Cedarville Magazine Spring 2020

CHAPEL NOTES FOUR RESPONSES TO THE PROBLEM OF ABUSE The following is an excerpt from a September 9, 2020, chapel presentation from Chris Moles. Listen to his full message at cedarville.edu/chapel . About 15 years ago, I was invited to be part of a process of healing and hope that I didn't even know existed — the issue of domestic violence. I want to talk about four responses to the problem of abuse and how you as Christian leaders can be part of that response. We can be part of this because that's what the Gospel calls us to. In Philippians, chapter two, after Paul has been talking to the church about being like Jesus, he says, “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Phil. 2:15–16a). One in three to one in four women are experiencing violence at the hands of an intimate partner. One in three women are sexually assaulted. We h a v e n ' t h e l d a b u s e r s accountable. We've looked the other way. Here are four things that I think you and I can do to make this world and our churches safer places. First, when we find ourselves in a position of power or privilege, that we serve well. Yet how many stories have we heard of political leaders, pastors, and ministry leaders using their position for their own good? The first problem that anybody experiences in abuse is that someone in power abuses it. They don't serve; they're entitled. You'll be leaders in your churches, in your home, in your workplace. And as people of Jesus, you're called to serve your people, not take advantage of them. Second, we've got to value others. It's too easy to turn people into objects, whether it be sexual objects or objects of financial gain or people to step over or to step on. Paul said in that same passage to the Philippian church, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves” (Phil. 2:3). In abusive situations, the target is always dehumanized. Future pastors, if you come across any case of abuse or neglect, don't fall victim to colluding with the abuser that the victim somehow deserved it. The number one cause of rape is rapists, and the number one cause of abuse is abusers. People are responsible for their actions. Number three, be a person who empowers others as opposed to oppressing others. It’s still about discipleship. It's about making others better. It's about giving others opportunities. It's about pointing people to Jesus. Finally, we should accept and embrace accountability. Abusers don't like accountability, but it's necessary. Because the converse, the antithesis, is deadly, and that's impunity. That abuse goes hidden, unknown, and unconfronted. We should, as Christian leaders, welcome hard conversations. But we need to keep the main thing, the main thing, and that's restoring people to Jesus Christ. Chris Moles is a certified counselor with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, as well as a certified batterer intervention group facilitator. He is also pastor of Grace Community Chapel in Eleanor, West Virginia. As people of Jesus, you're called to serve your people, not take advantage of them. Cedarville Magazine | 29