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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