The liberating gospel of Jesus Christ addresses the human condition in every age. Lutherans are not stuck in the 16th century. Our theology, which emphasizes the liberating grace of God, is for today.
So, we declare that human beings are not for sale. In some countries, foreign workers labor under appalling conditions. We ask: is slavery really over? Or did it find other, more subtle ways to continue the unacceptable practice of exploiting work forces, children and women? For hundreds of thousands of people, human trafficking continues to be a nightmare that stands in stark contrast to God’s liberating love.
For we also know that God’s love for us, which has been made real through the life, death on the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, offers values which affirm that human beings, their rights and dignity, are not commodities to be to be traded on the open market. They are not for sale.
As we mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation, when Luther highlighted God’s gracious love for us as key to our salvation, we dare to proclaim that human beings are not for sale.