Q: What would you tell a family member who was dying how to get to heaven?She was the first atheist I remember meeting (or at least the first who admitted to atheism). So naturally, I was interested in what her next answer might be (and also planning to defend the existence of God).
A: I don't believe in God or any of that stuff.
Q: Why do you believe what you believe?
A: Because too many bad things happen to innocent people.
And in that moment I knew something. She hadn't said anything about herself at that point, but she didn't have to. She had been abused. I could just tell by her answer and the way in which she said it. I didn't know what to say next, so I thanked her and she went and did other things. I told my friend who was with me what I thought, and we both silently prayed that she would come back and talk to us (we were the only customers in there).
It wasn't long before she came and sat with us and asked us where we were from and why we were doing the survey. I explained that we were from CIU and that the surveys were part of our class we were taking. Then she began opening up. She told us that her father had abused her and then asked a question that was a shock to me: Why do you believe in God? I began to tell my own story, how God had used sexual abuse in my life to bring me to him. We talked to her for a long time, and I did my best to portray the gospel to her as we conversed. I don't know what ever happened to her, but I still think of her often. I hope that the Lord softened her heart and claimed her as his own. I hope that she found hope and healing at the foot of the cross.
We Are Not Alone
This young woman's story is not an isolated case. My own story is not an isolated case. Consider the following statistics from ChildHelp.org:
- A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds
- More than five children die every day as a result of child abuse.
- Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.
Abuse has become an epidemic in our society. As Christians, we are called by God to not put anything in the paths of children that would hinder them coming to Jesus (Matthew 19:14). For this young woman, and for many children and adults, abuse is just such an obstacle.
A Call To Action
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. While many of us are caught up in the busyness of life or in the political arenas, children are suffering abuse and neglect. Let's work together to act against this epidemic in our country and in our world. Let's work together this and every month to end child abuse.
Here are some links that will help you get started in preventing abuse:
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