Abuse

ABUSE

Abuse of any kind is SIN!  Abuse destroys lives!  Abuse leaves its victims wounded and scarred for life!  Abuse is an insidious cycle that is passed down from generation to generation.  Abuse knows no economic or age boundaries.  Heartless perpetrators target defenseless babies and children, the disabled, the elderly … and helpless animals!  Abuse breeds abuse because victims often become abusers themselves.

The “Good News” is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to Earth to deliver and heal perpetrators and victims of abuse!

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.  Luke 4:18-19

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  John 8:36

WHY PEOPLE ABUSE

Although abuse is never warranted or justified, people abuse for many different reasons.  To cite a few:

1. They learn to abuse from their parents or a relative who abused them;
2. They consider abuse as normal because they have known nothing else but abuse;
3. They have a mental health issue or disorder;
4. They have an empathy deficit and derive pleasure from inflicting pain because they see their victims as objects;
5. They may have an antisocial or narcissistic personality disorder;
6. They may have anger or impulse control issues;
7. They may be addicted to alcohol or drugs and "act out" when under the influence;
8. They may be controllers who derive pleasure from exerting power over their victims;
9. They receive and enjoy gratification from inflicting pain;
10. They suffer from low self-esteem and self-hatred.

SIX TYPES OF ABUSE

1. Physical
2. Emotional
3. Verbal
4. Economic
5. Mental
6. Sexual

WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS ABOUT EACH

Physical:

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones [children]; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 18:10

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12:10

Emotional:

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Ephesians 6:4  

Verbal:

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.  Proverbs 18:21

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. 

Proverbs 30:14

Economic:

… the righteous giveth and spareth not.  Proverbs 21:26

Mental:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Philippians 2:5 
 

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  3 John 1:2

Sexual:

But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:  Deuteronomy 22:25
  

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind … 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it [is] abomination.  Leviticus 18:22

ABUSE INFILTRATES EVERY ARENA OF SOCIETY!

ABUSE IN THE HOME

The home is supposed to be a safe haven, but most often this is not the case.  Behind closed doors and white picket fences, abuse is rampant because the family unit is dysfunctional.  A dysfunctional family is a family where conflict, misbehavior and neglect or abuse occurs on a regular basis.

Abortion

Absence of parental care and love (Matthew 18:10; 2 Timothy 3:3)

Abuse disguised as a Joke

Abuse of authority and power

Abuse of a neighbor or resident

Explosive anger

Accusing and Blaming

Adult-on-child sexual abuse

Adults teaching children hate and prejudice

Animal abuse and neglect

Belittling, Demeaning and Insulting

Blocking and Diverting

Bullying

Baby shaking

Child abuse

Child neglect (Proverbs 29:15)

Child-on-child sexual abuse

Chronic Forgetting

Commanding, Demanding, Ordering

Controlling

Covering Up and Secrecy

Criticizing and Judging

Cursing and Shouting

Denying and Withholding

Discounting, Minimizing and Trivializing

Domestic abuse or violence

Elderly abuse and neglect

Emotional abuse

Excessive Countering and Correction

Humiliation and Shaming

Incest

Intimidation and Threats

Lying

Making Fun of and Name-Calling

Making the Victim Think He/She Is Crazy

Mental abuse (gaslighting)

Parental abandonment

Parental abuse

Parental indifference or neglect (1 Timothy 5:8)

Parents provoking their children to wrath (Ephesians 6:4)

Physical abuse

Rape (Deuteronomy 22:25)

Rejection

Reviling

Self-abuse (mutilation)

Sibling abuse

Spousal abuse

Substance abuse

Torment and Torture

Undermining and Sabotage

Withholding care, food and love

ABUSE IN THE CHURCH

Abuse of authority and power (1 Corinthians 9:18)

Accusation and Fault-finding

Authoritarianism and Tyranny

Belittling, Demeaning, Humiliating and Insulting

Betrayal of Confidence and Trust

Bigotry and Prejudice

Bondage (Matthew 23:4)

Child abuse

Commanding, Demanding, Ordering

Compromising the Word of God

Cover-up and Secrecy of Sin (Ephesians 5:12)

Criticizing and Judging

Deception, Guile and Subtlety

Discounting, Minimizing and Trivializing

Economic discrimination

Elderly abuse and neglect

Emotional abuse

Excluding and Shunning to correct or discipline

False Doctrine

False Prophets (Jeremiah 5:31; 6:13)

Favoritism (James 2:1-4)

Gambling (bingo and lottery)

Gender discrimination

Gossip and Slander

Greed and Filthy Lucre (Ezekiel 34:8; 1 Peter 5:2)

Guilt and Shame

Hypocrisy & Legalism (Matthew 23:13)

Malfeasance of church funds

Pastoral/Leadership Control

Pastoral/Leadership Domination

Pastoral/Leadership Intimidation and Threats

Pastoral/Leadership Manipulation

Pastors and church leaders assuming the role of The Holy Spirit

Pastors bashing sheep from the pulpit

Pastors preaching what people want to hear, instead of what they need to hear (Galatians 3:1; 2 Timothy 4:3)

Perverting the Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:7)

Racial discrimination

Rejection

Sexual abuse

Snake-handling

Sowing Contention and Discord

Spiritual abuse

Spiritual Superiority and Elitism

Traditions of Men (Colossians 2:8)

Recommended Reading:  Johnson, David and Jeff VanVonderen. The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse.  Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1991

ABUSE IN CULTS

Three notable cult leaders and their cults appear below.  The fate of the leaders and their followers ended in imprisonment, mass suicide, death by fire, and mass suicide, respectively.

1. Charles Manson, leader of the Manson Family
2. Rev. Jim Jones, leader of the Peoples Temple
3. David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidians
4. Marshall Applewhite, leader of Heaven’s Gate, a UFO religion doomsday cult.

Brain-washing

Compromised Word of God (taking Scripture out of context)

Control

Deprivation

Devaluing Women

Domination

False Doctrinal Belief and Teaching

Fornication

Hatred

Incest

Intimidation

Isolation

Manipulation

Mass suicide

Murder

Mutilation of Women

Polygamy

Secrecy

Violence

ABUSE IN FALSE RELIGIONS

Bestiality (sex with animals)

Brain-washing

Control

Deception

Devaluing Women

Domination

False Beliefs and Teachings

Fornication

Hatred

Incest

Intimidation

Isolation

Manipulation

Murder

Rape

Same-Sex Sexual Relations

Secrecy

Sexual Mutilation of Women

Sexual Perversion

Violence

ABUSE IN SATAN WORSHIP

Satanic ritual abuse (human and animal sacrifices)

Sexual Perversion

Bestiality (sex with animals)

ABUSE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

Abuse of authority and power

Brutality and Excessive Force

Corruption, Graft and Payoffs

Gender discrimination

Harassment

Hate crimes

Hazing and Harassment of new recruits

Leniency or pardon granted in exchange for sexual favors

Misconduct

Persecution of honest cops by corrupters of justice

Perverted justice

Prison or Prisoner abuse

Racial discrimination

Sexual-orientation discrimination

Substance abuse (alcohol, etc.)

Surveillance abuse

ABUSE IN THE COURTS & LEGAL SYSTEM

Abuse of authority and power

Abuse of the law

Breach of Lawyer-Client confidentiality

Corruption, Graft and Payoffs

Discrimination

Fee gouging

Financial discrimination

Gender discrimination

Jury Tampering

Legal abuse

Malpractice

Persecution

Perverted Justice

ABUSE IN THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

Abuse of authority and power

Freezing bank accounts

Harassment, Intimidation and Threats

Persecuting Non-Profit Organizations and Churches

Seizing property

ABUSE IN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Abuse of authority and power

Abuse of Eminent Domain

Civil Rights abuse

Conspiracy and Cover-up

Contributing to the rising national debt

Corruption

Deception and Fraud

Disability fraud

Discrimination

Economic abuse

Favoritism and Partiality

Human Rights abuse

Illegal Surveillance and Wiretapping

Legalizing Same-Sex Marriages

Malfeasance of funds

Misinterpreting the Constitution to suit a desired purpose and end

Over-taxation

Passing Laws that disobey God’s Laws

Perversion of Justice

Political abuse

Presidential contempt for Constitutional limits on his power

Smear Campaigns

Spending of Social Security

Supporting the Gay Agenda

Supporting Wholesale Abortion

Wasteful Spending

Welfare fraud

Workers’ Compensation fraud

ABUSE IN SCHOOLS

Abuse of authority and power

Academic abuse

Adolescent abuse

Bullying

Distributing condoms to children

Dating abuse, rape or violence

Disallowing prayer and Bible study groups

Gender discrimination

Harassment

Hazing

Kicking God out of Schools

Peer abuse

Punishing Christian students who write essays on Christian-related topics

Racial discrimination

Religious discrimination—Allowing children access to books about Satan Worship and
    witchcraft (religions), but denying them access to The Holy Bible

Student abuse

Teacher abuse

Teaching Evolution but not Creation

Teaching Same-Sex Relationships and Marriages

ABUSE IN THE WORKPLACE

Abuse of authority and power

Backbiting and Whispering

Behavior that creates a hostile work environment

Character defamation (gossip and slander)

Condoning and Enabling abuse

Corporate abuse

Discrimination

Employee/Employer abuse

Favoritism

Female employees given promotions and pay raises in exchange for sexual favors

Sexual abuse

Workplace abuse or bullying

ABUSE IN THE MILITARY

Abuse of authority and power

Abuse of rank

Gender discrimination

Hazing

Military abuse

Misconduct

Racial discrimination

Rape (Deuteronomy 22:25)

Religious discrimination

Sexual abuse and discrimination

ABUSE ON THE INTERNET

Computer Hacking

Cons and Scams

Cyber abuse, bullying and harassment

Cyber-Spying

Identity Theft

Malware

Pedophilia

Pornography

Sexting

Spamming

Viruses

ABUSE OF THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA

Accusing Christians of being homophobic hate-mongers, which is a lie

Exalting themselves as worthy of minority status

Forcing their agenda and lifestyle on society

Lobbying for same-sex marriage status

Lobbying for the right to adopt and raise children

Positioning themselves as pastors and leaders in churches

ABUSE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION,

HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES & SOCIAL SERVICES

Breach of Doctor-Patient confidentiality

Care Withheld due to Financial discrimination

Discrimination

Doctor abuse

Elder abuse

Euthanasia

Institutional abuse

Malpractice

Medical abuse

Misconduct

Nurse abuse or Nursing abuse

Patient neglect or abuse

Unwarranted Malpractice lawsuits

Wrongful separation of a child from parental care based on a false witness’s testimony

ABUSE OF GOD’S COMMANDMENTS AND CREATION

Animal abuse and cruelty (Proverbs 12:10; Proverbs 27:23)

Attempting to remove the words “In God We Trust” from U.S. currency

Christian Bashing in the Media

Disallowing prayer and Bible study groups in Schools

Discrimination against public displays of The Cross and Nativity Scenes

Environmental abuse (Psalms 33:5; 1 Corinthians 7:31)

Kicking God out of Schools and Government

Objecting to and Attempting to Remove the Word “Christ” from Christmas

Permitting Wholesale Abortion for Profit

Perversion of Justice

Pressuring Israel to give up land that God gave them

Removing “The Ten Commandments” from public buildings

Supporting the Gay Agenda

ABUSE IN SOCIETY

Abuse of the Disabled and Handicapped

Abuse of the Elderly

Adult and Child Sex Trade

Cons and Scams

Crime

Discrimination and Prejudice

Disrespect and Abuse of the American Flag

Hate crimes

Pedophilia

Peer abuse

Prostitution (female and male)

Public displays of hostility and rudeness

Rape (Deuteronomy 22:25)

Sexual Exploitation of Women

Substance abuse

Telephone abuse

Terrorism

Violence

ABUSE HOTLINES

To get help, call:

National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Or, click on the following link to contact the Crisis Hotline that is relevant to your situation:

http://www.allaboutcounseling.com/crisis_hotlines.htm

PRAYER

If you are an abuser and/or a victim of abuse, there is HOPE for you!  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is ready to meet you right where you are!  To receive forgiveness, deliverance and healing, all you have to do is pray the following prayer out loud and mean it from your heart:

“DEAR JESUS—I am a sinner and I need to be forgiven and saved from the penalty of my sins, which is spiritual death.  By faith, I believe that You are the Son of God and Savior of the world.  I believe that You died on the Cross and that Your shed Blood atones for my sins.  I believe that You were resurrected from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and sit at the right hand of God The Father.  Today, I repent of my sinful ways and lifestyle and I renounce Satan and his works in my life.  I ask You to come into my heart now and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.  I ask You to deliver me from abuse and heal my body, soul and spirit.  From this day forward, I promise to live a life that is worthy of the sacrifice that You made for me.  In Your Precious Name, I Pray … AMEN!”

IF YOU HAVE PRAYED THIS PRAYER, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD!

I ALSO INVITE YOU TO SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND PRAY FOR YOU!

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