Today, two things seperate things struck me about ‘prostitutes’:
1) I met a man who (after I started to tell him about Jesus), shared how he was struggling with resentment towards the ‘church’ for what he had seen:
A couple of prostitutes started attending the church he was at while young. These girls were never really accepted by the regular church goers. They were excluded while the ‘good’ kids & ‘proper’ people kept to themselves – hung out in their own clicks. Eventually after a few weeks, these two women left the church.
He shared that a while later one of the women was found dead in the street with a needle in her arm. The other woman had gone back to her profession.
It reminded me of many times I have taken people I had just met to different churches and I have seen similar things play out. They are not as neat or trendy or don’t have nice clothes etc and are looked down on, or worse, ignored. People, supposedly full of God’s love, don’t even think they are worth talking to. It really reflects badly on Jesus and is *far* from how He wants us to act:
“For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?” James 2:2-4 (NLT)
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
This is especially important for people who are wounded, depressed, abused, hurting etc. Christians have a duty to show *love* and be selfless vent if they are not comfortable doing so.
2) Later on, I was watching a police show where people were being arrested for drug use, car theft, drug dealing and similar.
While investigating and arresting people, the police questions were all the same:
“Have you been (insert criminal activity here) tonight?”
Stealing, fighting, using drugs, speeding, drinking etc. the list is long but the phrasing the same …except for one group: prostitutes.
With the prostitutes, it was not a question of *what* they had been doing, but *who* they were.
“Are you a prostitute?”
It wasn’t just a wrong action they were being asked about, but it was their actual identity in question. Their worth or value was being questioned.
How demoralising! These women, often living in incredibly difficult and painful situations, in desperation have turned to their last resort in order to survive (or provide for their children / feed a habit). They have already been used and abused. They have been treated as objects and wise. They have their own condemning thoughts and beliefs… the LAST thing they need is to be labelled.
They are not ‘prostitutes’, but are valuable, precious humans with a history and hurts. Just like you and me.
They have likes and dislikes. Just like you and me.
They are daughters, sisters and (some) are mothers too. Just like you and me.
They are people who have made mistakes. Just like you and me.
They are people who God loves so much He sent His Son to die for those mistakes. Just like you and me.
No matter who you are or what mistakes you have made or bad things you have done – you are not defined by your history or mistakes or family or friends. You have intrinsic worth, you are valuable, because you are made in the image of God.
The majestic God who created everything, He created you in His image. He formed you to be the person you are – your hair, skin and eye colour, your build and your personality – He loves them all. He has seen what you have gone through and has protected you, wept with you and longed for you to know Him.
He knows the sin you have chosen to revel in, yet He does not want you to suffer and go to hell for said choices. He sent His Son to die for you so that you could be forgiven. Please let that sink in, He calls you to turn away from your sin & turn to Him. To trust Him and live with Him in His kingdom forever.
In return? He offers freedom, transformation & life – freedom from the ondage of sin / addiction, a transformed identity from x, y or prostitute into son of God and a life that will never end.
#thankYouJesus