Getting Dirty

Would you be willing to get “involved,” to get “dirty,” when you see wrong? In other words, not turn your head, not sit on the fence but willing to “STEP” in to help someone that is hurting?

It is a slippery slope when you see “blatant wrong” being done but you don’t know what to do. For instance, a child being mistreated by an adult (parent, coach, teacher, older child) or a woman being abused by her spouse. It is a hard thing for me…to stand “idly” by and watch! I have been able to step in at times. In some cases knowing, if I did, at some point it could all turn back on me…meaning…the person could get help…but then I could lose a friend or get blamed.

I have decided even if I “take a bullet” when I see wrong, it is worth it. Yes, when getting involved in an abusive situation it can be so convoluted that at times….YOU realize…getting involved means…it will change the relationship…especially if you are involved in “exposing the inappropriate behavior”. You have to decide, “Am I willing to lose the relationship to make things better for this person?” A hard choice…but well worth it.

I can remember a friend of mine in middle school showing me the “stripes” on her back…from being beaten by her father. Back then …I did nothing! It bothers me to this day. She swore me to secrecy.

Today…at 53…I understand she was in total fear of being beaten worse. She only had a “view” of a young girl…no “helicopter” view of what she could do. And honestly, looking back to that time there was no “age of information”. No publicity about who we could call. I had no idea and had no access to what to do as well. I never told my parents. Knowing my dad and mom, they would have taken action…but I was too scared for her too. If they took action, what “worse thing” may happen?

Today when I see wrong, and unfortunately I see wrong too much, sometimes by the “unlikely,” it sickens me and I cannot stand by. I have now lived long enough to know, “We do not know what goes on behind closed doors!”

I have too many adult conversations of what “does go on behind closed doors!” It sickens me to see women and children trapped in “abusive” situations. I praise God every day that I live in a day in which the age of information has “freed some slaves!”

Human trafficking is at an all time high. But I want people to realize that human abuse, domestic abuse is all around us. Many hide behind “religion” to “cover their abusive ways”. They distort Scripture to “fit” their sick behavior. I take great comfort in a HOLY God who sees IT ALL!

Let me share a few verses with you.
Isaiah 38:19, “…parents tell their children about your faithfulness.” We should be telling children about God’s faithfulness and love, not abusing them.

Ephesians 6:1-4, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise— ‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’ Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” How can children honor parents who have been abusive? Why are fathers not heeding God’s word to not exasperate their children?

Ephesians 5:25-28, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” There are lots of questions that could be asked here. Suffice it to say, there is no place for abuse.

I pray every day for “things done in secret” to be exposed. I know this for sure…God don’t like ugly. HE doesn’t. I can only imagine what He thinks of men who take advantage of women and children.

I ask you to join me in asking God, if you know of abuse, “What is my role?” I have to ask you a really hard question: is it really to do nothing but pray… and sit comfortably in your home and sleep safely at night when others are being hurt before your very eyes? If you know and do nothing, remember, God knows you know. As I study HIS Word, for the life of me, I don’t see where it says to PRAY and do nothing. It says love your neighbor as yourself. Read the “Parable of the good Samaritan.”

Remember, evil prevails when good men and women do NOTHING! What will you do if you know of evil?

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