Spiritual Child Abuse

“Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate” Psalms 127:3-5. “Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table” Psalms 128:3.

Psalms 127 declares that children are a heritage of the Lord. Children touch the heart strings of almost every person. They bless the world with their presence. They often are able, if we let them, to teach us some important lessons of life that we sometimes forget, such as humbleness, honesty, and forgiveness. Jesus used a child to teach his disciples humility in the midst of their discussion on who was the greatest in the kingdom Matthew 18:3-4. We rejoice at their birth, excited to see them take the first step, say their first word as we watch them grow through the multifaceted phases of life.

To hear or see one of these little ones hurt or abused sometimes brings out of us an attitude and hostility that we hoped would stay suppressed and buried. Children are often abused mentally and physically. Either one can leave a child scarred for life. Some child abuse ends in death, what a terrible tragedy when culture sinks to such level of ungodliness.

Have we stopped to consider the nature, extent and danger of spiritual child abuse? By spiritual child abuse I am referring to that done by parents or others that is detrimental to the spiritual development and wellbeing of children. The bible is not silent about the abuse of children. Abigail was clearly married to an abusive husband 1 Samuel 25. How do you suppose a man of this disposition would have treated his children? King Saul verbally abused his son Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20:30. In these two cases we have physical and mental abuse, but what about spiritual abuse. May I suggest that spiritual abuse is far more prevalent than is physical abuse? The bible is not silent about spiritual abuse. One instance of spiritual child abuse is found in the book of Jeremiah where the children of Israel offered their sons in sacrifice to Molech.

“But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it. And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin” (Jeremiah 32:34-35). Abijam, who reigned as king in Judah walked after his father. What kind of walk was it? Note the text “And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 15:3).

Spiritual child abuse is also prevalent today, far more than we would like to admit. By whom is such a terrible thing committed? It occurs in and out of the church of Jesus Christ. Individuals may refuse to admit it, but it never the less remains true. A parent may never physically abuse a child, they may be as good to them in life as any child could want. They may give them everything their heart desires and still abuse them spiritually.

What about parents that never obey the gospel and rear their children without God, without Christ and without hope (Ephesians 2:12). They never train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Ephesians 6:4. Is this not spiritual child abuse. We say that those who do not physically feed their children is abuse, We call the neglect of children abuse, then why is a failure to spiritually feed your children and to spiritually neglect your children, Not spiritual abuse.? Parents should give careful attention to preparing their children for eternity.

What about parents in the church who never read the bible with their children, who are inconsistent in their worship and who at home is an entirely different person than they are at church. Their children see the inconsistency and become turned off to things spiritual because of the example that was placed before them.

What about parents who put personal activities or the children’s sports activity before the Lord? The children learn from their example and later in life never become a Christian and if they do ultimately leave the faith because of a misplaced priority.

Have we considered that provoking our children to wrath (anger) Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3: 21, that discourages them spiritually. A failure to properly discipline children when they do wrong is a form of abuse (Proverbs 13:24; 22:6).

Due consideration should be given to child abuse in any form including spiritual child abuse. It is our Job to prepare them for heaven. Anything shy of this could well be called spiritual child abuse.

Bill Cantrell