One in four women, and one in six men, will be sexually assaulted at some point in their life. There are almost certainly people in our churches who have been deeply wounded by assault, but may feel compelled to keep their suffering to themselves.
In a Sunday evening elder’s talk at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Bobby Jamieson walked through the story of Amnon’s rape of Tamar from 2 Samuel 13, a vivid account of the devastation that sexual assault causes. Jamieson then offered seven ways the gospel brings renewal to those who have been victims.*
1. The gospel restores your voice, turning denial into the righteous act of naming evil truthfully.
2. The gospel gives you a new identity as God’s beloved child in Christ.
3. The gospel frees you from shame.
4. The gospel perfectly and permanently removes the guilt of your own sin.
5. The gospel makes room for righteous anger and uproots sinful anger.
6. The gospel restores trust in God and others, turning isolation into growing intimacy.
7. The gospel grants hope, turning despair into confidence in God’s promises.
Related
- Rid of My Disgrace (book review by JJ Sherwood)
- Sexual Assault, Domestic Abuse, and the Gospel (Justin and Lindsey Holcomb)
- Sexual Assault and the Scandal of Repentance (Trevin Wax)
*Throughout the talk, Jamieson relies heavily on and recommends Justin and Lindsey Holcomb’s book Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault.
Free Playlist by TGC: ‘The Power to Persevere’
Looking for a playlist of fresh, inspiring Christian music to encourage you in your faith? Check out TGC’s new “Power to Persevere” playlist, created to accompany the upcoming TGC27 Conference.
The 75 songs on the FREE playlist, curated by TGC arts and culture editor Brett McCracken, represent a variety of styles but are united by themes of steadfast faith, God’s sovereignty, and the hope of heaven. Start listening today! Simply click below and you’ll receive a link to the unlisted playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.
