The Looking Away Issue

If this content resonates with you, share your thoughts in the comments below.

I have a confession to make.

I really don’t enjoy watching war shows or movies – especially World War II films.

When it comes to these moments in history, I have a hard time seeing the truth of what actually happened. It isn’t because I don’t believe these events are real or that they weren’t truly horrific; it’s because I know they were worse than how they are portrayed on television.

Personally, I’d rather not spend my free time thinking about these horrors.

I remember when my dear friend and co-worker Joy Lucuis was writing and researching her novel Priceless Pennies: Rose and Odette - Unknown Children of the Holocaust, the stories she told me about how atrociously these children and adults alike were treated would physically make my stomach hurt.

But if she didn’t tell the stories of Rose and Odette and the other children impacted by the Holocaust, who would?

That same gut-wrenching feeling returned this past weekend when my husband turned on a WWII movie. I found myself shielding my eyes so I wouldn’t watch.

Fast forward a few days.

I recently found myself in a conversation about human trafficking and online dangers – topics I am very passionate about. Before the conversation could get underway, someone in the crowd said, “I can’t read or hear about that stuff. I know it’s real, and I wish it would end, but I don’t want to think or talk about it.”

My stomach sank.

“That’s why there is still a problem!” I wanted to scream.

The problems these victims of trafficking face are very real and life-altering. And if we don’t raise awareness and draw attention to the problem, it will continue to grow.

However, just as I dislike hearing about the horrors of war, many of us are tempted to look away from troubling issues of all kinds – such as human trafficking.

Why is that, though?

In short, it is uncomfortable.

It is uncomfortable to think about past, present, or future military conflicts or wars and how these soldiers, families in these areas, and the world are impacted.
It is uncomfortable to hear about how little girls and boys are daily sold for sex.
It is uncomfortable knowing that there are children whose lives are forever changed because of gender surgeries undoing how the Lord designed them.
It’s uncomfortable to see the statistics of babies who are slaughtered by abortion each year.
It’s uncomfortable to think about the hungry and homeless families around the globe.

But is it uncomfortable enough for the church to do something about it?

Many years ago, I think that AFA founder Don Wildmon answered that question in a powerful article titled “That’s What Christians Do Now.” I encourage you to read the entire article, but one of the powerful portions of this article can be found below:

Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That’s what Christians do now.

Not long ago, Christians were the good guys. We are now depicted as the bad guys – greedy, narrow-minded hypocrites. The teacher can’t have a Bible on her desk, but can have Playboy. We don’t have Christmas and Easter holidays – just winter and spring break. We can’t pray in school, but can use foul language. It’s called being tolerant.

Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That’s what Christians do now.

Yes, all these things came to pass within 30 years. Where were the Christians? Why, they were in church. All these things are for someone else to deal with. Times have changed. Involvement has been replaced with apathy.

But don’t blame me. I didn’t do anything. I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That’s what Christians do now.

This was written in 1999.

His words still ring true.

Rather than speaking up and out about issues that affect our culture, family, homes, and world, we often prefer to look away and hope they fix themselves.

May this no longer be the case.

Instead of sitting on the sidelines, let’s be bold and brave enough to learn and share the uncomfortable truths happening around us.

Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy (Proverbs 31:8-9).

Please Note: We moderate all reader comments, usually within 24 hours of posting (longer on weekends). Please limit your comment to 300 words or less and ensure it addresses the content. Comments that contain a link (URL), an inordinate number of words in ALL CAPS, rude remarks directed at the author or other readers, or profanity/vulgarity will not be approved.