When it comes to controversial Christian sayings, there's no doubt that "Hate the sin, love the sinner" ranks high. Some use it as an excuse to justify sin, while others believe it means to look past mistakes and focus on loving the person.
I don't know the correct theological answer, but I do know that the Lord taught me I needed to love hurting people, especially the sinners.
The church teaches a lot about sin, as it should. But sometimes, church members seem to enjoy differentiating the severity of sins. For example, to some, telling a lie doesn't equate to something "terrible," such as fornication or drug addictions.
I, Too, lived with this mentality. It led to a rude awakening when the Lord began to call me to work with women in the sex industry. Like the "holy" churchwoman I was, I quickly cast judgment and defined them with the derogatory names I had heard growing up.
My opinion changed in my sophomore year of college. As I looked deeper into this dark industry and everything it entailed, I heard the Lord say, "Hannah, I love them as much as I love you. They are precious in my sight."
Just like that, everything I thought I knew went up in smoke.
These women are no different from me. They are God's creations, and they should be treated as such.
There is all too often a lack of grace regarding the sex industry when it comes to the church. Often we hear the claims "It's their choice" or "They want to do it! If they didn't, they'd leave!" In reality, that isn't the case for the large majority. The industry includes pornography, stripping, brothels, and prostitution, and many of its workers are victims of human trafficking, manipulation, and coercion.
In 2006, the International Labor Organization estimated that worldwide the industry revenue totaled $97 billion. Today, with free porn sites and television shows with excessive nudity, it is expected that the number has dropped. However, the demand for sex is growing, and people are buying.
It's estimated that there are 4.8 million people forced into sexual exploitation globally. Of that alarming number, it is believed that 99% of victims are women, and they can't break free.
Treasures (iamatreasure.com), an organization that helps minister to girls in and out of the industry, compiled a comprehensive statistic guide. Here are a few facts:
- 70% of trafficking victims are trafficked into the commercial sex industry, including porn, stripping, and legal brothels.
- 95% have a past of childhood sexual assault.
- 89% want out but have no way out.
The dark world that these women are forced to live in causes a loss of hope and purpose and replaces it with shame and regret. Traffickers will blackmail and manipulate victims to do whatever they desire. Does this sound like someone who chose to live her life in sin? Or does it sound like someone who needs the forgiving love of a Christian?
In the sex industry, women can't leave. Just as these women suffer, so do those trapped by the industry's lies. For instance, pornography has proven to re-wire minds and motives, ruin marriages, contribute to women's mistreatment, and rob children of their innocence.
The average age of porn exposure is 11, but a tenth of 12 to 13-year-olds are already addicted to the poisonous drug. Not only does porn affect our children, but it kills marriages. According to Treasures' guide, 47% of families say that pornography is a problem in their home and contributes to a higher divorce rate among couples who actively watch pornography.
As for the church, the Conquer Series offers a few insights:
- 68% of church-going men and over 50% of pastors view porn regularly. Of young Christian adults 18-24 years old, 76% actively search for porn.
- Only 13% of self-identified Christian women say they never watch porn - 87% of Christian women have watched porn.
- 57% of pastors say porn addiction is the most damaging issue in their congregation.
Treasures reports, "93% of pastors see porn as an increasing problem in the church, only 7% have any plan to deal with it."
Not only is the sex industry booming in well-known cities, but it snuck its way into church's walls … and little is being done about it. For the sake of the sinner and the victims, this must change.
Romans 5:20 says, "…Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more…"
When I read that verse, I see the picture of forgiveness and a way out of the mess we've gotten ourselves in. Grace is always the answer. It's what Jesus gives to us, and it's how we should approach anyone struggling in sin. It's easier to become legalistic but more challenging to love like Jesus.
Who is perfect other than Jesus? Shouldn't believers strive to love like Him instead of casting stones at the broken?
We must extend grace to the sex addict, prostitute, victim of human trafficking, and to the sinner. There are many ways that churches can reach out and minister to victims of the sex industry, but the first way must be to see them as His creations, rather than their sin. If that isn't accomplished, we won't get far.
In Mark 14, there is a story of a woman who spent her money to buy a jar of perfume to pour on Jesus's head. The people who were in the crowd were quick to chastise her for wasting her money. But Jesus replied, "She did what she could" (Mark 14:8 NIV).
Through her love and respect for Jesus, she worshiped Him through anointing Him with precious oil; she did what she was able.
We can all love, extend grace, and minister to the hurting, but we have to notice them first. Unfortunately, when churches chose to back down and judge based on sins, we lost an entire generation to the darkness. I pray that ours is one to stand up and bring hope to the hopeless.
“He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7 NKJV)
For more information on how churches can help those affected by the sex industry and all its facets, visit: Shared Hope International (Sharedhope.org), Treasures (iamatreasure.com), NCOSE (Endsexualexploitation.org), Covenant Eyes (Covenanteyes.com), Conquer Series (conquerseries.com).
