Facts and Common Opinions
The following information comes from Wikipedia.org and I don’t think many, if anybody, would debate that abuse is not wrong. It stands that at its core, it is bad to every human being whether that comes from a conscience or a cultural upbringing.
Abuse most commonly refers to the use or treatment of something or someone (a person, item, substance, concept, idea or vocabulary) that is harmful, or the lack of proper care of these (neglect). Abuse could be defined as the misuse of opportunities around us.
Abuse to yourself or others could include drinking alcohol, drugs, smoking, cutting, rape, abuse, gluttony, eating disorders, addictions, or suicide. Wikipedia characterizes abuse in styles such as psychological, physical, sexual, child sexual, spiritual and verbal. There is also substance abuse, human rights abuse, legal abuse, and internet abuse. Wikipedia also characterizes abuse by victim type such as child abuse, elder abuse, spousal abuse, self abuse, peer abuse, employee abuse, and animal abuse.
The signs and symptoms would be different depending on type of abuse. The abuse might be minute and undetectable to one person, but not to another person. Detection signs would vary for several reasons: for the amount of abuse, the “strength” of the abuse, and the persons involved.
What is abuse? What causes abusive behaviors? What are signs of abuse? What can be done to limit or control abusive behaviors within our society?
I think it would be a common viewpoint of every person that abuse is a bad thing. If someone were to say abuse is a good thing, we would probably label them insane. This common opinion comes from religious teachings, legal laws, and mostly from our conscience. Tendancies toward abuse is probably human nature. I would assume the majority of people acting out this abuse might be in one of the following positions:
- They would not know that they are causing abuse.
- They would play down the “badness” of what they are doing.
- They are deceived or deceiving themselves that it is a good thing.
- They would admit their wrong, but might be caught up in that lifestyle, pattern, or addiction leading to the abuse.
Abuse tends to be passed down from generation to generation. It has a lot of selfish motives and reasons that create it. It seems like if people aren’t properly instructed on virtuous morals, they don’t regard their lives or the lives of others as that important and the chances of abuse would be more likely. Many might be influenced by personal experiences involving family members, peers, coworkers, or whatever their culture was/is to them. Many might be influenced by drug activity or violence in television, movies, or sports and might take those influences to extreme or unbalanced ways in their own life.
Some abuse might start very small (it’s not a big deal) and it could slowly build to become a big problem.
Another issue related to abuse is whether spanking your children is or should be considered child abuse. The Bible has clear instruction to discipline your children and give them momentary pain to bring them lasting consequences. God works so much in this way especially in the individual lives of people. It is the loving thing to do. (Prov 13:24, 29:15,17) Physical discipline could lead to abuse if the parent is unaware or uncontrollable (we have to be careful with anger). More on this later.
Will God forgive a person who is guilty of abuse? –God forgives all sins, not selected ones. His mercy is to anyone, regardless of his or her past. (Ex. Manasseh from 2 Chron 33)
What I Believe and Why
Abuse is sin whether it’s self-abuse or toward someone else. We should live by the two greatest commandments as written in Matt 22: 37-40 and therefore love each other, but abuse is not loving, but instead harmful. Abuse is a sin and/or a stumbling block or block of offense to others and we are not to make others sin. (Rom 14:13) We are all made in the image of God and we are all designed to be Holy Temples of God since God resides in the Christian’s heart. (Gen 1:27, 1 Cor 3:16-17, 6:19) So we should respect our bodies and the bodies of others too, and major health risks are common with abuse. We should help others and bear each other’s burdens. (Gal 6:2) We should die to self and the old sinful man and repent and live differently, set apart for God. (Eph 4:22-24) We should try to purify ourselves to be an instrument of glory for God’s use. (2 Tim 2:21) As we are therefore forgiven we should forgive others. (Eph 4:32)
Although drunk driving accidents or rape “could never happen to you” or are fairly rare, by going to parties or bars, you put yourself into greater risk. So there are ways to reduce the risk of being abused. Drugs are illegal and along with following God’s laws we should also try to follow man’s laws as well, except when they are in violation to God’s laws. (Matt 22:21)
Gluttony might strike you as an odd thing to add to this list, but it can be irresponsible and is even based on selfishness. Who are we pleasing, God or ourselves? With the money or food that God has given us, we should try to give some away to the poor and needy as God commands us to. (Matt 25:22)
From The Bible
Proverbs 29:15, 17 -To discipline and reprimand a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child. Discipline your children, and they will give you happiness and peace of mind.
Matthew 15:30-31 . . . And [Jesus] healed them all.
Matt 27: 39 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. (NLT)
Luke 23:34 -Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Romans 13:10 -Love does no wrong to anyone.
1 Cor 4: 12 We (believers) work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. (NLT)
1 Cor 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
1 Cor 6: 19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
I'm curious about your perspective on alcohol then. Is any amount of alcohol ingested abuse to you? Or is there some blood alcohol content level that goes to abuse for you?
ReplyDeleteThere's a fine line between use and abuse. A person can use tylenol or alcohol, but too much use leads to abuse of these substances. In our American culture we tend towards excessive use that leads to abuse, and in some circumstances we even celebrate abuse. One such example is Mardi Gras. Excessive alcohol ingestion is celebrated during this festival, and that is wrong.
ReplyDeleteWith that said I personally believe that God has given us things on this earth to enjoy. I personally made decision years ago to stay away from alcohol to avoid the temptation to abuse alcohol. Certain people have higher natural tolerances for alcohol than others. As long as people ingest alcohol in a safe and responsible manner than I personally don't see a problem with it.
Responsibility is also important in the physical side of abuse. I believe that no one should hit another person in anger. Spanking a child to punish and correct them is not wrong. However if a person is spanking a child with the intention to hurt, or with an angry mindset than that is abuse.
God has given humanity a lit of freedom to act how we please on this earth, but we must exercise responsibility and self-control in how we use these freedoms so we don't end up abusing others or ourselves.
Drinking alcohol in itself is not bad, but in excess it is sin. Even allowing yourself the opportunity to have alcohol may create an addiction. Different things tempt different people more and different people can handle different temptations in different ways. Satan has many ways of destroying lives. Phil 4:5 (KJV) says “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” 1 Cor 6:12 says “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” Then shortly after that in 1 Cor 10:23, Paul says “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable All things are lawful, but not all things edify.” Eph 5:18 says “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
ReplyDelete