| Social media is flooded with hashtags like #ChurchToo, #SBCToo, and #CatholicToo. Newspapers and websites have chronicled horrifying accounts of abuse by pastors, elders, youth ministers, and seminary leaders. But church abuse is so much more than abuse that takes place in a church building. It may be sexual or it may be violent. It may be verbal or psychological. It may be committed by an individual, or perpetuated by a network of abusers, enablers, neglecters, and fools. But what makes church abuse particularly heinous is that the Holy Word of God is weaponized. The Bride of Christ has been exploited to host evil. Abusers posing as shepherds infiltrate the fold to prey on the lambs, all while claiming to represent Jesus. You’ve heard of wolves in sheep’s clothing. These are wolves in shepherd’s robes. The harm done to victims is multi-faceted; overwhelming the mind, breaking the heart, and suffocating the soul. There are several layers we need to unpack. There’s the commission of earthly crimes, and the commission of spiritual abominations. There are things you can go to prison for, and things you can go to Hell for. Understanding what’s what, and who is responsible, is key to helping us recover from the greatest betrayal. Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Tommaso79 | 
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