Sexual abuse … molestation … sodomy … rape, ugly words that weigh so heavy with just the thought. But let’ s stop and sever the ugly attached to it, and ponder the actual heaviness that the survivors bear – the ones left victim to these heinous acts of sin.
We, as the body of Christ, need to face this issue, realize the severity and embrace the violated left with the aftermath. The victims who cannot escape what replays over and over again in their minds.
Envision your church sanctuary filled to capacity. Amongst the congregation, the statistics are sitting anywhere from the front to the back and side to side. It’ s unimaginable to think that, as many as one out of three females, and one out of five males have been victims of some sort of sexual abuse before they reached the age of 18; and those are just the reported cases. Yes, it’ s staggering. And sadly, the statistics for males are more than likely much higher, but left undocumented due to the heightened dread of embarrassment.
Underneath their dressed-up, Sunday-morning appearances, they hide their raw, secret wounds – sometimes muddled with their confusion of selfworth and value. Some have cried out, some have not, and some can’ t. Some have blocked it, and some are stuck in denial. Worse yet, some have yet to be believed. And sadly, some may be experiencing it as you read this article. Awareness is imperative, and it can contribute to prevention of those who might fall victim to abuse in the future.
Hebrews 13:1-3“ Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”
The subject of sexual abuse has been silenced, but survivors continue to scream inside. The stigma of hushing it seems to have taken precedence. Why? Is it to protect the few who might be offended at the mention of it? Is it because the act itself comes to mind, implying that it’ s too dirty of a subject to face? My own parents lived a similar view; and therefore, they didn’ t believe me when I told them about the decade of sexual abuse I suffered at the hands of my scout leader. It goes without saying why I never sought help from them while being enslaved in my nightmare. Please don’ t let the topic of sexual abuse be as forbidden as it was for me.
Fortunately, my parents were avid church-goers, which allowed me the opportunity to build a relationship with Christ from a very young age. Thankfully, I had my faith to soothe my spiritual and inner emotions, comforting my hurting heart. But, unfortunately, my mind remained bound and gagged.
I was 40 years old before I realized the magnitude of what really happened to me. And that only came when my brother Matt was bold enough to open my eyes and speak out against the man who abused him the same way he did me. To this day, I doubt I would have come forward if it were not for my brother. Let us as brothers and sisters in Christ act with the same boldness that my brother Matt did. For that I will be forever grateful.
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