Sad and Scared by lilgoldwmn at freeimages.com
When was the last time you heard a sermon on sexual abuse? We preach against illicit sexual activity, but what about our concern for the victims of abuse? Yet 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys are victims of child sexual abuse.¹ Some even suggest a higher number.
Jesus quoted from Isaiah when he said, “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.”² Sexual abuse is so bad because it not only affects the body, but also wounds the spirit and breaks the heart. It produces guilt, shame, and hurt. It distorts the image of a loving God. It creates an inappropriate self-image and makes future relationships more difficult.
What can the church do?
- Discuss the subject! Just because we don’t talk about it doesn’t mean it is not there. Our pulpits should have lessons on the subject. Use the text of Amnon and Tamar or Lot and his family. We should discuss the subject in teen and adult classes. We need to talk about it in our homes especially warning our children.
- Help the abused. Whether the abused is a rape victim, young child, or an adult, the church must have a heart for the abused. We must help the abused person to place the blame where it belongs–on the abuser! They must learn to take responsibility to control their response to the abuse. Often child sexual abuse manifests itself in adults’ lives years laters and hinders their well-beiing, happiness, and relationships. The church should be there to provide love, counsel, and support for the abused. We need to support childrens’ homes and brotherhood ministries that work with this great need.
- Don’t treat the abused as lepers. When Christians are friends to the abused, they don’t treat them differently or like they in someway brought the abuse on themselves. We should treat them with love and respect. They need understanding and support. We need to come along side them in their pain and walk with them in Christ. Sometimes all they need is your presence, attention, and a hug.
- Create a safe environment for people to seek help. It is believed that much sexual abuse is never reported. Often the reason people don’t share sexual abuse is because it accuses someone who in many cases is a “good” person or even a relative. We need to provide avenues for people to be able to privately speak to church members. Leaders need to be approachable in their demeanor. Youth ministers and Bible class teachers need to reassure the kids of their love and concern. In order to provide this safe environment there must be humility, openness, trust, and a dependence upon the grace of God.
- Recognize that all members have a role in exposing darkness. This is not just a ministry for the preacher or the elders, but one for all all church members. All members can share the love of Jesus with the hurting around them. Every member can be courageous and speak out when there is a need. Church members that have experienced abuse, can not only find help for their hurts, but offer help and strength to others.
What suggestions would you add?
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¹ http://www.victimsofcrime.org/media/reporting-on-child-sexual-abuse/child-sexual-abuse-statistics
² Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18-19
The idea for this post and many of the thoughts came from a lecture by Ed Lee at Polishing the Pulpit 2014.
