Breaking the Curse

We don't have to be taught to sin - it is something that comes naturally, but we have access to the supernatural power of God. Romans 3 states:
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...

The source of sin is our own heart, but there are certainly influencers along the way, including parents and others who intentionally or unintentionally cultivate and reinforce that propensity for sin. But, Jesus has come to offer the solution for sin.  Even sinful patterns that have been passed down in families for multiple generations can be broken by the power of God.  We are each responsible for our own sin, ultimately, and Christ has come so that we might be forgiven and victorious.

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As Moses unveiled what we know as the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, we find a principle that is included as a corollary to the second commandment involving sinful behavior that is passed down from generation to generation and the mercy of God that is available:
4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Vanessa was raised to go into the family business.  Unfortunately, that business was not something to be proud of.  The Faithwire website featured her first-person testimony recently.  She writes:

Sexual exploitation was just a normal thing in my family — and we never talked about it. Seeing my mom invite men into our home, whether that was a hotel or an apartment, became something so common I didn’t even question it. But I knew it was something I wasn’t permitted to share at school or with friends.

At the time, the term, "sex trafficking" was not used, but that's essentially what her mother was involved in. She relates that:

Generational abuse had roots in my family line. My mom, without even realizing it, was grooming me to follow in her footsteps. The subtle messages began when I was about 12-13 years old, regarding how I dressed, how I viewed the purpose of men, and how to get what I needed in order to survive.

She went to live with her aunt and uncle, who were in the ministry. But, the foster care system kept placing her back with her mom.  Finally, the revolving door was shut and she went to live with her aunt and uncle. She says, "I know the cycle would have been repeated in my life had they not intervened."

Vanessa Morris serves as the Communications Director of The Foundation United, which is described as "a global umbrella organization scaling best practices to fight sex trafficking and abuse, and a ministry partner of Free with E."  That is an organization headed by Elizabeth Melendez Fisher Good, who is also Founder and CEO of The Foundation United.  The Free with E website says that Elizabeth "...challenges individuals to step out of the lies and shame of their past and embrace true freedom which comes from vulnerability, transparency and living with Jesus."

Now, Vanessa Morris, out of the background of being the daughter of a woman who participated in human trafficking, is intent on breaking the cycle for others.  In the Faithwire piece, Vanessa says:

If we can equip people and systems to recognize and address the issue, whether it be law enforcement, healthcare, education, the church, then sex trafficking won’t continue to be generational. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way since my mother first became a victim. There is more awareness today and far more resources to educate and empower those who want to help eradicate this issue. The Foundation United, for example, offers a variety of training programs through partners like Operation Underground Railroad and Global Strategic Operatives. Free with E provides “REAL Talk” for churches, equipping adults and children alike to recognize warning signs and put protective boundaries in place.

Morris contends that during her mother's generation, "no one was equipped to address the topic."  She says that her mother, who died at age 51, eventually did escape the dark world of human trafficking, but did not escape the pain that was brought about by her involvement.  Vanessa says:

I’m now able to use our story as a catalyst for change, doing my part to raise awareness of the realities of sex trafficking. If we can learn how to talk about these difficult subjects and have important conversations with our children, we can save future generations from this devastating cycle and bring freedom and healing to those who are hurting.

There are a number of concepts we can consider today:

One is that human trafficking is a very real threat to our communities.  And, in the past, I have talked to people who are actively involved in rescuing the women and even men, as well as children who are trapped in this scheme.  There is also an effort to identify those who are on the demand side, who are requesting and paying for illicit activities.  Law enforcement can also be effective in prosecuting these who are perpetrating this criminal activity. 

While there are ministries that are specifically equipped to do work against human trafficking, churches can play a key role in educating parents and children on the threats and show them how to take real preventive action.

I also think it's important to think about the generational aspect of sin.  Vanessa's mother raised her in that atmosphere and she could very easily have been caught up in that world, except for the intervention of relatives.  While the Bible does teach that everyone is responsible for his or her sin, parents are certainly capable of passing their own sinful patterns of behavior on to their children.  And, when even Christian believers are struggling with indwelling sin that resembles what their parents have done, it's important to identify and break that curse.  Parents have to be so careful to model a life of holiness and not demonstrate or encourage sinful behavior in their kids.