When Rachel Black was struggling to make sense of her abusive pastor, there was no Christianity Today Mars Hill podcasts and seemingly no books on how an employee in a church is to respond to such disregard. All she knew was the "hairs on her arms stood up" as she sought to understand her boss.
Forgive and forget. Don't judge. Remember we are all sinners. There are actually times when grace means to pronounce judgment and bring accountability.
We see our oppressors (as the Bible calls them) winning the battle. But that is only in the short-term. The LORD is my refuge.
Is a church leader, by nature of the office he holds, the "Lord's anointed" as David calls King Saul in 2 Samuel 1:14?
To be silent is sin. When you know there is oppression, compassion requires advocacy.
Mia suffered under a leadership that was more concerned about following their church rules than the love of Christ. Their spiritual abuse was worse than her experiences of sexual abuses.
Will the "evil" God returns to my abuser be in this life (through trials and tribulations), the end of his life, or simply in the final judgment? He says, in faithfulness, he will "put an end to them."
Ethan said there were red flags he should have seen, and to this day, several years later, lives with a certain guilt that he failed in his calling.
Margo served her Senior Pastor well. Too bad he was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Recognizing Jesus is the true and right judge brings healing and forgiveness.