With only 12 more weeks to go until the conclusion of this degree program I can say that the class I’m currently in has tremendous application for the Ezekiel 33 Project. I’m taking a class on conflict management as my elective that I need for my particular degree program. It is very different taking a class from the communications department rather than the business department, but the benefit is real. I planned to take this class as I knew it would have application well beyond my A job.
In the news as of late is the exposure of the Southern Baptist Convention by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. Sadly, this story is not different at all from the stories that we have read about previously. Pastor arrives at one location and abuses children. Then the Pastor is moved as a result of their actions and more survivors are created by not only those abusing the children, but also by those who covered the issue up. Many of the survivors were urged to be forgiving of their offender. It is sad to say that it is the same pattern that we have been witnessing may likely have to endure for a while.
A quote from Dr. Brene Brown states that, “Opting out of speaking out is the definition of privilege.” Think about that quote for a second. Choosing not to speak up when one sees something wrong happening is to reject the individual in need and approval of the “right” for an offender to do what they are doing. James 4:17 calls us to be different by reminding us that if we know the right thing to do and do not do it, we are in the wrong, we are committing a sin by our silence.
Our failure to expose abuse is in other words approval of the abuse. If one approves of abuse, then they reject the one who has endured the abuse. Rejection is the opposite of affiliation, and rejection causes the same parts of the brain to be engaged that would be engaged if one experienced physical pain. When we fail to believe or reject those who state they have been abused we are causing them great pain. This pain that is experienced is why we must be survivor friendly, particularly churches. A survivor friendly church does not cover up but exposes. A survivor friendly church has policies where a survivor can see efforts made to include them and make them feel safe. A church that becomes survivor friendly will have become a more comfortable church home to at least 20% of its membership and becomes more attractive to 20% of the population based on statistics.
We are social creatures and we crave acceptance and belonging. We also have a savior that is not unfamiliar with rejection and abuse. Think about this for a moment, God allowed man to physically abuse His Son so that man might be saved by His Son. While on the cross, Christ called out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” as he took on the sin of the world. Sure, he felt physical pain of the nails and crown of thorns, but more text is given to his crying out to God as he felt rejection. God knows about abuse, he was there as his son was whipped and beaten. Jesus knows about rejection, he experienced it as he bore the sins of mankind on the cross.
The problem of abuse that we face is not unique to any particular group. Nobody is immune. Any way that a politician might possibly want to divide us will yield the same statistics. The statistics are stable across race, religion, region, and economics. Because of this fact we have an obligation to expose abuse when it occurs and provide a caring environment that endured the abuse. In doing so we eliminate the privilege that many hide behind and we become the good watchman as outlined in Ezekiel 33:2-6.