How does the gospel inform our response to abuse?
Rachael DenHollander, survivor of sexual abuse, author, advocate, and educator walks us through the answer to that question in this beautiful speech. Some of you may already be familiar with this particular speech, but it's worth listening to again, and definitely worth sharing with friends who are new to this topic.
Here's one quote from this phenomenal speech:
“The Christian faith teaches that not only does God love, but that God is just because he loves. He pours out wrath on evil because he cares. Christ took that punishment upon himself so that those who repent and believe can experience that forgiveness. Not because forgiveness means that what they did no longer matters. Not because saying those words erases what they did. But because someone else took that Justice in their place. Either way Justice is done. Either it falls on the abuser, or Lord willing, if he repents, it falls on the redeemer. But Justice is always done, because evil is real and it matters to God, and it should matter to us. Only in the Christian faith do we have a theology where evil is never minimized or outweighed by other good things. As if the abuser can do enough good deeds to erase the harm he has done. Only in Christianity can personal vengeance be released because there is a God who cares enough to unfailingly always bring Justice.”
“Something’s Not Right” by Dr. Wade Mullen provides a worthy overview and accessible introduction to abuse. This book is an excellent read for those who are questioning relationships with people or organizations such as their place of employment or school. This book is also a valuable tool for those who are willing to advocate for victims and survivors of abuse. If you are busy or maybe not a big reader, this is a great read – the chapters aren’t long, they are easy to understand and very impactful. The information inside this short book is eye-opening and full of practical knowledge useful even for teens who will soon be entering college or the workforce. Dr. Mullen’s writing clearly explains how language and behavior can make us wonder about things being a little bit “off”. We can’t quite put our finger on what is giving us the feeling of unease - that gives evidence to the truth that abuse can be subtle and the deceiver often two steps ahead of the victim. This book is extre...
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