What if I said you had 30 slaves working for you? In reality, most of us have more than 30; that’s a pretty conservative number. Think about it, let that soak in for a moment. I am not talking about an abstract concept or a what-if scenario, but a reality. Almost everything we own has the possibility of being produced by slave labor. Clothes, jewelry, smartphones, game systems, coffee, just to name a few. Most people in America think that slavery is a thing of the past considering our history with it in early American culture. The truth is though; slavery is not in past but has NEVER been more of an issue world-wide than it is right now! It is not sexist, racist, or even ageist. The latest global index is that there are nearly 46 million slaves world-wide; the highest it has ever been in history! As I read an article about it this week, my blood started boiling immediately for two reasons.

First, the mere idea and concept is just detestable! How could any human treat another human like that is beyond me! Sure, I hate it when people are rude to others, and unfortunately I have done that myself. I am not trying to excuse my behavior one bit, it is wrong. But to own a person, to force them to work for little to no wage is just wrong! No, I’m not talking about our American minimum wage war currently happening; that’s a king’s wage compared to what these 46 million slaves are being paid.

Second, our American and first world culture just drives me crazy sometimes. We get so up in arms about Starbuck’s red cups, or which bathroom to use, or a ridiculously high minimum wage, or our electricity going out, but not to power our refrigerator but knocking out the wifi so we have to use our data and care so little about how other humans are being treated. We sign petitions, we protest, we voice our opinions on social media but about completely useless and meaningless things compared to this very real very large issue of slavery. But as long as we are not the ones being treated like this the truth is that the vast majority of us simply do not care. Or not enough to do anything or even say anything about it.

My guess is that very, VERY few of you check to see if the companies you support buy things from slave labor. Let me try to understand this; you don’t care to shop at places that may use slave labor and refuse to shop at a place that lets people use the restroom they self-identify? Am I right?? Do you see how ridiculous this is? Please don’t misunderstand me, I am not a fan of these businesses who are allowing anyone in either bathroom, I don’t think it is right. But I have seen so much on social media about how Christians should be boycotting these businesses. Last year I saw so much about how Christians should be boycotting Starbucks for using a red cup instead of a Christmas cup. A couple years ago I remember seeing a ton about Christians boycotting any place that says happy holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Seriously people?? How much is American Christmas related to Christ anyway? How does drinking out of a Christmas cup instead of a red cup going to win someone to Christ? How hard is it to simply not use the bathroom when you’re out?!?!?!?!

Jesus doesn’t say much about bathrooms, what needs to be on the cup we drink from, or how to greet others around Christmas time; but he does have quite a bit to say about injustice. About standing up for others. About defending widows and orphans. About coming to the rescue of those marginalized by society. About how much value each and every human life has as he created each one of us in his image. Isaiah 1:17 says, “Learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression, bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” These are not just things to post about on social media, but actions that we as Christians but actively be pursuing.

I believe this requires two things on our end; redefining of priorities and a greater degree of selflessness. We need to begin valuing human life again. Not just our life, but the lives of those forced to make your shirt, or coffee, those who can’t defend themselves, those society does not give a voice. All human life. And not just injustices where we get our feels hurt because we don’t get our way, but true injustice. We all should lay our interest and preferences aside to come to their rescue. What does it matter what kind of shirt you wear? Or where you eat? Or if you can look in your refrigerator from the store? Or even what bathroom you use? Human slavery has never been as major of an issue as it is right now! We cannot let this continue! COME ON CHURCH! STAND UP! DO SOMETHING!!!!