Abuse is not a popular topic. We find it in our churches hidden underneath the surface of our well-dressed, shiny exterior. Like a festering sore it will not get well without attention. Indeed, no problem has ever been solved by denial.

Abuse is a misuse of power for selfish gain that diminishes or destroys the person who is abused. It is a serious problem. According to the US Department of Justice, the number of people who die each year at the hands of an intimate partner is measured in the thousands. That is just one of many examples that could be sited. The harm done in abuse is more than physical. Debilitating shame, inability to trust, mental illness and loss of sense of self are also consequences of various kinds of abuse. Families and communities can be torn apart by the impact.

The Gospel speaks directly to the core of abuse, use of power. Jesus shows us an opposing dynamic, taking His infinite power and choosing to give it up for the sake of those he loves. He calls us to follow Him with the same attitude into humble, self-sacrificing relationships (see Philippians 2). Infused with His Spirit, we are empowered to follow His way, not using our power over others, but using our power for the sake of others. This creates a community of transforming love, unmatched in responding to abuse.

In this kind of faith-filled community, those who have experienced the trauma of abuse can safely explore unanswerable questions that arise. Where is God? How can a loving, all-powerful God allow his children to suffer abuse? They are able to find comfort, love and healing that simply is not possible elsewhere. In addition those who have abused are able to find mercy and the power to change in a community that reflects the Lord’s gracious justice. Local community resources which provide shelter, advocacy, counseling and other services should be embraced by our churches. Yet we need to understand that there are spiritual needs that can only be met in union with our Lord and with His people. When we pray, “your will be done, on earth as in heaven,” we pray for faith-filled communities and an end to abuse. Faith makes all the difference.

What forms of use of power and position do you see in your church? Are there examples of power-over, a kind of top down control? What examples of giving up power to minister in love and to empower others to you see in your church?