Greetings in Christ,

What is abuse? How does abuse affect marriage? How does abuse affect your relationship with God? What does the Bible have to say about abuse?  In this message I want to speak specifically to people who are going through abuse or have gone through abuse. My hope is that you would know what Christ thinks of abuse, and with that knowledge you can find healing from the effects of abuse through Him.

God created humans in His image. He created them to know Him and to serve Him. Sodom and Gomorrah was judged not only because of its sexual sin but because it allowed social injustice to pervade its streets and corridors. Throughout the Bible we people being abused. The Israelites were oppressed by the Egyptians. Daniel was persecuted by the Babylonians throughout much of his life. The story of the Bible is that God will vindicate the righteous and judge the wicked. The Lord does not approve of sin because He is holy. The Lord does not approve of abuse because He created us in His image. Abuse is a byproduct of man’s sinful nature.

What is abuse? Abuse is defined as verbal, physical, sexual or mental. These definitions of abuse fail at a fundamental level because they merely serve as a band-aid for the actions of abuse but do not get down into the core of what abuse is. Abuse is anything that violates a person. This can include verbal, mental, physical, sexual abuse but the problem of abuse itself still runs deeper than the effects of abuse. If I were to use graphic language with a friend this would be verbal abuse. If I were to punch them in the nose then I would be physically abusing them. Abuse is any action or word that violates their space or causes them to be or feel violated. Abuse is hurtful and leaves scars not only on the outside but on the inside.

The root cause of abuse is sin. Our natural default is to turn away from God, His Word and His Son. Left to our own devices we will abuse our significant other, family and friends. We may not intend to be so inclined towards abuse, because most people tend to view themselves as good people. The problem is that we are not good and are motivated by our self-interest, self-ambition, and self-righteousness.  Our sin nature holds us in a tentacle like grip and distorts not only our perception of reality but also our ability to know Truth. The cancer of sin can only cease by coming to Jesus Christ for healing and deliverance. Jesus Christ can heal the abuser from abusing others. Only Jesus Christ can help rebuild the marriage that has been torn apart by abuse.

Abuse hurts every relationship you care about. Abuse hurts you and your relationship with God. Abuse affects the victim’s perception of the abuser. Experiencing abuse can be harmful to any relationship, and depending on the severity of the abuse situation it can also require a lot of counseling. The only way for both parties to experience healing is through Jesus Christ. Christ can heal the brokenness that comes from abuse, and only He can forgive you of sin. Will you come to Him for healing? Will you come to Him for deliverance? Will you come to Him for forgiveness? Only Christ can take a person enslaved to sin and set them free. His offer is freedom, forgiveness, and healing from abuse so that you can know Him and serve Him.

In Christ Alone,

Pastor Dave