STOP! Please read this first: If you or someone you know is being physically or sexually abused, please report such to your local authorities (as soon as possible), and if possible/warranted, consider removing yourself / other victims from harm’s way.
For cases of spiritual abuses specifically, please consider removing yourself from such an environment, and speak to your elders (or find a local church with godly Elders). You can also contact or email us with more information.
Please note that Mark and Avoid is only providing helpful information and resources from a Christian perspective, we ask that you please make sure to consult with your church’s elders or find a local Christian church.
Consider getting a certified biblical counselor, which can be found using this website: https://biblicalcounseling.com/find-a-counselor
If you have been the victim of past abuse, please know that God abhors such evil, and at Mark and Avoid we want to help those both who are being abused and also help warn people about teachers and churches and organizations (in hopes of preventing them from becoming abused).
Let us first understand that there is both spiritual and physical forms abuse.
Spiritual abuse is when someone, usually someone in a position of authority, makes false claims and gives misleading and deceptive teachings about the things of God for their own benefit, which is at the expense or harm of another’s spiritual well-being.
Physical abuse is when someone does a harmful act to another person’s body (or the performance of sexual acts that are non-consensual – as Christians, we believe that sexual acts should only occur within the confines of a marriage between one man and one woman who are consenting to such acts). There is also neglect, which is when a person deprives someone else of a need (food, water, shelter, etc).
We Christians should pray that persons who are abusive will repent of such sin, and will turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness.
Ultimately, our trust is in the Lord God, who will make all things new, and will hold all mankind to an account. There will be a final judgement, and those who do not have Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be under the wrath of God in Hell for all eternity (which is the only just punishment for their sins).
We hope that you or victims you know are able to heal and be comforted by the Lord. God bless you!
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalms 147:3)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
