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6th
April, 2007
REV
DR ROSS CLIFFORD
We are all
familiar with the purchase and consumption of hot cross buns
and chocolate eggs, but the greatest Easter tradition is to
reflect on the selfless sacrifice of Jesus for our freedom.
The death and resurrection of Jesus offers new life, hope
and freedom for people everywhere.
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PICTURE:
Sam Bloomfield (www.sxc.hu)
"When
Jesus frees us from our spiritual bonds, He empowers
us to share the good news of freedom with others,
and to help break all the chains that bind them."
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This year is the
200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain,
the culmination of a long campaign of Christian social justice
by William Wilberforce.
Twenty-one years earlier, Governor Arthur Phillip, launching
his vision for the new colony of New South Wales, declared
that “there can be no slavery in a free land, and consequently
no slaves.”
We give thanks to God for a slavery-free Australia, and for
the end of institutional injustice elsewhere that degraded
the bodies and crushed the spirits of so many innocent persons.
But the moral blight of slavery continues in other forms.
Modern slavery is a booming international trade with up to
27 million victims worldwide.
Human trafficking is the third largest source of income for
organised crime, exceeded only by arms and drug trafficking,
in a market valued at $32 billion.
Men, women and children are trafficked into prostitution,
forced labour, military service, domestic service, forced
adoption and forced marriage.
Consumers should avoid purchasing goods and services produced
by slave labour such as chocolate made with coca from parts
of West Africa, and some carpets, rugs and restaurant foods.
In addition, in subtle ways, many who appear free are slaves
to legalism, consumerism, unjust employment regimes, and practices
that accelerate climate change.
I call on the federal government to step up efforts to end
human trafficking in our region, and to support anti-slavery
campaigns by Christian human rights and aid agencies such
as World Vision.
When Jesus frees us from our spiritual bonds, He empowers
us to share the good news of freedom with others, and to help
break all the chains that bind them.
The Easter story profoundly and symbolically proclaims freedom
from everything that holds us back from fulfilling our purpose
and destiny.
At Easter, Baptists throughout Australia reflect on the great
Gospel story of freedom from slavery to sin, and find spiritual
renewal for the journey ahead.
This Easter, two hundred years after the abolition of slavery,
let us celebrate the victory achieved through the cross and
empty tomb of Jesus.
Let us commit ourselves to action that abolishes slavery to
sin and frees people everywhere to enjoy the liberty of a
vibrant relationship with the risen Jesus.
And let us commit ourselves to action that opposes social
injustice and encourages people everywhere to adopt values
and principles that honour the risen Jesus.
Rev Dr Ross
Clifford is the president of the Baptist Union of Australia.
Sources:
~
www.stopthetraffik.org.au
~ www.universalrights.net/news/display.php?id=2310
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