On Soul Survivor
Over the last couple of years, I've watched a string of abuse scandals come out.
I never thought it would be with a group that was so formative for me.
From the ages of 14-22, I attended almost every soul survivor summer festival. During those times I encountered God, fellowshipped with others and got horribly wet in waterlogged fields. I carried those experiences with me into University and onwards into the workplace and abroad.
So when I saw the credible reports earlier this week that the speaker who I had looked up to has failed and caused harm to those under his care... I was devastated.
Care for the victims
Not as devastated as his victims to be sure; they are the ones we need to care for first and foremost at this time. And if you happen to be reading this and have experience abuse, please report it to a safeguarding group or the relevant law groups.
Unfortunately, you might have to do the latter as some church safeguarding groups exist to protect the church and not the victims — I am hopeful that the group overseeing the Soul Survivor case (https://thirtyoneeight.org/) is such a group but I wouldn't trust groups like the SBC's investigations.
How could he be bad too?
I've thought about this a lot.
Not just in relation to Mike, but all the other pastors, authors and speakers who have failed recently.
Some people want to blame the theology of the organization suggesting egalitarian and affirming groups don't have these issues (although Soul Survivor is egalitarian and other scandals involve mixed-sex abuse for married men also occur - admittedly I don't know if there are any cases of affirming churches with abuse scandals) or the placing a pastor on a pedestal. I'm open to both points but certainly, there are cases of abuse where both are absent — it seems therefore that this is part of the problem of the human heart.
Not everyone has these struggles or falls for these
It's why we have to believe in victims, take action early, and create TOV Churches.
It's not the victims who report abuse who harm the church's whitness, it's the abusers and those who let them get away with it that did.
Lamenting
The main response I feel over these cases is to lament.
My heart cries out in pain and confusion at God. How could he allow this? Why won't he act? Why wasn't Mike changed by your Holy Spirit?
I have theological answers, and they make intellectual sense, but my soul still cries out in pain.
It cries out to the King who will make all things right one day; who will wipe away every tear from every eye.
Till then I want to do my part:
- To live pure and without committing abuse
- To stay vigilant to abuse
- To help victims of abuse
- To help abusers repent and change
That final point has to come in subordination to helping the victims — but the good news of the gospel is also hope for even the worst sinners.
I pray for Mike's victims that they will have peace.
I pray that Mike will repent, be healed and never have the position nor opportunity to abuse again.
