Why is Slavery Wrong?

Before reading the rest of this blog answer the above question.

Believe it or not a couple students at the University of Georgia in Athens could not answer the simple question: Why is slavery wrong? In an age where truth is relative many students are not able to call anything wrong. One of the ideas that I had the opportunity to share with students is that whenever a society is within the historical context of an attrocity, vested interest clouds the issue and prohibits sound judgement. During the time of William Wilberforce the British Empire's quality of life was dependant upon slavery in the West Indies. How will we respond to the issues of our day where injustice is allowed to reign so that the powerful can maintain a certain standard of living?

Opening the Casket on Abortion

Students came out in droves last week at the University of Alabama in Auburn and at the University of Georgia in Athens. We spent the first two days in Auburn. The campus was very conservative and the students came across as apathetic to the issue of Abortion. I talked with an undergrad named Eric for over two hours. It was a refreshing conversation because of his intellectual honesty on the Abortion issue. After taking him carefully through the humanity of the Unborn and a basis for human rights he would not stray from his fear that illegal abortions would send women to the back alleys again. He did say two encouraging things. He said that he definately had a different view of the issue than he did two hours previous and he said all I needed to do to have success on the campus was to show the humanity of the unborn, something he had never considered! Another student Brian wasn't quite sure what he thought of Abortion in the case of rape. After a very lengthy conversation with him about how we are holding children responsible for the "sins of their fathers" he said he had to go. Before leaving the area he headed to the poll table where the question asked "Should abortion stay legal in the case of rape." He signed NO and walked away.

.....with persecution

Mark 10:29
Jesus said "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brother or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundred fold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

If you Build it they will come!

About 20 students flew in from around the country to volunteer with Justice for all. Churches, students, and others in the Alabama and Georgia area also partnered with us to dialogue with students. One student in Alabama looked at the signs and said to me thoughtfully "I don't see mercy up there." I thought about that for a couple days and was able to realize that the law, sometimes called the letter in the bible, kills, but grace is always administed through a person. If the JFA display was erected and everyone left for starbucks then it would be incomplete. The volunteers who show up every morning get to administer mercy to hurting students. (Pictured from left Weston, Meredith, and Antionette)

Choice?

Dave (pictured) was walking on campus at the Universtiy of Georgia in Athens on thursday when he stumbled across the JFA display. He felt compelled to share with the students during the open mic time that when he was 16 his girlfriend made the decision alone to abort their child. When she told him of her decision he was deeply ruined. His testimony of the loss of that child and his plea to his listeners to "save a life" prompted at least two young women to go up to him and tell him that he helped change their minds on abortion.

From Debate to Dialogue

Erik (pictured) when asked "Whaduyathink?" Answered "I'm a man, its a woman's issue." I quickly noted that Roe v. Wade was decided by men in the supreme court. He conceded. We then embarked on a multiple hour debate involving questions such as: Is the unborn alive, is the unborn human, and what is the basis of our rights. Erik, a philosophy major, helped steer the conversation towards God and the idea of free will. We found areas of agreement and helped each other see weaknesses in certain positions the other held. After vigorously tackling tough issues for a couple hours one of his friends came by the exhibit. Their short conversation ended with Erik asking his friend if he had been to lunch. His friend had said yes so he turned to me and said "WannaGotolunch?" I responded in the affirmative and we spent the next couple hours over lunch covering at lenght issues of philosophy, science, religion, politics, and life. At the end of lunch we exhcanged emails and Erik decided he had a productive enough day, thanked me for the conversation and skipped his remaining classes. Pray for Erik that he might come to a knowledge of the truth of God through Jesus Christ.