New Age Slavery!

 

There are many movies portraying slave trade, especially stories of black people experiencing unimaginable ordeal during a particular time in history. In this grim period, President Abraham Lincoln played a pivotal role in abolishing slavery in America. The movie ‘Emancipation’ is one such movie which gives a good portrayal of the slave trade. We learn that President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the nation approached its third year of bloody civil war. The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free.". Abraham Lincoln's position on slavery in the United States is one of the most discussed aspects of his life. Lincoln frequently expressed his moral opposition to slavery in public and private. "I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.".

However, though centuries have passed there is still slavery rampant but in new forms. Some of the modern forms of slavery are:

• Human trafficking. 
• Forced labour. 
• Debt bondage/bonded labour. 
• Descent–based slavery (where people are born into slavery). 
• Child slavery. 
• Forced and early marriage. 
• Sex slavery
• Forced begging.

The above are recognized and brought to control, thanks to the governmental and non-governmental organizations that relentlessly work hard in curbing the perpetrators and rescuing the vulnerable and the oppressed.

There is also a form of slavery where people are enticed with false promises of freedom and adventure. Some fall for these promises to fulfil their selfish desires only to later realize that they are in bondage for life, in most cases. Addiction to smart phone has become a common form of bondage with gambling, online games, pornography being some of the baits that we bite on. A casual visit to these sites traps us into slow deterioration. The need for self -gratification makes you a modern slave.

Somebody once said: ‘Opportunity may knock only once, but “Temptation’ leans on the doorbell.’ Temptation by itself is not a sin. Rather it is a call to battle. The devil works on our selfish desires. The Bible says, “each of you is tempted, when by your own evil desire, you are dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown gives birth to death’. Alcoholism is one such addiction where you start off as a social drinker, only to be pulled in and the habit goes out of hand.

As one of the writers in Bible refers this state beautifully. “For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate… For I know nothing good lives in me, that is in my flesh. For the desire to do good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.”. If you are able to relate to this state of affairs, then you need help from a Saviour, Christ Jesus who can deliver you from the clutches of sin, guilt and bondage. Stop justifying your inability to say ‘no’ to sin. It will cost your soul and lose eternity forever. If you confess your sin and ask for forgiveness from all your wrongdoings, then you will have the power to live with true freedom.

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_and_slavery

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How easy is it to say ‘no’?

 

It is easy to give advises, give motivational talks, quote books and refer to spiritual literatures that emphasises people to say ‘no’ to the wrong things and ‘yes’ to the right things. We have our favourite religious gurus, authors and great icons whose favourite lines we quote on this issue. But is it really that easy to say “no” to something that’s enticing, when deep down we know its wrong. That’s the power of sin.

The feeling of guilt for having done wrong is universal regardless of being a child, youth or adult. We make promises and commitments only to miserably fail and fall into the same trap again. Every temptation is sweet coated with desire, which takes an individual captive, even the strong ones. Strong principles and habits alone may not be enough to say no to things which are bad. The dirty and unholy are usually camouflaged in an attractive package as though it is clean and pure. A clean and pure heart can only choose which is good even without a drop of evil in it. Devoid of the same, one gets sucked in self-deception.

Diane Langberg puts this beautifully, ‘Self-deception functions as a narcotic, numbing us to the damage of danger of our choices. If we engage in such self-delusion long enough, we will, over time, lose our taste for the good and our power to loathe evil. Once we begin removing our taste for good and our power to hate evil, we habituate that which causes death. As deception becomes a way of life, evil can be easily practiced by an increasingly dead soul that then becomes presumptuous, planning and actively participating evil.’.

How sensitive is your conscience’s taste buds? Is it still distinguishing between right and wrong? If you are still struggling to say ‘no’ to that which is dragging you down, then it is time to do a soul search. King David in the Bible who wrote a book called Psalms registers in one of his prayers, ‘search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concern. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.”.  The Bible addresses the problem of human heart and demands us to confess our failures and say no to sin. True confession will lead you to stay holy with the power to say ‘no’ to all that is sinful in nature. The Bible says, God doesn’t hear sinners. Your rituals and religiosity don’t matter to God. Your heart needs to be set right to make space for the living Saviour. Would you like to make a commitment to follow Jesus as Saviour and Lord of your life?

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Rewards that turns to Legacy!

 

There are umpteen case studies and news reports that would vouch for the fact that parents overlooked the signs of rebelliousness in children that they end up as rapists, murderers, paedophiles, etc. The common thread that runs through all their stories is that either morality was totally absent, or it's manipulated. Theodore Roosevelt once said, "To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society".

I would like to quote an excerpt from research made from Minesota Crime Commission long years back, "Every baby starts life as a little savage. He is completely selfish and self-centred; he wants what he wants. When he wants his bottle, his mother's attention, his playmates toys his uncle’s watch. Deny him these with ones, and he seeds the rage of aggressiveness which could be murderous where he not so helpless, he is dirty. He has no morals no knowledge, no developed skills and this means that all children are born with delinquent and if permitted to continue in their self-impulsive actions to satisfy each want, every child will grow up a criminal, a killer a Rapist." How are we going to be a role model in building our children right?

Morality, to choose between right and wrong has become a casualty in recent times. It has become relative, and that means we decide right and wrong based on how we want it, because as adults we find it convenient. By doing this we have placed our children in danger at arm length. Even if as parents we do lead a moral, God-fearing life, the world out there is so evil, that it has the power to groom our children to be immoral. It has blurred the lines between right and wrong.

As parents we have been placed with a great responsibility on our shoulders to teach our children to pursue and persevere God's way. The benchmark of morality is God and His word alone. Anything other than God becomes relative. The Bible says, "Every word of God is tested and refined [like silver]; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him." The more we encourage our children to read His word they are sure to gain God's wisdom, guidance, and protection. The word will also help us parents to develop these precious gifts to be responsible adults, eventually fulfilling God's purpose in their life. Live an exemplary life your child can follow. A friend and a mentor but most importantly making them experience the true salvation Christ offered that can transform from inside out. And that means leading a child or an individual to repent and confess all failures to Him who has the power to cleanse from all sins and unrighteousness and transform to be a new person in Christ.

 

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Entitlement that we deserve!

 

Entitlement is a sense of privilege and that we deserve better. We want our entitlement to expand in scope until all our selfish desires are fulfilled. Secretly in our hearts many of us want life to be a resort. A resort is a place where you are the one who is served. Your needs come first and want to do when you want to do it. The only demands you deal in a resort stay are the demands you put on yourself. You live with a sense of entitlement. You’ve paid for the services, and you have the right to expect certain things.

As humans we debate on the right to quiet harmony, peace and respect and respond aggressively when these are denied. Scripture warns us that life is far from being a resort. Life is a battlefield. The Bible says, that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities against powers, against the rules of the darkness of the world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”. This plays out in full form during adolescence. There is a war being fought on the turf of your heart to get your soul. The tumult of chaos, and unrest are not only the result of biological changes but also because of a dramatic spiritual war going on as well.

Amber Newman in her article “A look At The Idol of Comfort” states this beautifully, “we are in between fallen and fully restored. We are no longer bound by chains to our sinful nature but rather freed to live a life of power and self-control. But in those moments where our humanity strikes, because it will, it’s easy to think, “how could I cave it again?!”. It’s then we have to ask ourselves, whom are we truly serving? Too often for me it’s comfort. Denying myself is uncomfortable. The desire of my flesh often rip over me down and I’m left flailing under water, forgetting all I need to do is stand.”.

Life will continue to be difficult and challenging. If you think you are entitled to things, you are not far from disappointment. The Bible states that life is like a vapour. You need God’s grace and blessing. If you are disappointed over denied opportunities, and fighting to survive, don’t give up. You are not alone in this journey. We have Jesus Christ, the resurrected saviour who conquered death to help us. Comfort is not in the created nor is it in the untroubled life. True comfort is found in God’s steadfast love. In knowing He is both supreme and sufficient in all things. It’s found in the hope Jesus’ sacrifice and life gives us. It’s found in the very spirit of the living God that resides in our being. If you believe and accept Him as savior and Lord of your life, you will live with perfect security and peace that surpasses all understanding.

 

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