Two island cuties. |
"And after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.' You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods." - Deuteronomy 12:30-31
You would think what the Israelites faced in their day, like in the above verses, would be "ancient history," yet mankind continues to practice and expand on its perverse and twisted pursuit of everything anti-Jehovah God.
When I came to Uganda I thought such horrible acts like child sacrifice were "ancient history," but they certainly are not. In fact, according to news articles published earlier this year, the deplorable practice carried out by witch doctors is actually on the rise in Uganda. In pursuing fertility, wealth, power and success, people seek out witch doctors, who ask a costly price as they claim the spirits demand the "sacrifice" of human life and blood.
The Ugandan government has taken action, forming a National Action Plan and passing a bill to regulate the "healers," i.e. witch doctors. But, is that enough? As long as the everyday citizen sees this as "culturally acceptable" and not "morally wrong," the practice persists.
"Binoga warned child sacrifice will be difficult to stamp out because 'as long as people have such a belief, that practice will continue'...furious activists say the senseless killings will continue because they are fueled by greed, not tradition." (emphasis mine)
(Source: Please be advised this news article does contain graphic photos and descriptions.)
(Source: Please be advised this news article does contain graphic photos and descriptions.)
With the upcoming 2016 Ugandan elections, it is expected the "superstitious elite" will look for more means of witchcraft to guarantee success. Yes, as long as people continue to engage in witchcraft, such atrocities will continue.
Like me, you shake your head at such an abomination.
But it's happening in America, too; yes, I mean child sacrifice.
Rather than hundreds of Ugandan children being sacrificed on the altars of superstition and greed, we are sacrificing millions of Americans on the altars of choice, convenience, pride, and selfishness.
When I learned Planned Parenthood was caught red-handed for selling aborted babies, I thought of only one applicable term: child sacrifice.
We condemn the African practice because it is animistic, primeval, barbarous. Yet, when it is being carried out in sterile clinics by medical professionals, the crudeness is softened and the atrocity lessened. Is that true?
What is my point? I would say that 99.99% of all Americans would raise an outcry at child sacrifice in Africa, but when it comes to abortion and making a profit off it, we revert to discussions about "choice" and a "woman's rights."
Evil is evil no matter the cloak it wears or the rhetoric it utters.
We live in a fallen world. The longer I live the more I am assaulted by that reality.
So, how are the children of light, of God to respond when surrounded by such evil and darkness?
Earlier in the Deuteronomy passage, God instructed His people:
"Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord your God." - Deuteronomy 12:28
Be careful, obey God's Word, do what is good and right. What does that look like for you and I? It requires action and not passivity, boldness and not fear, articulate speech and not meek silence.
"If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not He who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not He who guards your life know it?
Will He not repay everyone according to what they have done?" - Proverbs 24:10-12
P.S. There are numerous ways to take a "stand" against Planned Parenthood - write the companies funding them, write your representative about the government de-funding them, keep talking about it and don't let these egregious acts fade into memory unanswered
To take a stand against child sacrifice in Uganda, sign a petition here.