For the body of Christ, caring for those who have been abused bears the light, healing and truth of Jesus. The church is designed by God to be a place of safety and restoration for those who have been crushed by all forms of abuse. Caring for the wounded very much reflects the nature of Jesus, “sent to bind up the brokenhearted.” (Isaiah 61:1)
But how do church and ministry leaders respond when the abuse and victimization happen within its own walls that were meant to protect? In recent years, the global church has been forced to reckon with grievous revelations of abuse within Christian ministries. These tragic situations expose not only individual sin but deeper questions about power, platform, trust and accountability.
Two of Redeemer’s faculty tackled this delicate and complex topic in, “Thinking Biblically About Power and Abuse,” at the annual Pastor Professor Exchange in April. Church and ministry leaders gathered at Redeemer to gain wisdom and insight into biblical leadership, power differentials and how to care for those who have been victimized.
Abuse and scandal shakes the church to its very core, exposing the vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the dynamics of power between leaders and their members. This can damage the witness and integrity of the church and Christian ministries. Daniel Gilman, sessional assistant professor of history, was serving at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries when details of abuse came to light. He made a significant contribution to the substance and transparency of the investigation there. What disturbed Gilman most was not only that the abuse happened, but how it happened. The vocabulary of prayer and the posture of the shepherd were turned into instruments to find and exploit people who were already wounded. “For people who have pastoral trust, or a large platform, there is such a weight on them to know how to wield that well … and so how can we as people who have been entrusted with power, learn to use that well and be aware of the various vulnerabilities in the power and trust that we have been given?” asked Gilman.
Dr. Peter Neumann, vice president, academic, stated that power is a good gift that God has granted to us. He used the imagery of a hammer that has good and important purpose in its function, but can easily cause damage if it is mishandled. Similarly, he illustrates that “leadership and power are tools that can be used for God’s purposes in being redemptive in his creation but also need to be handled with tremendous care.”
If we use [power] well, it will lead to the flourishing of creation and in human life, but we live in a broken world so it doesn’t always work that way. Humans can exceed the proper boundaries of power.
The use of power and influence requires discernment and wisdom to be used rightly, says Neumann. As a part of being made in God’s image, we’ve all been given a measure of power and influence to fulfill his purposes here on earth. Each person has the unique ability to influence not only creation, but one another. The expectation, as with any gift from God, is that power and influence are to be used in a trustworthy manner, where God entrusts his stewards for the flourishing and blessing of lives here on earth.
“If we use [power] well, it will lead to the flourishing of creation and in human life, but we live in a broken world so it doesn’t always work that way. Humans can exceed the proper boundaries of power,” and as a result, one’s dignity can be violated by others.
Neumann described the magnifying effect of power and influence when it comes to corporate power and leadership. He illustrated that communal influence is more powerful and that leaders need to steward this magnified capacity of power well. Neumann states that communities and institutions (like the church) can use power and influence for good through rules, policies and norms to govern behaviours, however if this corporate power is mishandled, its effects are far more potent and damaging.
“Misdirected power can cause harm, whether it is intended or not. And misusing power [through action or inaction] is a serious sin,” since it directly opposes God’s love and compassion towards humanity.
Jesus, gifted with all power, did not lord it over others, but expressed his power in love by serving. Through the sermon on the mount, “Jesus emphasizes that people are not disposable objects; they are all made in the image of God,” says Neumann. All forms of abuse, whether physical, sexual, social or spiritual, violate human boundaries and dignity.
Ministry leaders are entrusted by God to steward and manage how they interact with their community, says Neumann. He urged the pastors and ministry leaders in attendance to recognize that it is their responsibility to discern the power differentials in situations and interactions. The one who has less power in an interaction is less responsible for managing how the power differentials are worked out.
Gilman shared the grave truth that many people coming into churches will be carrying wounds from past trauma and abuse. He shared how ministry leaders can protect and care for victims. Within church and ministry settings, Gilman says, there is no room for “green room Christianity,” where ministry leaders carry a celebrity status that creates a distinct separation of leaders from the community they are serving. Leaders should not be put on a pedestal because of the power they leverage. Within big and small churches alike, this separation can occur, creating an unhealthy ministry culture where power can remain unchecked. Gilman described how important it is for leaders to have reliable friends that they are truly accountable with, sharing their vulnerabilities, difficulties, challenges and joys.
As we are pastors, preachers and professors who speak up, show [victims] God’s beautiful heart. He is so attentive to the ones who are hurting and so caring towards the one who is vulnerable.
Gilman urged that when an allegation surfaces, the first question is never what it means for the leader or the ministry; it is whether the victim is safe, believed and given back their agency. Giving them this space allows their voice to be heard, since abuse has often silenced the victim.
Although abuse and exploitation reveal the darkness of this world, Gilman points to a passage of hope from Isaiah, depicting the heart of Jesus towards those who have been abused. “‘A bruised reed he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.’ … Jesus is holy, wholesome, good and safe … As we are pastors, preachers and professors who speak up, show [victims] God’s beautiful heart. He is so attentive to the ones who are hurting and so caring towards the one who is vulnerable.” Gilman says the local church should be a source of healing for victims, pointing them towards Jesus, where “they can find comfort that the hands that wipe away their tears also bear the marks of suffering.”