people about the injustice meriting their attention. The prophet promises reward for those who make God’s concerns their own priority: “Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.”
Thankfully for those who allow their hearts to be moved and their eyes opened to the plight of those enslaved in the world at present, we do not have to begin the battle strictly by ourselves. International Justice Mission and other justice-related organizations (Amnesty International could be another example) are already established and have proven their effectiveness in this area.
IJM is the largest international anti-slavery organization in the world; they have rescued more than 49,000 people from oppression. IJM has trained more than 67,000 justice system officials to recognize and respond to violence since 2012, and has seen more than 1,600 convictions against slave owners, rapists and other criminals. Their goal this year for ‘Freedom Sunday’ is to raise $24,600 which would cover the cost for three different “rescue operations” – breaking the yoke of oppression. Folks cna find out more at IJM.ca/stories and donate online or sign up to receive regular prayer newsletters.
God’s challenge and promise through Isaiah call us to take heed to the needs of those who are trapped and downcast. “...If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Is. 58:10f)
As we begin to share what we have in response to the plight of the downtrodden and captive, may we find His supply springing up within us to meet our deepest needs!
