Modern day pirates are not new. There have been pirates and privateers for centuries. But this last week the eyes of much of the world was focused on a small life raft floating in the middle of the ocean off the coast of Somalia. In that boat were four pirates and a captured captain from a freighter. It did not end well for the pirates.
Now the ship they took hostage in the first place was carrying relief supplies to needy countries. Other African countries were to receive food, clothing, books, tools and supplies. If the pirates were capturing the ship to distribute the supplies in their own country the world may have viewed the crime in a different light. But they were only after ransom money for the already rich war lord leaders of one of the three main clans.
The country of Somalia has now trees, no electricity, no phones and little food. The price at which recruits can be steered into piracy is simply the promise of food. The young negotiator who was taken captive after the other three were shot was only sixteen.
The answer for the problem of Somalia and much of the other problems in the world today can be found in Easter and what it meant to the first century world. The hope of the future became brighter that first resurrection morning. We have lost some of that brightness. The church needs to remember the whole person, not just count soul notches on their gospel belt. Reach the whole man, body, soul and spirit. Feed them, clothe them, teach them, reach them.
What part can you play?
