So...porn wants a bailout. No kidding! The news media is reporting the following: "An article in next month's Atlantic asks, "Is porn recession proof?" According to porn magnate Larry Flynt and 'Girls Gone Wild' king Joe Francis, the answer is no. TMZ reports that the pornographer pair is heading to Washington to ask for a $5 billion porn bailout: 'With all this economic misery and people losing all that money, sex is the farthest thing from their mind,' Flynt says. 'It's time for Congress to rejuvenate the sexual appetite of America.' Francis sees his industry like the big three automakers, only BIGGER: 'Congress seems willing to help shore up our nation's most important businesses; we feel we deserve the same consideration.'"
Oh, for Pete's sake! Where do I begin?!
First of all...I'm struck with the audacity of the request. An industry that was once under the table and behind closed doors is now brazen enough to ask the government for help to sustain itself. And...perhaps even more disconcerting is that there are those who will actually believe this industry should be given an ear. No matter that they profane the sacred, objectify men and women, destroy marriages and homes, molest children and cripple a healthy understanding of sex. Regardless, some will think this form of human degradation should be given government support.
Secondly...contrary to Flynt's cavalier thoughts about sexuality, sex has not fallen off people's radar screens. It's still very much on people's minds. It's a key dynamic in who we are and how we express our love in the context of marriage. Our moral fiber has changed a great deal over the years and, unfortunately, we engage in sexual practices that do not honor God. Many, if not most, of you reading this have at some point in your lives engaged in sexual activity outside of marriage. However..because we have sinned doesn't mean we should now promote that behavior or decide that since we've fallen at some point we should no longer guard the sanctity of sex. Past behavior is not a free pass for future sin. We know what it's like to stumble...do we know what it's like to rise above it and find victory in Christ?
It goes without saying that porn does not need bailing out...it needs plowed under. This despicable and destructive industry needs to be eliminated. Realistically...that isn't going to happen. It is fed by people's greed for money and appetite for sex. So, because sex brings pleasure and the porn industry makes money...it continues to exist.
At a higher level, and even more importantly, we should pause to examine ourselves and seek to live lives that are pure and Christ-honoring. If you're living together and engaging in sex outside of marriage...that is biblical sin and does not honor Christ. If you are engaging in sex in any way outside of marriage...you are dishonoring God. The good news is this...the Lord is willing and eager to "bail us out" of our sin. He is willing to forgive us and enable us to get our feet on solid ground. Remember what the scripture says: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:17-21
Oh...I know. Some of you are thinking, "Good grief, Tom. You are so archaic." Yeah...I know. Listen...I'm as human and vulnerable as any reading this...and I know that if we don't lean on the Lord and seek to honor Him...we can easily fall into practices that distance us from the Lord. This is not old-school or conservative, or legalistic or Victorian or prudish...it's actually biblical and holy. That's where we need to live.
In a society where some believe that pornography is legitimate and condones almost any kind of sexual behavior we can imagine...we need all the help we can muster to live a godly life. Christ offers that help and that hope. Will we be obedient? My prayer and hope is that indeed...to the glory of God...we will.
"Finally, brothers, 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
This coming weekend, we are focusing on some social injustice issues...specifically, human trafficking and fair trade. Tragically, human trafficking has reached horrific levels. It is said that more people will be "trafficked" in 2009 than in all the 1800s when slave trade was at its peak.
Human trafficking is to be deceived or taken against your will, bought, sold and transported into slavery for sexual exploitation, sweat shops, child brides, circuses, sacrificial worship, forced begging, sale of human organs, farm labor, or domestic servitude. Family members and "friends" deceive parents into releasing their children or selling them for as little as $20 each. Children then may be sold to local gang masters or serious organized international trafficking rings. Victims usually suffer repeated physical abuse, fear, torture and threats to their families to break their spirits and turn them into saleable commodities. It is possible that a person could be sold and trafficked many times.
Human trafficking continues to grow. Between 2 million and 4 million men, women and children are trafficked across borders and within their own countries every year. More than one person is trafficked across borders EVERY MINUTE, the equivalent of five jumbo jets every day, in a trade that earns twice as much worldwide revenue as Coca-Cola.
Consider the following story. In September 2006, Carol, a Zimbabwean girl aged 18, escaped from captivity of traffickers while in Tanzania. Carol was trafficked from Zimbabwe two years earlier when she was 16. She was orphaned and staying with her grandparents when this happened. One day on her way to school she was approached by two men who offered her a job. Carol was enticed by the job prospect as this would give her the opportunity to help out her grandparents, support her siblings and other relatives. Carol left with the men, who took her to a place where they raped her and then transported her out of Zimbabwe to South Africa. She was drugged, placed in a coffin and taken across the Zimbabwean border. In South Africa, she was forced into prostitution. She was not allowed to go anywhere and was under lock and key.
Carol stayed in South Africa for several months before being taken to Mozambique, where the abuse continued. She then was trafficked through Zambia to Tanzania where she managed to escape. At an open market, her captor left her for a few minutes to order food. Carol took the opportunity and ran off. She asked for help from a woman who took her to the Zimbabwean Embassy in Tanzania. The Embassy transported her back home and she was handed over to the police under the care of the International Organization for Migration, which offered her care under their victim support program. Medical tests showed that Carol had contracted HIV. Her family has failed to accept her because they believe she will have a bad influence over the other children. Carol is staying at a center and is receiving care. (Source: www.stopthetraffik.org)
What is taking place not only around the world...but right here in our own city...is abhorrent. A year and a half ago, a local business was busted by the police department for its involvement in human trafficking. That business was within eyesight of BreakPointe. We need to be informed of what is going on and how we can make a positive difference. This coming weekend at BreakPointe, will give you an opportunity to become better informed.
Does this kind of injustice really matter to us? YES! Listen to the words of God found in Hebrews 13: 3: “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Also read Psalm 10.
Please...don't miss this coming Sunday. It will give you a much deeper understanding of what is going on around the world...and possibly around your neighborhood. We have special guest speakers who are well informed on the matter of human trafficking.
Dr. Jo Anne Lyon - General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church, Founder and former director of World Hope Internaltional. In one arm of the work of World Hope, they work in rescuing and caring for those who have been victims of human trafficking.
Dr. Jeff Brodsky - Established The Safe Harbour Project. Their main objective is for the rescue and rehabilitation of the youngest children they can locate who have been either sold or kidnapped and forced into the child sex trade industry throughout the world. Their rescue operations would (in most cases) be underground and covert.
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