Monday, October 13, 2014
And cast lots for my people, and traded boys for prostitutes, and sold girls for wine, and drunk it down. Joel 3:3 NRSV
One evening while reading the statistics that 300,000 children are kidnapped and forced into sex trafficking each year (U.S. Department of Justice), my mind wandered to the creation of the Ten Commandments.
How different history would have been if the commandments had forbidden war, slavery, exploitation of workers, and abuse and cruelty to children.
What would it be like if the fifth commandment provided an exemption for abuse and neglect? Honor thy father and thy mother, unless they are abusing or neglecting you.
Although we should never second guess the Ten Commandments, written by God’s love, we are born with human frailties.
Gracious God, forgive us if we blame you for allowing bad things to happen. Our pain is great, but yours is greater, feeling the pain in the world you created. Amen.
Ruth Patterson
Nursery Director
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Omaha, Nebraska
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