Category: Abuse

A vicious, verbal attack

Ruth Kirk

Yesterday, out of the blue, I was viciously criticised online by a man who said he was a theologian. In several long messages he vented his complete rejection of my faith, my writing, my spiritual life and my website. He rubbished everything I share with you, and could not grasp my central aim: that others who also suffer may feel a little less alone, and find some comfort and hope here in my honesty.

I tried to engage with this man, but it was hopeless. I told him how badly he had hurt me, and asked him to apologise, so we could be reconciled. I told him I was praying for him. In response, he became offensive, so I had to block him. In all the years I’ve been running this website, I’ve only had to do that once before.

Straight after posting this message, I will pray for him again. Then I will begin the long process of recovering from his abuse, and forgiving him for the damage he has done to me. What made him act like this? I have no idea, other than that it seemed to be an explosive reaction to reading my latest blog: “Here I am, Jesus!” This is a link to it, in case you would like to read it for yourself: https://wp.me/p45bCr-lH3.

Friends, I am deeply saddened, shaken and disturbed by this man’s bitter verbal attack. Please pray for me, as I cling to Christ for support, and pray for him too, if you can find it in your heart to join me in doing so.

With much love to you all, from Ruth xxxx

Cling to God

Ruth Kirk

Cling tightly to the LORD your God (Joshua 23:8; NLT).

When you seek,
But cannot find:
Just cling to God
With all your mind.

When your way
Is steep and dark:
Just cling to God
With all your heart.

When you fail
To reach your goal:
Just cling to God
With all your soul.

And when your anguish
Is intense:
Just cling to God
With all your strength.

I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8; NLT).

Blessed are those whose strength is in you (Psalm 84:5; NIV).

References

Keep on seeking, and you will find (Luke 11:9; NLT).

Love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:30; NLT).

Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace] (James 1:3; AMP).

Cling to your faith in Christ (1 Timothy 1:19; NLT).

The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult (Matthew 7:14; NLT).

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

He became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:37-9; NLT).

And in his anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44; NET).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

 

My pilgrimage

Ruth Kirk

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage (Psalm 84:5; NIV).

My time here is a pilgrimage
From birth, through life, to death,
And you’re in charge at every stage,
Until my final breath.

With dread and agoraphobia
I’ve struggled through the years,
With anguish and anxiety,
Depression, sickness, tears.

I didn’t ask to be alive;
I didn’t want to live;
But, doggedly, I’ve tried to change,
To grow, to love, to give.

And you’ve been with me step by step
Along my troubled way:
Please help me still to cling to you,
Rejoice, give thanks, and pray.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18; NIV).

References

The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult (Matthew 7:14; NLT).

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8; NLT).

 

Hatred

Ruth Kirk

Whenever we ‘Christians’ declare angrily, or self-righteously, that we hate others, we can be sure that we are not following Jesus, who taught that we are to love everyone, including our enemies.

So, whoever the targets of our hatred, prejudice, discrimination, rejection, exploitation, abuse, or violence are, for example:

Refugees
Immigrants
People whose faith is different from ours
People who speak a language different from ours
People whose skin is a different colour from ours
People whose gender is different from ours
People whose sexuality is different from ours
People who dress differently from us
People whose customs and values are different from ours
Poor people
Rich people
Unemployed people
Homeless people
Prisoners
Refugees
People who are different from us physically, mentally, intellectually, developmentally, emotionally, neurologically, or spiritually
Children
Politicians
Strangers
Foreigners
Enemies
Anyone at all

… we can be absolutely sure that we are not behaving like Christians, becauseGod is love.

God and Love are synonymous, inclusive and universal. Therefore, all hatred is incompatible with the Christian faith, as taught by Jesus, our Saviour and example.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

References

He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked (Luke 6:35; NLT).

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:44-8; NIV).

When they came to the place that is called called The Skull, there they crucified him… And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:33-4; ESV).

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NLT).

 

Evil

Ruth Kirk

This stark prayer was given to me as soon as I started to pray this morning, and I knew I had to share it immediately.

Our world is now filled with people indulging hateful thoughts, writing and saying hateful things about others, and approving of, or carrying out, oppressive, abusive, hateful, cruel, violent and destructive deeds.

Many even appear to believe that God approves of such behaviour. As Jesus said, “The time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me” (John 16:2-3; NLT). Shocking words indeed.

However “religious” we think we are, and however fervently we pray, or preach, if we hate others we know nothing at all about God, for God is Love.

We cannot pick and choose which parts of Christ’s Gospel we want to apply to ourselves, and which parts we prefer to reject. So, here is today’s blog:

Deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13; NLT).

Save us from indulging evil thoughts.
Save us from expressing evil words.
Save us from committing evil deeds.

Please help us to take captive every thought,
And make each one obedient to Christ,
For all who do not love do not know you.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8; NIV.

References

Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

The words you speak come from the heart – that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you (Matthew 15:18-20; NLT).

Then the King will turn to those on the left and say… “I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.” Then they will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?“ And he will answer, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me” (Matthew 25:41-5; NLT).

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV).

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

 

Justice and peace

Ruth Kirk

If only you had paid attention to my commandments! Your peace would have been like a river, and your justice would have been like the waves of the sea (Isaiah 48:18; CPDV).

I pray for justice, and for peace,
So all our selfish wars will cease.

I pray for kindness, help and care
In every heart, so all will share.

I pray that we will live as friends,
So all abuse and conflict ends.

I pray for truth and joy to flood
Each soul, so all will live in love.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV).

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us (1 John 4:12; NLT).

References

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:7; NLT).

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

 

Jesus’ way

Ruth Kirk

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he [Jesus] said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34; NLT).

Introduction
Being a Christian means following Christ’s teaching and lived example, in order to grow more and more like him, until we become one with him.

I call myself a Christian, so I’m asking myself some very basic questions. The response to each question is clarified by Biblical quotations.

Do I love everyone?
If my love isn’t inclusive, I’m not behaving like a Christian, because the Bible says:

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).
Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).
Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).
Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT).
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV).

Do I judge others?
If I do, I’m not behaving like a Christian, because the Bible says:

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Matthew 7:1; NLT).

Am I kind?
If I’m unkind to others, I’m not behaving like a Christian, because:

A servant of the LORD must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).

Do I forgive those who hurt me?
If I nurse grudges, I’m not behaving like a Christian, because Jesus teaches:

Forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too (Mark 11:25; NLT).

Do I serve others?
If I don’t serve others the best I can, I’m not behaving like a Christian, because Jesus says:

Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else (Mark 9:35; NLT).
Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others (Mark 10:45; NLT).

Do I try to follow Christ’s example?
If I don’t genuinely try to do this, I’m not being a Christian, because we are to:

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

Am I growing more like Christ?
If I’m not growing more like Christ, however slowly, I need to ask myself whether I really am a Christian at all:

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

Conclusion
Perhaps, in the end, I only need to ask myself one question:

Do I believe it’s okay to judge, look down on, control, discriminate against, dominate, exploit, abuse, reject, exclude, hate, or hurt others in any way whatsoever?

Strange as it may sound, if my answer to this question is, ‘Yes’, then I may still have a faith of some kind. It might even be a religious faith. However, it is definitely not Christianity, because:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out (1 Corinthians 13:4-6; NLT).

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22; NLT).

References

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:41; NIV).

Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me (Matthew 25:45; NIV).

Live like Jesus here in this world (1 John 4:17; NLT).

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NIV).

Peace

Ruth Kirk

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9; NIV).

Pray for peace (Psalm 122:6; NLT).

I pray for the end
Of hate and fear;

I pray for the end
Of pain and grief;

I pray for the end
Of greed and war –

So peace will reign
For evermore.

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14; NIV).

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever (Revelation 21:4; NLT).

References

I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27; NLT).

Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea (Isaiah 48:18; NLT).

The Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7:17; NLT).

 

Heaven on earth

Ruth Kirk

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children” (Matthew 19:14; NLT).

Children playing: free at last,
Having left behind the past.
No abuse; joy unsurpassed –
It’s heaven!

Women laughing: unoppressed,
Having passed through every test
With honours. Now so loved and blest –
It’s heaven!

Menfolk dancing: no more war!
No advantage any more.
Equal, under Yahweh’s law –
It’s heaven!

All are spirits. All are one
In Jesus Christ, God’s only Son.
Included: all; excluded: none –
It’s heaven!

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13; NLT).

References

Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17; NLT).

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; NLT).

Humankind was created as God’s reflection: in the divine image God created them; female and male, God made them (Genesis 1:27; TIB).

The LORD will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore (Isaiah 2:4; NLT).

Then I saw new heavens and a new earth. The former heavens and the former earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer. I also saw a new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God, beautiful as a bride and groom on their wedding day. And I heard a loud voice calling from the throne, “Look! God’s Tabernacle is among humankind! God will live with them; they will be God’s people, and God will be fully present among them. The Most High will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death, mourning, crying and pain will be no more, for the old order has fallen” (Revelation 21:1-4; TIB).

Abuse

Ruth Kirk

They all do evil and abuse what power they have (Jeremiah 23:10; NLT).

Abuse
Gives birth
To fear.

Abuse
Engenders
Shame.

Abuse
Produces
Grief and dread.

Abuse
Results
In pain.

Do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them (Ephesians 6:4; NLT).

The land is full of people unfaithful to the LORD; they live wicked lives and misuse their power (Jeremiah 23:10; GNT).