Sexual Assault

[Gregory Matthews]

What  Sexual Assault Victims Want You to Know:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2017/april/ten-things-sexual-assault-victims-want-you-to-know.html?utm_source=ctweekly-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=16245031&utm_content=505458673&utm_campaign=email

[aka]

Please excuse me for my earthly ignorance, but I was horrified at reading those confessions. Though I grew up in a violent alcoholic ruled home, I thank God I never experience any sex abuse. The only relief I get when thinking about the article is knowing that many have been healed emotionally when committing their souls to God through Jesus Christ.  

(Father God, please send Jesus soon to this planet)

[Gregory Matthews]

The article is not pretty.  I have posted it because I believe it makes a contribution to a knowledge of the reality of what it is about.

Professionally I have worked with both the victims and with those who have abused.  I continue to be stunned by the thinking of the abusers, especially those who blame the child (often less than 9 years old) as being at fault.  "She [a 4 YO child] was naked, what did you expect me to do?"  As said by a graduate engineer.

A hard reality is that this exists within the SDA Church:

*  It may be in the person of the abuser who has just been released from prison and begins to attend SDA services.  In this case the church has a clear obligation to take steps to protect others who attend.

*  It may be in the actions of the clergy person who becomes involved with a congregational member.  In my thinking, such should be charged with rape, but seldom can this be done.

*  It may be in the person of the local Elder who becomes involved with the person receiving Bible studies.

Professionally I have related to people in all of the above and more.

In my thinking, one of the early steps in dealing with such  is a willingness to admit that one is being tempted.  The temptation is not sin.  The actions that follow may be sinful.  If I can admit to   myself that I am sexually attracted and such actions would be sinful, I can make a decision as to how I act on that.  But, if I cannot admit such to myself, then I am in deep danger.

Folks this subject and articles such as I have posted may be raw and strike nerves, but I believe that we must deal with this issue within the SDA denomination and raw honesty may be an early step in dealing with it.

In addition, one of the ways in which we as a denomination must deal with this issue is do acknowledge that we may have an obligation to report such to the civil authorities and we must do so.

 

[phkrause]

Its really sad what sin has done to this world!!