This came across my screen today. I think it's worth reading her rationale and conclusions, but it is very similar to things I've been saying. Authoritarianism is elevating the hierarchy above people, and while it's especially the eldership that I find problematic, this is also happening with respect to husband/wife and father/children.
Her second point is the cornerstone of Biblical Counseling, where the victim and abuser are flipped. The abuser is, in a sense, one and done. They did harm, they repented of the harm and now everything is grand. Now the victim is the one living in a state of sin, bitterly mulling over wrongs and participating in (gasp) survivor blogs wallowing in self-pity. BC denies the physical effects of trauma on the brain and subsequent patterns of behavior, instead painting it as the sin of the victim.
The third part is the counterpoint to the second, and how IRPC has flipped the table on victim families. The sin of the Christian perpetrator can only be seen through the lens of mistakes. There's no pattern, no premeditation, only a brief error of judgment that can and should be repented of and now the church can move on - remember hierarchy (restoring the pastor back to power) is the primary goal here.
As a result, the church virtually denies abuse (a deliberate pattern of behavior to manipulate and control others) within her walls - as such would be antithetical to a brief error of judgment.
Laura has much more insight in her two threads, but I felt it was very applicable to the lines of reasoning here.
🧵Why Christians Have a Hard Time Believing it’s Actually Wrong to Sexually Abuse a Child, as Long as Another Christian Does It.
— Laura Robinson (@LauraRbnsn) February 12, 2023
Okay, this is a hyperbolic title. I will be told this is a straw man. Fair! I do try to avoid extreme statements about religion because I do think
1) Hierarchy is Health. Good relationships are about knowing and occupying your assigned spot based on age and gender. Most social problems are caused by people failing to comply with their assigned rank. Relationships where rank and role are honored are healthier. Relationships
— Laura Robinson (@LauraRbnsn) February 12, 2023
2) There Is No Trauma, Only Sin.
— Laura Robinson (@LauraRbnsn) February 12, 2023
Depression, mental illness, and damage are manifestations of sin and the individual’s bad habits. They need to be repented of. They have no more power than people give them. Trauma and mental illness can be set aside like any bad habit.
3) People Like That Are the Only People Here.
— Laura Robinson (@LauraRbnsn) February 12, 2023
Christians are a class of people whose behavior is rational, consciously motivated, and comprehensible to everyone. Christians make mistakes but are fundamentally trustworthy, like other Christians, and well
meaning. Serious wrongdoing is usually caused by some kind of external agent, usually addiction or demonic forces. This state is temporary and easy to resolve. Only outside the church are people likely to be recklessly and chaotically dangerous.
— Laura Robinson (@LauraRbnsn) February 12, 2023
Part 2: Why Christians Struggle to Believe Abuse is Wrong (If Another Christian Does It)
— Laura Robinson (@LauraRbnsn) February 12, 2023
(Read Part 1 below first).https://t.co/bYCGVbOX3o
So aside: My concern is with my own background: white American conservative evangelicals. If you want to know about other churches, ask
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