Is It Abuse?
Tricia (not her real name) was a stay-at-home soccer mom. She, her husband, and two sons attended church every Sunday. Additionally, she and her husband hosted a Small Group at their home on Wednesday evenings. They didn’t have much, but they got by. They seemed like the All-American Family. However, things were not good. Behind closed doors, Tricia’s husband abused her. He didn’t physically abuse her, leaving marks on her body. No, he emotionally abused her and left scars on her—and her children’s—souls.
One of the reasons that Champion Recovery Community (CRC) exists is to help people recover from addiction, codependency, and trauma. Trauma comes in many forms. One of the most sinister forms of trauma is abuse. Abuse, called “oppression” in the Bible (see Lev. 6:1-4; Deut. 26:7; 2 Kings 13:4; Ps. 73:8; Is. 10:1-2; and Jer. 22:17), occurs when an abuser/oppressor punishes a victim so as to shape the world and outcome that the abuser/oppressor wants.
One of the best resources we have found that biblically addresses this kind of trauma is biblical counselor Darby A. Strickland’s Is It Abuse?: A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2020). In the book, Mrs. Strickland identifies five types of abuse: physical, sexual, emotional, spiritual, and financial. Over the next several months we will share some of her insights and suggestions for how to identify types of abuse and how to help victims.
To be sure, God fights against oppressors and for victims (Prov. 6:12-16; Jer. 50:33-34; Luke 4:18). As followers of Christ, we must do the same. At CRC, we are seeking to help people, like Tricia, who are recovering from addiction, codependency, and trauma. If you are burdened to walk alongside those who have experienced trauma through abuse, then come join us. We’d love to add more champions to our community!