New Evangelical Manifesto -changing the bad world

Jennifer D Crumpton shares a concern about people trafficking mainly for sex -new fashioned prostitution using the internet as a shop-window. Worse, much of it amounts to sexual slavery fuelled by threats, violence, blackmail. She outlines the horrendous and huge problem reminding us of the disgusting abuse of human beings involved and points out that it is becoming well ensconced in the USA. A truly horrifying story is told of abduction, brutalisation and sexual slavery in ordinary America. Of clients who were ordinary family men with children. The numbers of men who are paying for sex -including knowingly soliciting for it with under-age girls are disturbingly high. We should, of course, remember that the way that sexual imagery is used in everyday culture surely plays a part in 'normalising' the mentalities that underlie the behaviours. She points out that active participation in making changes for people such as those caught up in sex trafficking is what is needed from the churches. To participate in God's liberating action and right-wising reign.

This is a chapter which deserves reading more than my comment. There are some very real evils which affect and blight many; they put some of the campaigns beloved of certain Evangelical groups into perspective. I would say there is a degree of straining at gnats and swallowing camels involved; this chapter helps us to see that.

Andi Thomas Sullivan writes about people suffering from preventable diseases. So many of which are not only preventable but the cost of their prevention is pretty low. The concrete example in the chapter is that of insecticidal bed-nets which can prevent malaria. And how handing them out can give a real sense of participating in God's commonwealth. It is an inspiring story of practical help for good; how something relatively simple can be used for the good of many and the social enterprise needed to make it happen -not in a paternalistic fashion but in partnership.

These chapters are a salutary reminder that combatting evil is not just  about praying and recruiting souls to pray the sinners prayer but partnering with God in making the world a better place.