Tomorrow, Saturday 15th October 2016, thousands of volunteers in some 250 cities worldwide will take to the streets to highlight the global atrocity that is modern day slavery. The A21 Campaign exists to combat this evil through Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnerships.
While not every volunteer need profess religious belief, the Campaign’s founder Christine Caine bases her convictions on Christian principles from the Bible.
Old Testament prophet Amos denounced the people of his day who professed spiritual devotion but abused their fellow human beings! ‘Let justice flow like a river and righteousness like a never failing stream!’ he preached. (Amos 5v24) Martin Luther King quoted this passage in his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech in Washington in 1963.
The Lord Jesus Himself echoed the Old Testament prophets, sharply criticising the Pharisees for ritualistic nit-picking while neglecting the bigger issues of justice and mercy. (Matthew 23v23-24) He declared the simplest yet most profound principle for how human beings should treat one another when He taught His followers to ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ (Matthew 7v12. Luke 6v31)
So while many of us are by nature non-confrontational, there are times when we have to have the courage to take a stand against wrong. It’s wrong for men, women and children to be trafficked, confined and forced to do degrading things against their will. 'Bodies are not commodities.' Some things are not for sale. People of conscience must oppose such wickedness.
For Christians, this moral responsibility is part and parcel of being disciples of our Lord.
For everyone, it simply goes with being a member of the human race.
For more information on the A21 Campaign or to find out where your nearest Walk for Freedom will be tomorrow visit A21.org