by Abed Zien El Dien

Abuse, whether sexual assault, domestic violence, or other forms, cuts to the very heart of God’s design for people. I went through harassment as a child, and I know others who have faced the pain of sexual or domestic abuse. These wounds are not only emotional or social but also spiritual. Abuse twists God’s creation, destroys peace (shalom), and attacks the image of God in people. It is rooted in sin and in violence as an expression of sin, damaging human dignity and breaking God’s good plan for human flourishing.
In many cultures, especially those shaped by shame, such stories are hidden. Survivors are often silenced, not because these experiences are rare but because speaking out disrupts social order and challenges illusions of safety. The Bible, however, does not look away. It speaks honestly about violence and sexual assault, showing both the terrible effects of sin and the healing hope of God’s work in Christ. Abuse distorts what it means to be human, but Christ’s redemption brings restoration.

I. Beginnings

The Bible starts with the words: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… and it was good.” Everything God made – light, land, and living things – was good. Humanity, however, was described as very good. People are unique because they are created in God’s image (Gen 1:26–27). This gives every person dignity and worth, reminding us that we were made like God, by God, for God, and to be with God.In the ancient world, kings set up statues of themselves throughout their lands to show their power. In a similar way, when God created Adam and Eve in His image, He made them living representatives of His reign. Humanity was meant to reflect God’s rule and care for creation.
God then gave humans a mission: “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and rule over it” (Gen 1:28). Their job had two parts: to multiply, filling the world with God’s images, and to rule, not by exploiting but by wisely managing the world’s resources, shaping culture, and caring for creation on God’s behalf. A large part of humanity’s purpose was to spread God’s presence and rule throughout the earth.

II. Shalom and Violence

Genesis 1–2 not only describes creation’s goodness but also its harmony. Humanity was made to glorify God in a state the Bible calls shalom. Shalom is more than peace of mind. It means wholeness, flourishing, and delight. It is the world as it should be, free from fear, violence, and injustice.
But Genesis 3 tells the story of rebellion. Adam and Eve doubted God’s word and listened to the serpent, breaking shalom. This was cosmic betrayal. As a result, guilt, shame, and corruption spread into all creation. The close relationship with God was broken. Fear, blame, and conflict poisoned human relationships. Violence replaced love, and worship was redirected to idols.
Sin is more than rule-breaking; it is the destruction of God’s peace. God hates sin because it breaks shalom, disrupts peace, and twists creation away from His purpose. Hurting another person is not only wrong against them but also an insult to God Himself, because they bear His image.
The Old Testament makes this reality clear. From Cain’s murder of Abel to wars, massacres, and sexual violence, Scripture shows humanity sliding deeper into violence. Yet God never abandoned His purpose. Even in the darkest moments, He promised restoration and renewal.

III. Sin and Sexual Assault

One of the deepest distortions of God’s design is sexual assault. God gave sex as a gift, for love, intimacy, and the creation of new life. It was meant to reflect covenant love and bring joy within marriage. But after the Fall, this gift was twisted into a weapon of domination and humiliation.
Sexual assault is not only physical harm but also a spiritual violation. It corrupts one of God’s most precious gifts. It replaces love with hatred, intimacy with force, and dignity with shame. It wounds the victim’s body, mind, relationships, and spirit. It links sex with violence, leaving deep scars on a person’s sense of worth.
The Bible does not hide these horrors. It records the rape of Dinah (Gen 34), the abuse of the Levite’s concubine (Judges 19), Amnon’s assault of Tamar (2 Sam 13), and the violation of women in times of war (Isa 13:16; Lam 5:11). These stories show how depravity spreads through human relationships as people reject God. Sexual violence is both personal sin and often systemic, used as a weapon of power and control.
Theologically, sexual assault is an assault against God Himself because it attacks and defaces His image. It mocks His covenant love and corrupts shalom. Survivors often carry lasting trauma, while society too often adds to their pain through disbelief or blame. Yet Scripture is clear: victims are innocent (Deut 22:25–27), perpetrators are guilty, and God defends the oppressed.
Ultimately, sexual assault reveals how deeply sin has corrupted creation. Yet it also shows the brilliance of God’s redemption, for He promises to heal and restore what violence has destroyed.

IV. Sin Against God and Neighbor

Sexual assault is present in Scripture. However, it is seen as a grave sin against both God and people. The two are inseparable. To violate another person is to sin directly against the Creator who made them in His image.
This is why David, after adultery and murder, confessed: “Against You, You only, have I sinned” (Ps 51:4). His actions harmed Bathsheba and killed Uriah, yet ultimately they were sins against God. Likewise, every abuse or assault devastates its victim and dishonors God.
Yet God does not ignore the suffering of victims. He sees, He knows, and He cares. Evil may distort creation, but it cannot define reality. God’s redemption is the final word. Sin is parasitic: it feeds on good but cannot create new reality. Against this dark backdrop, God’s grace shines even brighter.
Sexual assault destroys trust, damages relationships, and leaves shame and guilt. But the gospel declares hope: redemption is possible. Christ bore shame and violence on the cross, standing with victims, taking on the weight of sin, and beginning the renewal of all creation. In Him, shalom will one day be fully restored.

Conclusion: Bruised but Redeemed

Abuse bruises God’s image in people, but it cannot erase it. Violence may distort creation, but it cannot defeat God’s plan. Sexual assault and abuse are tragic expressions of sin, but they are not the final word. In Christ, God restores shalom, reclaims His image-bearers, and heals what sin has broken.
Our calling, then, is not only to break the silence but also to walk gently with those who are not yet ready to speak. For many survivors, recovery from trauma is a long and painful journey, and the first need is not advocacy but compassion, patience, and safety. Just as Scripture names abuse honestly, so too we must name evil for what it is and affirm that survivors bear no guilt. But we must also recognize that healing often needs to come before testimony, and that silence for some is not complicity but survival.
Our role as the body of Christ is to create spaces where survivors are free from pressure, where they can experience dignity and belonging without fear. In those spaces, words may eventually come, but even when they do not, God still hears their groans and holds their pain. Evil seeks to destroy, to isolate, and to silence. But in Christ, redemption is not dependent on speaking out—it begins with His presence, His compassion, and His healing work.
Where abuse distorts humanity, Christ restores dignity. Where violence leaves scars, Christ brings wholeness and peace. Our calling is to stand beside the broken with unwavering love until shalom is restored. Evil seeks to destroy, but God redeems by the Spirit and through the church. Where abuse distorts humanity, Christ restores dignity, wholeness, and peace. There is hope for the bruised to be redeemed!
Note: This blog is based on a scholarly paper presented by a friend called Justin S. Holcomb.

Abed is Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at ABTS. He is a member of the Church of the Nazarene and enjoys watching movies, listening to music and taking walks.