Compassionate Love: Displaying Compassion for Those Who Struggle with Mental Illness   (c)2017 Nancy Virden, Always The Fight Ministries

A  vile man in Hollywood is receiving national attention for his sexual assaults on women.  Former co-workers and employees are exposing his character en masse.

A creepy man lives quietly and voyeuristically, a peeping Tom protecting his fragile reputation and delusion of respectability.  He thinks no one knows. 

A rapist hides among his brothers as they cover for him and set each other up with unsuspecting women.  Victims leave that family home ashamed, convinced the assaults are their fault. 

Two male college students scope out a party for the most desirable prey.  They chat with her while one distracts and the other slips something in her drink.

Internationally, bodies are sold, raped in so-called acts of war, and used without regard to the priceless souls within. 

And on it goes…

Don’t listen to lies

While terrible sexual abuses happen to both male and female targets, we have to admit that to some men, children, women, and even life outside their own is not sacred. 

Corrupt men in high and powerful places who regard women as pawns in their grand schemes of self-satisfaction,  are difficult to identify on the surface.  Poorer and less influential abusers are often equally masked.  To their targets, the message is clear – I have power, you do not. I am entitled to your body,  you are mine.  I deserve to have my needs met, you have no needs that matter. I am worthy, you are valueless.

Know the truth

A reader of this blog sent me his disturbing arguments FOR objectifying women in relationships and through pornography by incorrectly asserting, “From a biblical perspective women were created to be sexual objects for man’s enjoyment and pleasure [sic] … and that’s the bottom line”.

Be smart. If someone is willing to write off half the human race as objects for the other half’s enjoyment, he is probably not the one you want interpreting the BIble for you.  He twisted 1 Corinthians 11:9 and Proverbs 5:19 to support his views.

It’s a shame the Bible is misused this way, but also nothing new. Taking passages out of their grammatical or historical context, and ignoring original social and cultural realities for the original audience, opens the door to any-ol’ misapplication. Also,  pretending that other biblical passages contradicting false claims do not exist  is convenient.  The reader’s comment saddens, but does not surprise me.  

The Corinthian verse,  “Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man,” is conveniently removed from its context about appropriate public dress and worship in first century AD. Only two verses later, the intended biblical message ends with, “For just as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.” That sounds to me like equal responsibility and dependence under God, not ownership of one over the other. 

Then there is the Proverbs verse. This is beautiful.  A full chapter of a father teaching his son to be faithful to his wife and to avoid lust and adultery, is the context out of which the blog reader pulled support for his case!

Be aware

It’s this type of ridiculous rationalizing that fuel sexual harassment and sexual assault. Winking at it is also culprit.  It is silence of non-victims who see what is happening, and complicity of those who refuse to look, that enables cruel and criminal actions against women. 

Be careful, sisters. Not all who charm tell the truth.

Today’s Helpful Word

2 Corinthians 4:2

But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

 

************

Comments are always welcome (see tab below).  NOTE: I am not a doctor or mental health professional. I speak only from personal experiences with and observations of mental illness. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental health care.

If you are struggling emotionally today or feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Hope and help can be yours.