Bonnie Nicholas

I think you are absolutely right. Pastors (and church leaders and all of us) need safe spaces where we can go to share our struggles - to find help and healing and grace in the midst of the struggle. We have to remember that we are in spiritual warfare - of course there are going to be struggles, there will be wounded soldiers. The battle can't be avoided, but maybe we can avoid some of the casualties. I remember a conversation with a distraught pastor, who was grieving the fall of a beloved colleague who was now facing jail time for serious criminal sexual behavior. He asked, where could this pastor have gone, before it got to this point? Where could he have found help before it reached this level? Such a good question! And I had no answer. We could only grieve together.

Sure, I can think of lots of examples. There have been several times over the years where I've gathered a group of people from my church (or students when I used to be on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) to participate with me in an activity related to a something that affects us. For example, there is a march and a vigil every year during Sexual Assault Awareness month in April (Take back the night) and there is one also in October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It's a good opportunity for all people to listen to the voices of those who have had these experiences, to learn from them, to stand with them and to show support by opposing the violence. It especially makes sense for Christians to be there because we believe that each person is created in the image of God. 

Other examples are service projects or spiritual retreats that welcome participation from all Christians. We put our desire to love God and love our neighbors above our other differences.  I've served on the board of an organization that assisted homeless women and children, and we certainly didn't all agree politically, but we came together for this common purpose. It's a beautiful thing. I'm very thankful that my church has people who are very conservative and others who are not; it has both democrats and republicans and we all worship together on Sunday. That's what church is supposed to look like. We are members of one body (body members do not all look alike, nor do they think alike)

Franklin's father met with presidents, both democrat and republican. He did not endorse a political candidate nor a political party. That's the difference. As Christ followers, I believe we are called to focus on the biblical principles of love, justice, mercy, etc. and understand that those principles have expression in both political parties. And we must call out injustice wherever it occurs. It's not partisan, and it's not about one party maintaining political power. In other words, following Christ, and his Word takes precedence. Franklin, I believe, has chosen a different path.

Hi Susan, thanks for your thoughtful comment. Erc has already written a good response, let me just add this: I didn't mean at all to imply that Larry Nasser's actions were not horrific, or that he in any way should not be held fully accountable for his actions and the huge devastion he's caused in the lives of so many women and girls. The fact that you found my words "jarring", thinking of him as a person, created in God's image, is understandable. You can only imagine how jarring the allegations were for someone who knew and trusted him. It's always jarring, and feelings of a deep sense of betrayal are common. My point is that abuse is most often perpetated by ordinary people, people who are loved, trusted, and considered 'safe'. That's how access is gained, and that's what often allows abuse to continue; because it's simply too jarring to believe that it could really be happening.

Thank you, Eric, for your affirmation of this story. Many people I know who have suffered sexual abuse, and have walked for awhile on the extremely difficult road toward healing, are the strongest, most grace-filled people I know. Our God is an amazing, redeeming God! The question that arises in my mind is this: How can we, in our churches, cooperate with God's healing work? What do those who have suffered abuse find in our church communities? How can we, as the Church come alongside? How can we create safe spaces, giving opportunity for God's transforming work among us? 

 Thank you Trudy. "As long as the church sees sexual abuse as only personal sin and not also as a prosecutable crime, the church will never be seen as the house of a just God...Christ proves it: Grace never negates consequences. Forgiveness still requires justice." Words from Ann Voskamp.