Are the reporters who focus on sex abuse in the church doing a service, or a disservice?

By Elizabeth Prata

“A glacial erratic is a glacially deposited rock differing from the type of rock native to the area in which it rests. Erratics, which take their name from the Latin word errare (“to wander”), are carried by glacial ice, often over distances of hundreds of kilometres.” ~Wikipedia

Keep that definition in mind. Keep that picture in mind too.

I’ve written before about the importance of being balanced in our theology.

We should absorb the whole counsel of God. We should share the whole counsel of God. As Christians, we seek balance in our learning. As with anything in life, we strive to be well-rounded.

That’s not to say that we don’t have favorite doctrines. If we’re a layman or if we’re a teacher we may have a niche interest of study. RC Sproul was known for holiness and philosophy. Phil Johnson is known for his expertise on the Psalms. And, there are niches to be studied. The Doctrine of Providence. The Doctrine of Eschatology. The Doctrine of Hamartiology (Study of Sin). It’s OK to have a focused interest.

However, we should not camp on one doctrine to the exclusion of others, or delve so exclusively into our niche that our outlook becomes distorted.

In true discerning communication, there is always an attempt to point toward the good, not simply to highlight the bad. Throwing rhetorical hand grenades is pretty easy. Building a positive and convincing position is much harder.

Discernment bloggers, Truth, and Christian Witness

That quote could be applied to any study, not solely in discernment blogging, but in any Christian writing, any Christian study, any Christian life. Balance is important. Some have lost that balance in employing discernment. Others have lost it in studying eschatology. Now today, I’m speaking of a set of women who hyperfocus on sin: one sin in particular, that of sexual abuse.

Hamartiology is the study of the Doctrine of Sin, granted, but these women who constantly focus on a supposed plague of sex abuse in the church aren’t studying sin for the glory of Jesus. They are studying one sin for the besmirching of the church.

I am offended at these feminist women claiming Christ who perpetuate the myth that all churches are misogyny hatcheries, and every man, woman, and child in them are past, current, or future victims of sexual abuse. No.

Biblical odds are that since church gathers hundreds/thousands of people, some aren’t truly saved, despite professing. So, sin happens, like abuse. Also thievery, deception, adultery, embezzlement, etc. happens too. But sexual abuse has been skewed as THE one, only, main sin happening today in churches. It isn’t.

I’m reminded of John 16:2, where Jesus told his disciples,

They will ban you from the synagogue, yet an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering a service to God. John 16:2.

These women believe they are doing a service to God by constantly raising up alleged or even real cases of sex abuse they have no business in, that didn’t happen in their own church but others’, that happened 10 or 30 years ago, giving a platform for victims to recount in lengthy detail their abusers’ acts…

They think they’re helping. They aren’t helping.

Yes, the Ravi Zacharias abuse issue was horrific. Yes sexual abuse happens more and more in this world as all flavors of sin increase. Given how many apostate churches there are and how infrequently pastors preach a true gospel that includes wrath for sin, it happens in churches too.

Yet-

Jesus’ Church is beautiful, full of redeemed saints as part of His Bride. Yes, sin happens. Yes, unredeemed sinners stalk His gatherings, but the true church is glorious.

What do you think happens when a person (who professes Christ) constantly harps on one sinful topic? Especially that topic? Just as the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes that day when he discovered the true meaning of Christmas, (love),

that person’s heart will shrink,

For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (Matthew 13:15 KJV),

What does the verse mean? Barnes’ Notes:

“The meaning in both places [parallel Isaiah 6:9-10] is, that the people were so gross, sensual, and prejudiced, that they “would” not see the truth, or understand anything that was contrary to their grovelling opinions and sensual desires; a case by no means uncommon in the world.“

We should be mindful about our view of the Bride of Christ and how we speak about it. Today’s culture even in professing Christendom, people play the victim so as to gain influence, their moment of fame, or just to join the chorus. Not to diminish real pain experienced from real sin – WHATEVER that sin against you was – but ‘going public’ after the matter is resolved is often NOT necessary or even wise.

I opened with a photo of a glacial erratic. These huge rocks are pushed by a glacier as it moves inexorably along. When the glacier finally melts the huge rock is deposited where those kind of rocks don’t normally appear. It’s out of place. Erratic is from a Latin word meaning “wander”. Often perched precariously atop other rocks, or slanted on a cliff, the erratics look like they will slide away or fall down any minute.

As you may come across these women in your social media travels, here are some questions to ask yourself:

Are they being careful how they speak of the saints, Jesus’ church, and God’s people, especially pastors?

Does it seem they think of our Jesus as a Savior who doesn’t overlook sin, but sees His redeemed as without blemish?

Do they act like they are walking in love? Do you get the feeling they view the Church as holy and blameless?

Do you get the sense that these women care for the perpetrators, too? That they pray for them because they know they need the Gospel? Or is the prevailing sense you get from their attitude is that ‘men are nasty; church is unsafe’?

In their overall ministry, is there a sense of hope, a pointing to the true, the good, the holy?

Is there an attitude of evaluating people as being in Christ, this same Christ who has triumphed over these unsavory sins? And if repentant, that the perp is forgiven? Do you get the sense they would welcome a repentant and forgiven sex abuse perp to their church? Sit with them at church suppers?

Would you want to attend church with these women, who focus so deeply on man’s flaws instead of Christ’s perfections? Would YOU feel safe with these women if they discovered a sin in you?

Or do these sex abuse reporters display relentless, pitiless scrutiny on solid men who lead solid churches?

Or do these sex abuse reporters display relentless, pitiless scrutiny on solid men who lead solid churches?

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Do you feel your own perspective shifting from believing the church is triumphant and beautiful to a view that it’s rife with nastiness and stain? It’s this issue that prompted me to write. So many younger women are coming to the latter belief now, instead of the former. Dogged mudslinging will do that.

These women’s continual focus is not a service to God but simply a way for them to satisfy their own prurient interests, to delve into lasciviousness, while appearing to the unwary as pious and spiritual. Or, to satisfy their lust for fame and attention by muckraking and digging up victims whom they heartlessly exploit for hits. Avoid these women like the plague they are.

Further Reading

Ligonier: Ministering to the Abused and the Abusers

GotQuestions: What does the Bible say about a contentious or quarrelsome woman?