In his Easter message, Rev Dr Ross Clifford, president of the Baptist Union of Australia, says Jesus’ sacrifice compels us to help break the chains of others...
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.
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.”
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
