Responding to sexual abuse in churches
Over the last decade we have seen a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in churches. These investigations have exposed lasting devastation to the victims and their families.
There seems to be new and upsetting revelations of apparently trustworthy Christian people every few months. We need to know what to say, both to those who have suffered and onlooker's grief and rage at churches and personages. Here are 6 tips on how to discuss the legitimate distress and mistrust created by child sexual abuse in churches, past and present.
1. Say sorry.
Like it or not, if you are a Christian you are a representative of Christ and his people (2 Cor. 5:20). It’s therefore good to say sorry and show your own genuine hurt and disgust for tragedies that arise in the media.
2. Admit Christians are still sinful, everyone is (1 John 1:8).
Those who follow Jesus are offered forgiveness and their lives are in a process of being cleaned up, but this won’t be complete until Jesus returns. This makes for a messy world sometimes.
3. God loves justice (Ps. 45:6, 50:6).
In fact God is the perfect judge who can weigh up all the facts because nothing can be hidden from him. Therefore it is right to bring perpetrators to justice and for the sake of the victims. God himself will bring ultimate justice at the end, and it will account for everything.
4. Jesus says that there will be wolves in sheep’s clothing (people who pretend to be God’s followers but aren’t, Matt. 7:15-16). This is not to excuse those who have abused the vulnerable in church settings as "not one of us". The wolves are generally those we assumed were good shepherds and turned out to be feeding on the sheep, instead of caring for them. Churches as well as other institutions with children are known to be targeted by paedophiles
5. Jesus gives a strong warning for those who might lead children away from God (Matt 18:5-7).
It’s better for them to be drowned with a large stone around their necks. Jesus told the disciples not to hinder little children coming to him. The judgement for those who abuse a child's trust in the name of God is commensurate with the damage they have inflicted.
6. Don’t give up on the Christian Church.
Yes it’s full of people who aren’t perfect. Sometimes they stuff up, sometimes evil people come in to take advantage of people. But overall throughout history the overwhelming evidence points to the Church making a significant impact for the good of society. It’s a community that wants others to know a loving, generous, forgiving and just God. E.g.: Hospitals, Schools, charities, abolition of slaves have all been championed by Christians.
7. Don’t give up on Jesus just because of the failings of his followers.
It’s always good to end up saying this. Do you think God/Jesus promotes these wrong actions? The person to follow is Jesus not a person in the church. It begs the question: do you know Jesus very well?
