God always sides with the weak and vulnerable
The false blanket of piety
This is an important topic that requires a clear perspective and an honest heart. Dick Schinkelshoek recently wrote a striking article in the Nederlands Dagblad about the misuse of the Bible. My desire is to share mainly positive things on this website and not to raise negative issues, but the good thing here is precisely to distance ourselves from the misuse of the Bible. It is about seeking God’s way by purely explaining and preaching His Word, so that it truly encourages people.
Unfortunately, it is often the case that people treat the Bible inappropriately. They try to support or correct others by sprinkling texts, but often this is done at the wrong time or in a way that completely misses the mark. Above this article is an essential principle, namely that God is always on the side of the weak and vulnerable.
The dark side of pious words
When someone uses the Bible to cover up abuse or to manipulate another person, it is terrible. We must strongly distance ourselves from this. Often this is not even done on purpose. In pastoral conversations, people quote texts with the intention of helping, while in fact talking the other person deeper into despair.
Think of the well-known saying that God works all things together for good. If you say that to someone who is terminally ill, you are not offering comfort. That person will immediately wonder how on earth they can see anything good in a debilitating illness. Although it is not always meant maliciously, you are misinterpreting the Bible in such a moment. The point is that we must also use God’s Word in the right way from a pastoral perspective.
Power and manipulation
A more malicious form is deliberately manipulating Scripture. The blame is then reversed. Someone who is deeply hurt is told that they must live in love and forgive the other person. The advice is then to lay the injustice before God and leave it there.
In this way, the perpetrator can continue to act with impunity. Bible verses are used as a weapon against the victim by pointing to the duty to forgive seventy times seven times. Whether it is a situation in the family, at school, or in the church, the message is often that as a Christian you must turn the other cheek. You must crucify your own flesh, even if it destroys you. In this way, a position of power is defended, while the victim must passively bear the consequences. That is pure abuse. Forgiveness is good for your own soul, but abuses must be rectified. The Bible is not a collection of rules that you can use indiscriminately to exert influence.
The lessons of Job and Ezekiel
Wisdom is indispensable when reading Scripture. Look at Job, who lost everything and was in deep misery. His friends came with pious words and tried to make him feel guilty, while the Bible clearly states that Job was righteous. Even the devil had to admit that. Yet those friends came with texts about what God would think, thereby seriously wronging him.
We sometimes see this spiritual abuse from the pulpit or stage. Some leaders assume a position in which they grant themselves divine authority. Criticism is immediately stifled with the remark that you must not touch the Lord’s anointed. I have experienced this in the past: a church founder who wanted to be infallible and whose position was reinforced by so-called prophecies. Church members are silenced in this way.
Today’s reality
We recently saw this in the Bethel Church in Redding, California. Leaders concealed the sins of another leader for ten years. The result is enormous disillusionment among believers and great psychological and financial damage to the victims.
As soon as you say anything about it, the DARVO tactic is often used: deny, attack, and reverse the roles. The questioner is accused of a lack of love or trust and thus ends up in the dock themselves. However, the Bible is razor sharp about leaders who abuse their position. In Ezekiel 34, God pronounces a harsh judgment on bad shepherds who only think of themselves and scatter the sheep.
No room for victim blaming
In psychology and the church, we are familiar with the concept of victim blaming, whereby the victim is blamed. The Bible gives us other examples. Think of Tamar and Amnon. After Tamar is raped, she is not blamed at all; the blame lies entirely with the perpetrator.
When Nathan confronted King David about his adultery with Bathsheba, he did not say that she should not have bathed there. He told David very directly that he was the one responsible for his actions. This applies to every pastor and to everyone who preaches the Word. You are responsible for your words. If they cause harm, you must not cover it up with the cloak of love.
God stands up for those who are wronged. Therefore, never use God’s Word as a weapon to belittle or dominate, but use it to build up and strengthen. Abuse of power under the guise of piety is a very serious matter that we must condemn on the basis of the Bible. Remember that God is always on the side of the weak and vulnerable.
@wimvanputten