Category: Abuse

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).

 

Fly free

Ruth Kirk

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31; NLT).

At death
I will fly free at last,

Forever
Leave behind my past,

Forget it all,
Bid life adieu,

Then, evermore,
Be one with you!

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

References

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come (Luke 4:18-19; NLT).

Those who die in the LORD will live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your people in the place of the dead! (Isaiah 26:19; NLT).

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36; NIV).

 

My Mother

Ruth Kirk

Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).

You are my Mother –
But not like my mother on earth.
You’ve not abused me,
Or filled me with dread since my birth.

You are my Mother –
But you don’t regard me with scorn.
You don’t condemn me,
Or make me regret I was born.

You are my Mother –
But you don’t berate, or control.
You don’t resent me,
Or make my subjection your goal.

You are my Mother –
For you know the meaning of love.
Your only objectives:
My healing; my freedom; my good.

We know that God makes everything work together for the good of those who love God and have been called according to God’s purpose (Romans 8:28; NLT).

References

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God (Psalm 90:2; CSB).

Who held back the sea behind partitions when it burst forth from my womb? (Job 38:8; TIB).

You forgot the God who gave you birth (Deuteronomy 32:18; NIV).

The Almighty … will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb (Genesis 49:25; NKJV).

From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free (Romans 8:22-3; NLT).

Bless YHWH, my soul! All that is in me, bless God’s holy Name! Bless YHWH, my soul, and remember all God’s kindnesses! The One who forgives all your sins is the One who heals all your diseases; the One who ransoms your life from the Pit is the One who crowns you with love and tenderness (Psalm 103:1-4; TIB).

Life and death

Ruth Kirk

The city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light (Revelation 21:23; NLT).

So, is life over,
And is death all done?
Yes, look around you, child: 
There is no sun!

So, is life finished;
My pain gone so soon?
Yes, look around you, child:
There is no moon!

So, is life done with,
My tears at an end?
Yes, look around you, child:
I am your Friend!

So, is life over,
My grief gone for good?
Yes, look around you, child:
I, God, am Love!

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

References

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” (Rev 21:3-4; TIB).

God’s love toward us is great, God’s faithfulness, eternal (Psalm 117:2; TIV).

 

Equality

Ruth Kirk

There is no Jew or Greek, slave or citizen, male or female. All are one (Galatians 3:28; TIB).

What good is our religious faith,
If women are subordinate to men?
What good is our religious faith,
If we forget the poor, then say, “Amen.”

What good is our religious faith,
If children are abused, then cast aside?
What good is our religious faith,
If some are welcomed in, and some denied?

What good is our religious faith,
If it ignores our worth, and causes pain?
What good is our religious faith,
If it can’t help us change, or start again?

My word has no place [to grow] in you [and it makes no change in your heart] (John 8:37; AMP).

References

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless (James 1:26; NLT).

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God … means caring for orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27; NLT).

The King will reply, “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; NIV).

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36; NIV).

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10; NIV).

 

Judgement

Ruth Kirk

We must all stand before Christ to be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10; NLT).

Introduction
We will all be subject to judgement. However, this judgement may not be quite what we have traditionally been taught to expect. Today’s blog details what was recently shown to me in prayer.

Choices
During our time on earth, we make many choices about how we relate to God, other people, events, experiences, our planet and  even ourselves. These choices shape the person we become at every stage of our lives. After death, we will all face judgement before Christ.

What is judgement?
Judgement is a profoundly just, merciful and loving consideration of a combination of factors:

  • The body and life situation God gave us at birth.
  • All we experienced during our exile here.
  • Everything we felt, thought, said and did.
  • What we made of ourselves, our opportunities, and our suffering.
  • Who and what we became during the course of our lives.

Several stages
Judgement is a process with several stages. It will include:

  • Looking directly at every aspect of our life, choices, behaviours, attitudes, speech, thoughts and actions. This will be like looking at ourselves in a crystal-clear mirror, and seeing right to the inmost core of our soul, with the eyes of Christ.
  • Fully understanding why we decided on the choices we made.
  • Recognising with complete honesty everything we faced and dealt with during our lives.
  • Admitting all the hurt and damage we caused to others, and repenting fully.
  • Asking ourselves how much we accepted, loved and helped, all other people, including the poorest and least powerful.
  • Considering the overall value of our life objectively.
  • Seeing clearly, and acknowledging fully, what we amount to in total.

This might sound alarming, perhaps even terrifying. However, throughout the whole process, we will be standing before Christ, fully supported by God’s Spirit of love, understanding and mercy.

Reacting to our judgement
In response to seeing and fully understanding ourselves, our choices and our lives, we will inevitably react by experiencing a mixture of profound emotions, including shame, sorrow and repentance. This healing process includes catharsis, purgation and purification.

I believe that through this healing process we will receive God’s forgiveness and love. It will also enable us to forgive and to love both ourselves and others completely.

Conclusion
Whether we know it or not, we are indissolubly one with God from the eternity before our birth, during our exile on earth, and for eternity beyond our death. Our judgement will take place within the context of this oneness.

As a result of our judgment we will experience forgiveness, healing and complete reconciliation with God. This is salvation, paradise and eternal bliss.

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:2-5; NLT).

Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43; NLT).

References

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely (1 Corinthians 13:12; NLT).

The King will reply, “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; NIV).

You, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness (Psalm 96:15; NLT).

To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness (Daniel 9:9; RSV).

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow (Psalm 51:7; NLT).

Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool (Isaiah 1:18; KJV).

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing (Isaiah 35:5; KJV).

The spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

 

Highs and lows

Ruth Kirk

My heart is full of rapture (Psalm 28:7; BBE).

He became anguished and distressed (Matthew 26; 37; NLT).

Rapture is the opposite
Of trauma,
And anguish is the opposite
Of peace.

Lord, these are the highs
And lows of living –
Realities we can’t stop,
Or increase.

They’re part of being born,
Of life, and death,
From our first cry,
To our concluding breath.

Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

Examples of rapture and anguish in Jesus’ life:

One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy” (Luke 3:21-22; NIV).

At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21; NLT).

He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2; NIV).

“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Mark 14:36; NLT).

He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44; NLT).

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him (Matthew 26:50; NIV).

Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip (John 19:1; NLT).

The soldiers nailed him to the cross (Matthew 27:35; NLT).

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).