Unseen, unheard
We know they exist, but unless we go out of our way to find them, we may never have to face the plight of the stateless, the orphan, the slave ...
As we mentioned in a previous article, they are in many ways, "invisible" people. Generally cut off from society, they have no voice ... unless others speak for them.
The stateless person is not only "nonexistent" or "illegal" in the eyes of the government, but their precarious situation also leaves them vulnerable to abuse, trafficking, extortion, etc.
The orphan is only "existent" if they are wanted. And even then, their voice may not be heard if they are merely a means to fulfill someone's desire. However noble that desire may be, the needs and desires of the child can easily be overlooked.
The slave exists as an object exchanged for money. Their purpose is to be of service - on the streets or in the fields. They are not working to redeem their own losses but as the property of another.
Pure and undefiled religion
As Christians we're probably familiar with the verse:
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27
But what does it look like to visit orphans and widows in their affliction? If we stop to think about it, caring for orphans requires dealing with a lot of uncomfortable issues.
If we take God's Word seriously, we'll find ourselves dealing with statelessness, human trafficking or slavery, poverty and a host of related problems. In fact, we'll find that we are called on to be the voice for those who have none.
Then the King will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, saying,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
And the King will answer them,
‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:34-40
When we see those who others are blind to,
when we hear the cries of those who are voiceless,
when we sympathize with them in their distress,
will we do nothing?
If we do not lift them up,
if we do not cry out for them,
if we do not carry their burdens,
... who will?