The Abuse Pendulum: Biblical Balance in Our Response to Abuse

by Jim Newheiser

What does the Bible say about abuse and how to counsel those affected by it?

Biblical Counselors should acknowledge past failures to adequately protect victims and hold perpetrators of abuse accountable. In reaction to these, however, it seems that the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction through the adoption of secular theories and methodologies. By applying the inerrant and sufficient Scripture to this complex issue, this booklet equips biblical counselors to recognize the overcorrections in responding to abuse and the dangers of unbiblical approaches while helping victims to respond rightly with the help of Christ. Ultimately, our goal as counselors is not to find a middle ground, but to follow Christ and emulate his care for victims, love for covenant marriage, and wisdom for all of life.

29 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 2025

About the author

Jim Newheiser, DMin, Westminster Theological Seminary, California, has served in pastoral ministry and has practiced biblical counseling for over thirty years. He is the Director of the Christian Counseling Program at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte and the Executive Director of IBCD. He is an ACBC Fellow and board member.

Reviews

[Stephen Mulder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This booklet is a biblically balanced interaction with some of the excesses of well-meaning people who truly want to care well for the abused, but go beyond Scripture. The church needs to know how to respond to abuse with care and compassion (and grow in doing this). I trust that this booklet will encourage people to respond to the evil of abuse with the character of Christ. Newheiser's compassion for victims of abuse comes out clearly in this book, even as he gently pushes back on the excesses of trauma-informed care.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and very readable, the first word that comes to mind when thinking about what I just read is "balanced". As in nearly everything in life, there are ditches on both sides that must be avoided and in the good desire to avoid one sin we need to make sure that we don't fall into another. A good response requires careful consideration, not imagining motives, sticking to facts, and understanding that there is often, although not always, some measure of culpability between breakdowns in all relationships between human beings, although certainly not always to an equal degree between them. Rather than being completely affirming or completely blaming, a godly response seeks to understand and counsel according to biblical principles, not man's. Excellent little book.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent mini book addressing an important issue, with biblical clarity and courage.