MY STRUGGLES AND OFFER OF SUPPORT

I know this is long but it may be a huge help and/or relief to you. Not for my sake but for yours, I pray you read this in full. If you are going through what I've been going through, there is hope. This is my testimony (sort of) as well as hope. Please take 5 minutes to read and share cos you never know who will need this information.
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I am so happy to be back, Spirit-filled and ready to share my faith. I literally feel as I've been released from prison. For 4 years I have been...by circumstances and not choice or illness...been stuck in my house 24/7 except for maybe 3-4 days a month for a few hours. We had no money to go anywhere and there's nowhere we really want to go since we don't like movies, going to clubs and things like that. We do enjoy target shooting and playing pool but there's no real decent places to play pool. BTW, I love the game but am absolutely horrible at it and don't care! I also enjoy bowling. I'm not competitive but I just enjoy the game. We were given a financial blessing and we know financial freedom for the first time in 30 years. We have everything we want and need (although it's very little as we are not into wanting lots of money) but the best thing is, I can now give back. I can help others a little instead of the helpee. I've found a church my husband WANTS to attend and they have stained glass classes that provide all the materials and equipment for $40 per quarter. That is so cheap and afterwards, we all meet and have a community meal where we break bread in fellowship. They have all sorts of groups you can join, depending on your needs. The opportunities for community outreach is unbelievable. It's not perfect, of course, and I struggle with the fact that this denomination forces pastors to perform gay marriages but the nice woman who thought I was homeless (funny story) said it hadn't ever happened and was highly unlikely that it would. She cringed and said she was always afraid to answer that question because of how some people react and/or OVER-react. I didn't state my opinion but I did tell her I had a gay daughter. The fact is, all of the churches within my area allow them so it's either I just let God handle it and go to serve my Father, the Son and Holy Spirit and therefore serving my fellow man and my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Boy did I use the word "and" a whole lot in that sentence, lol.

My other issue, and one I very well may be wrong about, is it is undoubtedly the whitest church I've ever been to since childhood. I like diversity and people of all races and nationalities in my church. The thing is, I live in a predominately white community. It's a good sized church and was told that very few people showed up last night for the dinner but there were a lot of people there. I'm hoping I'm wrong and will find out Sunday. It's not a deal breaker. It's like I am in a room where there's 50 doors and 100 windows and I can walk through (or climb out of) any of them to serve my Father in Heaven.

I was living under so much depression, fear, and guilt that there were days I couldn't even participate in my communities for weeks or months because I felt empty and filled with dread. I felt like a hypocrite. I was so jealous at the joy and peace I felt in you guys and I wanted a LIFE outside these walls. I could have went to this church 6 months ago when I first saw it because I knew that this was the ONLY denomination that my dear husband David would agree to attend on a regular basis. The Pentacostal church terrified him and since he was raised Episcopalian (extremely formal and orderly) and today I'm more leaning Baptist but raised Presbyterian, I knew if I could get him to go one time, he'd go back. They've got the right Gospel, the right Jesus Christ and are not works salvation but we do believe in this...

Father, Son and Holy Spirit
The Apostle's Creed** (see explanation)
Grace alone; faith alone; Christ alone
Repentance and belief is necessary for salvation
The infallibility of the Bible
Sola Scriptura

They are definitely more liberal than I am but conservative enough that they demand reverence and modesty in all things. While there's no dress code, Sunday 11:00 services you are to dress more formally than at the 8:30 one. You can wear a bathing suit (not really but you get what I mean) at that one but 11:00 services are more traditional. I love that. I rarely get to dress up and I'm excited about it. Gives me a good excuse to go buy me a few skirts and dresses, lol. It's not a mega wealthy church but it's rich as I believe they are more than Creasters. There were people from 2 years old to 80 years old (approx) there so it's so hopeful to see young families raising their children in the faith.

I also doubt anyone is gonna really read this but I hope you do. Why? Cos if you're struggling with addictions, depression, loneliness, feeling worthless, hopeless/helpless, don't have a family and/or friends I am begging you to get in touch with me. My email address is WorthyistheLamb737@yahoo.com. PLEASE put something in the subject line like "I read your post on Google and..." so I will know it's not spam and will open that immediately. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is NOT a train...it's Jesus Christ. No matter if you believe me or not, you have me already. All you have to do is ask. I am starting a "ministry" not as a pastor but more of a gathering of people who just have issues. I welcome anyone regardless and especially want others to join my blog who have struggled with and overcame these issues. I will share the blog/community as soon as I make it tonight and am going to send out invites to all my communities along with this post and all my contact info will be there. It is going to be called "Bread and Water" but I have yet to decide what will come next. I don't feel right calling it a "ministry" because I am no pastor but feel I have some teaching and leadership qualities but I need help. I'll send out with the invite what it is, etc. and one rule, if you join, I expect real participation. It will not be a passive page where we share nice pictures of Scripture, etc. I want those who are willing to actually interact with one another to encourage, help and build up the Body of Christ. Leave all holier-than thou and self-righteousness at the door.

I no longer feel jealous of anyone. I didn't know one minute of the joy and peace so many Christians feel and I felt unworthy, that this was my lot in life. For whatever reason, this is how God wanted me to be for "as we know, ALL things work to the good, to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes." I thought maybe all I could ever do was this. When He started working to bring me out of addiction to my necessary pain meds to a very reasonable dosage, it was hard. Drugs when abused or misused will cause you pain and problems in areas you never would think of IF you're a Christian. This is important cos if you're not a Christian, you don't care about the guilt and conviction. You don't care or even think of the sin you're committing. It's not about taking the pills, it's about how you put them first, lie, manipulate, steal, the list is endless. You hurt so many people and I've done it both ways, once as a professing Christian but not living for Him and now living for Him and Jesus is the ONLY real hope you have.

I know this is long but I hope someone reads it and feel free to share it. Copy and paste to anyone on any social media forum. Even if you're a nonbeliever, I do not care. This can lead to salvation! No one will be turned away. I'm not cured and I struggle but the depression is gone and I feel so much LOVE, COMPASSION, GRACE, JOY, PATIENCE, A HEART THAT WANTS TO HELP AND GIVE EVERYTHING I OWN, AND MY LOVE FOR YOU AND FOR OUR FATHER AND CHRIST JESUS PLUS MY FAITH HAS EXPLODED! It won't happen overnight and you want be happy every minute. Life is hard but if I can have this peace and joy, anyone can and I want it for you more than I want it for me and I give Him ALL the glory. Thanks to all who read this. God bless and I truly love you as my friend and my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. You all are in my prayers!

* I'm not sure of how the Apostle's Creed goes anymore but it has one line in it that caused me to refuse to state it which was part of worship service in the church I was raised. The line is something like "I believe in the Apostolic CATHOLIC church..." and I am not a catholic nor hold to their doctrines. However, in this case it is NOT referring to the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It means "universal." It refers to the common grace and faith that comes with salvation regardless of race or national origin. In other words, it means the Body of Christ is universal in that salvation is for everyone. You can do a search on it and read what it says.

PLEASE PRAY BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE TAUGHT IN BIBLE UNIVERSITIES!

Moody Bible Institute—Trying to Hold on to a Biblical Heritage While Riding the Wave of the Emerging Church

January 30, 2018 by Lighthouse Trails Editors

Several years ago, Rick Warren said something that still haunts us—leaders of the new purpose-driven, emergent “Christianity” will have to wait until resisters either leave or die before the plan can be fully implemented.1  In other words, they are going to eventually accomplish what they are trying to do—revamp Christianity into a “new” spirituality that will be all-inclusive, ecumenical, mystical, and with a new gospel message. But before that can happen, those who are resisting and opposing this new “Christianity” will have to be out of the way (either through getting old and dying or somehow being coherced into leaving the churches).

From the cover of Warren B. Smith’s booklet on Leonard Sweet

In thinking about Moody Bible Institute and the current shake up going on there (e.g., the president and COO recently resigned), Warren’s words have come to the forefront of our minds again. Moody is struggling. According to an article in the Christian Post, Moody has shut down their Washington state campus and an extension site and let go of one third of their faculty. One can only guess what’s going on behind the scenes as Moody leadership and trustees aren’t offering many answers these days.

Moody, once considered a stalwart institution to the Gospel of Jesus Christ (named after the great evangelist D.L. Moody), began caving in to the “new” spirituality several years ago (as documented by LT), allowing contemplative, emergent influences into the school. Maybe they thought if they became culturally relevant, cool, hip, contemplative, and missional,they could continue being successful and on top of the Christian college scene. But, like the puppy with a bone in his mouth and looking at his reflection in the water hoping to have the other bone too, Moody may end up losing everything all together because they wanted both worlds—a reputation of biblical integrity and at the same time acceptance by the new and popular emergent Christianity. Maybe trustees of Moody believed Rick Warren’s co-comrade in all-things-emergent, Leonard Sweet, when Sweet said “Reinvent yourself for the 21st century or die.”

In 1995, Rick Warren and Leonard Sweet did an audio series called The Tides of Change.In the audio, they spoke of “new frontiers,” “a new spirituality,” and “waves of change.” A few years prior to The Tides of Change, Sweet wrote a book called Quantum Spirituality. This book reveals the nature of Sweet’s spiritual affinities as he talks about “christ-consciousness” and a “New Light” movement. Ray Yungen discusses Quantum Spirituality:

In [Quantum Spirituality], Sweet thanks interspiritualists/universalists such as Matthew Fox (author of The Coming of the Cosmic Christ), Episcopalian priest/mystic Morton Kelsey, Willis Harman (author of Global Mind Change) and Ken Wilber (one of the major intellectuals in the New Age movement) for helping him to find what he calls “New Light.” Sweet adds that he trusts “the Spirit that led the author of The Cloud of Unknowing.” . . .  Sweet disseminates line after line of suggestions that the “old teachings” of Christianity must be replaced with new teachings of “the New Light.” And yet these new teachings, he believes, will draw from “ancient teachings” (the Desert Fathers). This “New Light movement,” Sweet says, is a “radical faith commitment that is willing to dance to a new rhythm.”

Throughout the book, Sweet favorably uses terms like Christ consciousness and higher self and in no uncertain terms promotes New Age ideology: “[Quantum Spirituality is] a structure of human becoming, a channeling of Christ energies through mindbody experience.” (from A Time of Departing)

A few years after Rick Warren and Leonard Sweet did The Tides of Change, Warren endorsed the front and back cover of Sweet’s book, Soul Tsunami. Of Sweet’s book, Warren said: “suggests practical ways to communicate God’s unchanging truth to our changing world.” However, the “practical ways” that Sweet shares in the book include a labyrinth and visiting a meditation center. Sweet also says in the book, “It’s time for a Post Modern Reformation,” adding that “The wind of spiritual awakening is blowing across the waters.” He says that times are changing and you’d better, “Reinvent yourself for the 21st century or die” (p. 75).

In 2006, Lighthouse Trails wrote an article titled “Purpose Driven Resisters—Must Leave or Die.” Here’s a portion of it:

The phone calls and emails started coming in about three years ago. Sometimes the caller was in his mid-eighties, sometimes the caller was crying. But all of them had the same kind of story to tell – when their churches decided to get involved with 40 Days of Purpose, everything began changing and when they questioned these changes, they each soon found themselves silenced, ostracized, and eventually without a church to attend. Now today, nearly five years after Purpose Driven Life was released, thousands of believers are scattered throughout the world, having been ridiculed and demoralized for even just the slightest questioning of the Purpose Driven program. In one email we received, the young man was handed a letter from his pastor. The letter had been written by a Saddleback field representative who told the pastor to do what he had to do to get rid of those opposing the new program.

According to Rick Warren, these people are resisters and are standing in the way of Purpose Driven progress. In a June 14th article written by Rick Warren on his website (“What Do You Do When Your Church Hits a Plateau?” ), Warren told pastors and church leaders not to be discouraged about slow change in their churches. He told them it would take time . . . and in many cases it would take these resisters either leaving the church or simply dying. Warren stated:

“If your church has been plateaued for six months, it might take six months to get it going again. If it’s been plateaued a year, it might take a year. If it’s been plateaued for 20 years, you’ve got to set in for the duration! I’m saying some people are going to have to die or leave.

“Moses had to wander around the desert for 40 years while God killed off a million people before he let them go into the Promised Land. That may be brutally blunt, but it’s true. There may be people in your church who love God sincerely, but who will never, ever change.”

For Warren to couple his statement about dying or leaving with a statement about God killing off a million people is ignorant at best, subliminal at least. Coupled with his mention of 40 years in the desert and Warren’s teaching that God always did good things in numbers of 40, Warren’s intention in this statement seems obvious. In addition, the concept of get with the program, change or die is very common in New Age circles, that those who don’t get on board (or ride the wave as Leonard Sweet puts it), will have to die. Listen to the words of renown, New Ager Barbara Marx Hubbard:

“Christ-consciousness and Christ-abilities are the natural inheritance of every human being on Earth. When the word of this hope has reached the nations, the end of this phase of evolution shall come. All will know their choice. All will be required to choose. . . . All who choose not to evolve will die off.” . . .

In The Tides of Change, [Sweet and Warren] make it clear that those who don’t ride this new wave will not make it.

But, what does it really mean to “make it”? Does drifting into apostasy mean that one has made it? In God’s eyes, we are successful when we follow Him and adhere to His Word.

Will Moody “make it”? Time will tell, but the Bible is clear that we cannot serve both God and man. It won’t work. Like the majority of Christian colleges, seminaries, and universities today, Moody has been trying to hold onto their old heritage of biblical solidarity while grabbing hold of the new fast-moving postmodern, progressive “wave.” But while holding on to both, each going in the completely opposite direction, the results tragically may be an entire tearing apart that will be beyond repair. Wouldn’t it be nice (to say the least) if Moody would jump off of that fast-moving wave going toward apostasy and return fully to “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”?

WHO MADE GOD? 2 MINUTE VIDEO - MUST SEE!

Great video and quick.  Enjoy and God bless you all.  Love in Christ Jesus and love in return.  It's the second greatest commandment.  These aren't just words, I really do mean them.

PRAY FOR PEACE!

A PROCLAMATION BY ABALONEKID

Originally shared by Abalone Kid

By the President of the United States of America. (1863!)

A Proclamation.

Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation.

And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty seventh.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
MUST SEE AND HEAR
TODAY: America It's The Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMdlFC9FJek   VIDEO

HOW SHOULD THE TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST HANDLE GAY MARRIAGES, ESP CHURCHES AND BUSINESSES?

I admit I struggle with the right answer on this.  Part of me is screaming NO but the other part is saying hold on.....

Written by Brenda Alexander
February 1, 2018

I found an amazing church last night and one that not only my husband is willing to go but WANTS to go and is even excited about a special performance by the music worship team (or whatever they call them) and they use only bells.  We got to hear a few minutes of it and it was beautiful and unlike anything we'd seen in a church before.  Quite honestly, I don't like CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) very much although there are exceptions.  I do love Dallas Holm but while his music is more upbeat, unlike these new bands, his concerts are free, the words are not repetitive (My God Reigns over and over and over and over and over) and tell Biblical truths but more importantly, the Gospel and it's the right one!  I'll soon be sharing a trailer for a movie called "I Can Only Imagine" and why it was written.  It is the #1 selling song in this genre ever.  It will be powerful.

The issue is, I knew going in there was a possibility they'd perform gay weddings BUT it has not been an issue nor do they expect it to be.  This is just a thought I'd like to share and see what you guys think.  We hear about bakers, Kim Davies, and other people of the Christian faith being sued and losing for failure to participate in gay weddings and Jesus Christ told us we'd better count the cost of discipleship and if we're not WILLING to lose everything we have for Him, we are not worthy of Him.  I think there's ways around this that would prevent this and maybe I'll share some of those ideas, depending on much I yak, lol.   

Here is what I truly believe is going on.  This country is divided and in a mess.  There's no middle ground.  You're either on the right or the left (and we know what the Bible says about the right and left).  For example, the goats will be separated from the sheep and will be on the left hand side of Yeshua (Jesus) Christ and the sheep on the right.  Jesus Christ is sitting at the RIGHT hand of the Father.  Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.  There's others but I can't think of them and you  know them too.  

What I see (and guess what, I might be wro....you know, not right.  What's that word again?  Wro....okay, wrong.  Nobody likes to admit they're wrong, lol.  However, it's my opinion that they don't really truly want this bakery to make their cake because they make the greatest wedding cakes ever (and maybe they do) but it's to "make a statement."  They want their 15 minutes of fame and further damage the Body of Christ and believe they're showing we're bigots, homophobes, racists, white supremists, misogynists, and, as Hillary Clinton would say, "a basket of deplorables."  I kinda find it amusing an unbeliever claims to know what a Christian is when at times, we don't know the right response, especially in these situations.

We don't want to be judgmental and we're not homophobes.  However, anybody who protests at a Gay Pride Parade with signs that say "God hates fags" or any such nonsense I would not say is a Christian or born again and if so, they aren't even mature enough to drink milk.  They've been taught hate, not love.  I didn't think there were degrees of sin.  "We all sin and fall short of the glory of God."  You and I are liars, thieves, murderers, worship idols (maybe unknowingly but we do, esp. money), and we're blasphemers.  Who here hasn't failed to honor their parents?  Does God hate us?  No, He loved us enough to send His Son, His ONLY Son, to die for us.  Does that exclude homosexuals?  Our job is to get them saved.  Once saved, the Holy Spirit will lead them out of willful sin.  It may not happen overnight but I know a few who overcame this and went on to get married and raise a child.  It's an awesome testimony and I will share their story one day but will change some facts and names so no one will know them.  In fact, I know several couples like this so I'll combine the two, not to deceive but to glorify God.  

I feel these people with their unBiblical agendas are targeting Christian businesses and churches for money, fame, and to get on television and the internet to be applauded and worshiped for standing up for their beliefs.  They are intentionally persecuting the Body of Christ.  This case in the Supreme Court is not even about the baker refusing to make the cake as he offered to sell him anything in the store.  What he would not do is bless it.  Making cakes is a work of art.  My sister made the most beautiful wedding cakes I've ever seen and it was art.  IF they wanted that cake because it IS the best tasting cake, they weren't there to persecute and sue but truly wanted his cake, why couldn't (or didn't) they buy one and take it to another bakery that can and is willing to decorate it whoever they wish?  Problem solved.  I just don't believe that's the case.  It's persecution 90% of the time.  

Churches are under extreme pressure from both the state and federal government to perform gay weddings.  I'm not sure if they're under pressure to ordain homosexual ministers yet but I know many churches do.  I'm sure many feel caught in a nightmare.  They know the right thing to do but if they refuse, they'll lose their tax exempt status and many small, Bible preaching true churches, will have to close down.  We are going to be left with mega churches that are false prophets/teachers, wolves and outright charlatans who will then be in charge of how we can worship.  Are we getting close to the beast system?  I've never seen so much Biblical prophecy fulfilled in the last 10-12 years combined in my 57 years of life.  It seems like daily another prophecy is fulfilled.  

We are guaranteed freedom of worship in the Constitution.  Separation of Church and State was not for the government but for the Church.  Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to a Baptist church assuring them that no government agency could interfere or dictate who they had to worship.  It was for the Church's sake, not the world's but that's not what is being taught anymore.  Most people think it's the opposite AND it's a Constitutional right for them to be free from us.  "Let God be true and every man a liar."  We allowed this to happen to our children and grandchildren.  It's not their fault.  We didn't raise them right.  We bought into the lies of psychologists and don't discipline your children because it might damage their self-esteem.  You don't have to win a game to get an award, you just have to show up and sometimes not even then.  When did we start rewarding GOOD behavior and stop using authority to correct BAD behavior?  How many of you get a pat on the back (or expect one) for doing your job?  Isn't doing the right thing good enough?  Jesus said "don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing."  What He means is this...don't go bragging and boasting about your "good" deeds.  You do it because God commands it, not to be known as a philanthropist.  I even see many Christians brag that they give more than 10% of their tithes or maybe they brag that they give to the penny exactly 10% and not a dime more.  First, we are not under the tithing law.  We are to give cheerfully.  But I digressed a bit so let me get back on track.

This church has so many opportunities for me to go out and share the Gospel, help the needy, and get my hands dirty.  I want to feed the hungry with food and with the Bread of Life.  I'll scrub toilets.  I don't care what God asks of me, I want to serve Him.  I have no "me" agenda.  I know my strengths and what I hope I eventually get to do and if it is God's will, it will happen.  Maybe it doesn't matter to God if we choose to teach or feed the poor.  It's all the same to Him.  No one is greater or lesser.  Take a leap of faith and doors will start opening for you.  What are we waiting for, God to tell us "I want you to teach Sunday School?"  It doesn't work that way.  Oh, and you may have to scrub toilets at first until you are ready to start a ministry.  I jumped right in to make this blog and I look back and see how many errors I made.  I was not ready.  

So, even though I don't agree that any church should perform gay marriages as it goes against the teachings of both the Old AND New Testament.  It's different than misinterpreting a verse by accident, this is knowing and willful.  Our choices are getting smaller and smaller and we're going to have to face some very hard challenges soon.  They preach the truth of the Bible, the right Gospel of Salvation and the true Christ Jesus.  I feel God led me there and it was a fluke, it really was.  I'm going in this with my eyes wide open and maybe I can make a difference in someone's life in a eternal way of salvation.  Maybe it may be for a gay person who is struggling.  I'm tired of judgment when I'm as much a sinner as they are.  If they love God, with Him nothing is impossible.  Oh, and all the other churches in my area allow gay marriages so I either forsake church or I go to worship my Savior and that is all I plan to do.  What would YOU do?  God bless and much love and love much in Christ Jesus!

SBC VOICES ON RACHAEL DENHOLLANDER...SHE MADE A POWERFUL STATEMENT AND SHARED THE GOSPEL AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE

The Church Needs More (and Fewer) Rachael Denhollanders by Dave Miller

I follow the women's gymnastics team every four years when the Olympics take place. I don't know if I'd ever heard of Rachael Denhollander until a couple of weeks ago when her victim impact statement against uber-pervert Larry Nassar went viral. Now a 33-year-old lawyer, she spoke powerfully to condemn Nasser's actions in abusing what now totals at least 265 teenage girls while also clearly presenting the gospel. She is credited as being the first person to take a public stand against abuse and was the driving force behind bringing this doctor to justice and ending his reign of terror.

We have also come to find out that she was asked to leave her church a few years back because she took a stand on behalf of the victims in the Sovereign Grace Ministries sexual abuse scandal. I do not know what church she was part of (I kinda hope it wasn't SBC!) but when she advocated for those who were abused, the elders of her church sided with the leadership of the SGM and told her and her husband that they were not welcome in her church anymore. The sad fact is that the church has too often sided with the abusers against the abused.

Every time I have heard her, or read her, I have thought she was hitting it out of the park! She strikes the perfect tone when she addresses these difficult issues.

Rachael Denhollander's Victim Impact Statement.

Rachael gave an interview with Christianity Today which laid out her story in more detail and shared the sad history of her removal from her church for siding with victims of the SGM scandal. It is a must-read.

I wish I'd never heard of Rachael Denhollander - or at least only from her gymnastics. It would be wonderful if children were not sexually abused like this. It would be a moment of praise if churches sided with the abused and ministered to them instead of so often circling the wagons to protect the reputations of the abusers. I wish Rachael Denhollander could practice her faith and her law career and raise her family in anonymity. I am guessing that she would agree - that if none of this ever happened she would be thrilled.

But it did happen. And since it did happen I am glad there is a voice such as hers out there speaking. I have seen plenty of Christian testimonies in the public square - sports, politics, celebrities - and many make me cringe. Hers gave me chills! I would make several brief observations.

1. She understands that forgiveness does not abrogate the consequences of sin. 

Perhaps the line I read that struck me the most was this:

I pray you experience the soul-crushing weight of guilt so you may someday experience true repentance and true forgiveness from God, which you need far more than forgiveness from me -- though I extend that to you as well.

Her God is no pushover who winks at sin and says, "It doesn't matter." She understands guilt and wrath and judgment. As she says, we can only understand the full glory of God's grace against the background of the darkness of sin and the holiness of God's character.

2. She has chosen grace instead of bitterness.

It is difficult to counsel a person who has been abused to seek grace rather than vengeance or bitterness. I remember a discussion on this blog in which I was told that abused women were not required to follow the biblical injunctions to forgive those who sinned against them - as if it was an exception clause. As you watch her speak, you see her relentless strength but get no sense of a bitter heart - in spite of was the doctor did to her or how her church mistreated her. She has chosen to live in God's grace. All of us have been sinned against, though few as egregiously as she has been.

But she seems to have found the way of God through that. Instead of becoming mired in hate and vindictiveness, she has prospered because she chose to obey God.

Folks, think about it. In her victim-impact statement, she hoped that the man who sexually molested her as a teenager would repent and find the grace of God. If she'd cursed him and said, "Rot in hell," we'd have understood and many would have applauded. But she returned good for evil, grace for sin. She loved her enemy and prayed for the one who persecuted her - all that "Jesus-stuff" we tend to ignore.

I hope when I grow up I will be the Christian she is!

3. She is relentless is advocacy for the victims of abuse. 

It is amazing to me how the church rallies around well-known figures who are accused of sin, and in the process generally attacks those who accuse them. Sure, there are false accusers out there and they should be held accountable, but most are not.

Here is the normal pattern.

• Accuser says, "He sinned."
• Celebrity Christian leader says, "I am innocent and falsely accused."
• Accuser's life is trashed by those recommending grace for the leader.
• The facts tend to bear out the accusers' story - MOST of the time.
• The vindicated accuser leaves the arena bruised, beaten, and often bitter.

When we wrote about the shameful story of Andy Savage, we received many comments asking us why we were accusatory, why we were setting ourselves up as the sin police, why we were attacking a good man. Not a one of those who spoke to defend Andy Savage showed concern for the victim of his abuse. That tends to be how it goes. Question the story. Blame the accuser. Defend the leader.

Rachael stood up for the victims of Larry Nassar. She advocated for the victims of the leadership of Sovereign Grace Ministries, even though her own church leaders turned their guns against her. In this, she is a model for all of us. The church absolutely must become a place of refuge and safety for the abused and not just for the abusers!

How many bitter enemies of the church have been created by the leadership of the church telling them to keep their pain quiet and not rock the boat, by believing their victimizers instead of them? This must stop.

We live in a world filled with victims of sexual abuse. Unfortunately, the church is not immune to that. Rachael Denhollander is a wonderful example of how we can respond - upholding the holiness of God, responding with grace and not bitterness, and advocating for the victim.

May her tribe increase...and decrease.