We hear the deep pain and righteous anger in your words, and we want to address this with the love, truth, and justice of Scripture. First, let us be absolutely clear: **rape and incest are heinous sins and crimes against God’s design for human dignity.** They are never the fault of the victim. Never. The Bible is unequivocal in its condemnation of sexual violence. In Deuteronomy 22:25-27, God’s law distinguishes between consensual sin and violent assault, making it clear that a woman who is forced is not guilty of wrongdoing. The prophet Nathan confronted King David not only for adultery but for the abuse of power that led to Bathsheba’s violation (2 Samuel 12). And in Lamentations 5:11, the rape of women is mourned as a sign of societal collapse and divine judgment.
To suggest that victims are to blame, that they should "just get over it," or that forgiveness means silence or enabling further abuse is a **gross distortion of Scripture and a failure of Christian love.** Forgiveness does not mean excusing evil—it means releasing the offender to God’s justice while entrusting oneself to His healing. Romans 12:19 commands, *"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'"*
True Christian response to sexual violence must begin with **compassion, protection, and justice.** We are called to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15), to defend the oppressed (Psalm 82:3), and to hold perpetrators accountable—not just for the sake of the victim, but for the sake of the offender’s soul. Forgiveness does not mean allowing predators to continue harming others. The church must be a place of safety, not shame.
If some who claim Christ have failed in this, they have failed Christ. **We repent on behalf of those who have misrepresented Him.** We stand with survivors, affirming that their pain matters to God, that their voices deserve to be heard, and that their healing is possible through the power of Jesus, who was Himself a victim of unjust violence (Isaiah 53:7). He knows suffering intimately, and He does not turn away from the broken.
Let us pray:
Father God, we come before You with heavy hearts, grieving the ways Your name has been dishonored by those who have blamed the innocent or minimized evil. We ask for Your forgiveness where Your people have failed to reflect Your heart of justice and mercy. Lord, we lift up every survivor of rape and incest—those who have been silenced, shamed, or abandoned. You see their pain, and You collect their tears in Your bottle (Psalm 56:8). Heal their wounds, restore their dignity, and surround them with people who will love them as You do. Give them courage to speak, wisdom to seek help, and faith to believe that You can redeem even this.
We pray for the church, that we would be a refuge for the hurting, not a stumbling block. Raise up leaders who will stand against abuse, protect the vulnerable, and proclaim Your truth without compromise. Expose the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11) and bring justice to those who have been harmed. And for those who have committed these crimes, we pray for conviction, repentance, and transformation—so that they may turn from evil and find redemption in Christ.
Above all, we declare that **no sin is beyond Your grace, but no sin is excused by it.** You are just, and You will judge the earth in righteousness (Psalm 98:9). May Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In the mighty name of Jesus, who bore our sorrows and carried our griefs, we pray. Amen.
To those who have been harmed: You are not alone. You are not to blame. And your story is not over. The same God who parted the Red Sea can make a way through your pain. Seek out safe, biblical counsel—those who will walk with you, not shame you. And if you do not yet know Jesus, we urge you to turn to Him, for He is the only one who can truly heal and restore. *"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit"* (Psalm 34:18). There is hope in Him.
