Topic: Commercial Sex Exploitation
Location: Oceanside Lutheran Church
Reading: Genesis 34: 1-31
Gospel: Matthew 19: 1-12
Let's talk about sex. Better yet, let's talk about sex work. Commercial Sex Exploitation (CSE) is almost like an umbrella term at this point which looks very differently in context. We see this as sex trafficking, prostitution, child slaves, survival sex, and even pornography. Even though CSE is something that affects millions of people both domestically and internationally, we fail to acknowledge it in our congregations. Rather, we prefer to take a conservative approach to sex and focus on morality, purity, and respectability politics. The church will shame a girl for wearing a skirt over their knees before shaming the relative who can't keep their hands to themselves. Why do we preach on divorce but not rape? Often times topics about human trafficking or presented as distant experiences uncommon in the United States but we have one of the largest populations of people being exploited in the world.
I was offered a variety of topics to preach about at OLC. I chose CSE because sex is so private yet so public and even more, so church. We play a role in how we enable rape culture as well as modesty culture. We are so silent towards sexual violence and yet we are so vocal about what is unacceptable in our pews. If we permit asking women to leave service because her skirt shapes her body, we are then speaking for who God allows in the Kin-dom. If she is not welcomed in the Kin-dom, then our silence towards the Hell she may face on earth speaks volumes.
There are many factors that play into the world of Commercial Sex Exploitation; gender, race, age, and economics. I challenge us to look at how we teach sexuality and worth and question whether it reinforces or dismantles this ugly global market. What are we doing to enhance the quality of life for our neighbors?
Amen. #ReclaimMissionary
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