Kay Warren: Joining the Resistance

In the August 2008 edition of Christianity Today, Kay Warren tells of a Cambodian area called “The Street of the Little Flowers.”

. . . Unfortunately, the lovely street name belied the wickedness that occurs there all day, 365 days a year.  The dirt road was narrow, and only scraggly weeds and a few trees managed to survive the heat.  We saw middle-aged Western men wearing sandals, oversized sunglasses, and ball caps sitting in the shade of small bars as they swilled beer after beer.  Children were present, but they were locked behind large iron gates padlocked shut.  The adults were smiling indulgently, but it was the self-indulgent smile of a predator waiting patiently for its prey.

This was a street where child prostitutes as young as seven or eight were peddled and sold in the thriving illegal sex trade.  This was a place where depravity reigned.  It took every bit of courage I had not to turn and run away. . .

She concludes:

As Christ-followers, let’s lead the way in dismantling the brothels that cater to pedophiles, breaking down the iron doors that keep captive children enslaved, and bringing the evildoers to justice.  God expects us to fight on behalf of these little ones–the least of these–with the same fierce passion we would expend if these were our daughters, our granddaughters, our nieces, and our baby sisters.  May God grant us the courage necessary to march boldly into enemy territory and set the captives free.