Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people… You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.

Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light… Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them… But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible.

EPHESIANS 5:3–14

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Since the fall, domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, unwelcome advances, crude remarks, and coercive behaviour have been tragically ubiquitous across cultures, times, and places. The biblical narrative is a case in point: Hagar, Dinah, Bathsheba, Esther – and the list goes on. As followers of Jesus, how do we respond when we, or those we love, experience abuse? There’s much wisdom in this passage, taken from an epistle written to a culture where – just like ours – sexual immorality abounded. So, let’s dive in.

There’s no place for pornography, stalking, affairs, hook-ups, upskirting, or sexual jokes amongst God’s people. Under his sovereign and saving rule, these sins are taken seriously and will be punished accordingly – with exclusion from the coming kingdom, where we’ll live in harmony with one another and with God (1 Corinthians 6:9–20).

What’s more, God cannot be fooled. He sees every abusive act, every attempt to shift the blame, and every perverted thought pattern. He is the light that shines in the darkness and exposes sin. And so, we can be confident that justice will be done, even if we don’t see it in the here and now.

As ‘people of the light’, we’re called to be agents of change who mould the culture around us to be more kingdom-like. For starters, this means we must not take part in ‘deeds of evil and darkness’. So, as uncomfortable as this may feel, take a few moments to examine your heart for aspects of your sexuality you’re struggling to bridle. Then confess these sins to the Lord, because God delights to forgive the contrite in heart (Psalm 51:17).

There’s more. We all have a part to play in breaking the taboo around sexual violence because it’s endemic. Shockingly, one in four women, one in six children, and one in 18 men experience rape or sexual assault. This starts with ‘exposing’ abuse in our families, workplaces, and friendship groups; we should never be complicit in cover-ups or brush issues under the carpet. Rather, we’re called to foster open conversations about sexual abuse, creating safe spaces where women are encouraged to speak about their experiences and listened to without judgement.

Help survivors access the appropriate psychological or medical support. Stand with them as they report criminal acts and seek justice. And shine light into profoundly dark situations by walking with survivors on their journeys: send a care package, offer a lift to the police station, and remind them of the all-powerful, all-loving God in whose hands they are held.

Sophie Sanders
Marketing & Communications Lead

Is there any abuse you need to bring into the light?

*If you’ve been sexually assaulted or raped or are supporting someone in the immediate aftermath of these horrific events, please don’t be afraid to get help. You should get medical help for any injuries or if you may be at risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections. Contact your local GP surgery, call NHS 111, visit a hospital A&E department or your local SARC clinic, or dial 999 in an emergency if this is your primary concern.

If you’re looking for emotional support and want to speak to someone, you can also contact charities including Rape Crisis, Women’s Aid, Victim Support, The Survivors Trust or Male Survivors Partnership. There are two helplines which may be a support, too. The freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247 and the rape and sexual abuse support line run by Rape Crisis England and Wales on 0808 500 2222 or use the online chat. These support lines are free to access and open 24/7.