Oh, that my head were waters, And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people! Jeremiah 9:1
For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am hurt. I am mourning; Astonishment has taken hold of me. Jeremiah 8:21

Human slavery was by no means abolished in 1863. Nor did it cease in civilized nations, including the United States of America, nearly 150 years ago. It continues to this day, unabated, even within the borders of this American nation.

The trade is not limited to men, women, and children with dark skin, for purposes of forced labor. Modern slavery has taken a more ghastly, dispicable, and nefarious face: the majority of those who are slaves are women and children, who are forced into lives of prostitution. The statistics are horrific:

* A child is trafficked every 30 seconds. – UNICEF
* The average age of entry into commercial sex slavery in the United States is 13 years old. – United States Department of Justice
* Human Trafficking occurs in 161 out of 192 countries. – The United Nations
* Pornography is a 96 billion dollar per year industry. – The Internet Filter Review
* Up to 96% of women in prostitution want to escape but feel they can’t. – United Labor Organization
* Human Trafficking is a 32 billion dollar per year industry. – The United Nations
* In some countries it is estimated that 70% of men purchase sex. – Victor Malarek; The Johns
* Over 27 million people are enslaved around the world. This is more than double the number of Africans enslaved during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. – Kevin Bales; Free the Slaves

(Source: “The Cold Facts of Modern Slavery” http://nefariousdocumentary.com/learn-more/)

This slave industry is global, but most of the victims are brought here — that’s right, to the United States of America — to be exploited. Exploited by whom? According to statistics, more than 80% of the buyers of slaves for purposes of prostitution are American businessmen. Europe is also a major destination for victims of human trafficking. That is unspeakably disgusting.

Although forced labor is a part of global human trafficking, the greater majority is that of forced prostitution. How sick! We gasp at how 200 years ago, Africans were sold and bought, and treated most degrading manner, to be subjected to forced labor all their lives. We wonder at how our ancestors, not even a full 2 centuries ago, could be so brutal to another human being.

But now, there are even more slaves today than there ever were in history at any one time. It is not the need for labor and hired hands that is fueling this multi-million dollar industry. The majority of slaves are being obtained and sold, not for the purpose of picking cotton or harvesting sugar cane, but for the purpose of gratifying the carnivorous appetite of a man who feels like being a pervert that day.

This problem is in no way far removed from even middle-class citizens. We are continually bombarded with immoral propaganda, on purpose. Even the shopping isles and grocery store tabloids shamelessly display the very things which fuel human trafficking. Sexual gluttony is not just inappropriate; it is costing millions of women and children, almost none of whom chose this kind of life, their lives and souls. And every single person who patronizes the businesses that promote this kind of behavior — either through viewing porn, clicking in internet adds, subscribing to slimy magazines, or anything else — bears the burden of responsibility for these people.

And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” Genesis 18:20-21

God hears the cry of those who are oppressed, and He executes righteousness and justice on their behalf (Psalm 103:6). God does not take that cry lightly, and neither should we. When He comes to visit, He should find out that the hands of His people are clean of this great iniquity, and are standing on the side of justice, ready to move at His word.

Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save;  Nor His ear heavy,  That it cannot hear.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. Isaiah 59:1-4

Why does not God move? Why does God not powerfully intervene in this situation, and turn this whole wicked industry to dust? Because no one calls for justice. We don’t care, and our hands are just as defiled with sin as our neighbor’s. If there was zero perversion in “Christian” circles in this country, I am confident that a lot of wicked causes and businesses and industry would go bankrupt. After all, don’t professing, church-going Christians make up the majority of people in this country?

There are some very, practical steps that we can take to squash this squalid traffic in this country, and hopefully, worldwide. There are a number of excellent Christian organizations that you can partner with, and help the cause of liberty, but the two groups I would like to highlight are Pearl Alliance, led by John and Lisa Bevere of Messenger International Ministries, and Exodus Cry, a ministry led by the International House of Prayer, based in Kansas City. Both organizations raise awareness about the truth of human trafficking, and they work to rescue those caught in it. What is great about the Exodus Cry ministry, is that they understand the indispensable importance of prayer in this fight against slavery; hence they do not only appeal to men, but to God, and angels and demons move in the spiritual realm, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Below are two video clips by these anti-human trafficking ministries. If you possibly can, share these videos with others, and get the word out about this cause.

Exodus Cry: The Mission Briefing

Exodus Cry: The Mission Briefing from Exodus Cry on Vimeo

The A21 Campaign: Maria’s Story

You can listen to the interview here:

http://www.sidroth.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5434&news_iv_ctrl=0&abbr=rad_

I found this video by accident on GodTube. It’s a great video, promoting the mission of Exodus Mandate, a Christian ministry focused on campaigning to remove as many of America’s Christian children from the government-controlled public schools as possible. Visit their website at: www.exodusmandate.org

But in the mean time, I would like to share with my readers a four-part video series of the first day (er, evening) of the Inaugural Colloquium of the Alexander Hamilton Institute, which took place on April 10th, 2008, which is based in Clinton, New York. It was a great privilege and honor for me to attend this particular gathering, as a guest of Professor Robert Paquette, and to witness the workings of this new but wonderful organization directly. I will post more extensively on this event, but in the mean time, you may enjoy the following videos, and read a descriptive blog post by my blogger friend, Mrs. Mecomber, who also attended the event, and shot some beautiful photos.

Inaug. Colloq. – Pt 1 from Alexander Hamilton Institute on Vimeo.

Inaug. Colloq. – Pt 2 from Alexander Hamilton Institute on Vimeo.

Inaug. Colloq. – Pt 3 from Alexander Hamilton Institute on Vimeo.

Inaug. Colloq. – Pt 4 from Alexander Hamilton Institute on Vimeo.

I am very much looking forward to reading the correspondence between Smith and Fitzhugh once it is published. This discussion sparked many questions, which ignited interest. Maybe I will blog on my reading of that too when it comes out (and when I attack the other numerous items on my reading list!)

You can learn more about the Alexander Hamilton Institute, the colloquium, and their past and upcoming events here. I have blogged about the founding of the Institute on another blog of mine here.

UPDATE: The audio sessions of the remainder of this colloquium (which lasted for several days) are now available in mp3 format at the website of the Alexander Hamilton Institute. I encourage my readers to listen to these stimulating discussions. I will blog about them more extensively later.