To Heal or Harm: Scripture's Use as Poison or Medicine for Abuse Survivors

by Steven R. Tracy

Scripture can play a unique and profound role in the lives of abuse survivors. It can be a powerful instrument for healing or harm. Unfortunately, it is most often a source of great harm. In over two decades of abuse ministry Steve Tracy's ministry, Mending the Soul, has found that some of the most extensive trauma harm is experienced by survivors who had Scripture misused against them by abusers or the abusers' collaborators. Sometimes survivors misuse Scripture against themselves. Furthermore, well-meaning family members and pastors are often inadequately equipped to apply relevant biblical texts to abuse survivors' needs. Even fewer are able to refute the most common, harmful misuses of Scripture. This book is designed to address this glaring need.

The first section lays the foundation for the rest of the book by briefly surveying the complex richness of Scripture and then give basic principles for proper biblical interpretation. The second section of the book surveys key biblical texts most commonly misused against survivors organizing them by topic (the family, church, etc.). Steve Tracy shows how key biblical texts have been misused and then explains what those texts do and do not mean. When possible, he also shows how these texts are applicable to and helpful for survivors. The last section surveys, by category, key biblical texts which are most helpful for abuse survivors' protection and healing. Finally, the book includes appendices surveying biblical teaching on various abuse-related topics.

368 pages, Paperback

Published January 6, 2026

Reviews

[Kirk Miller]

I want to recommend this book to two groups of people:

(1) Those who experienced abuse along with Scripture being used to defend, excuse, mishandle, or cover up that abuse. I think you may find help here, to help you untangle how Scripture may have been misused—and how it instead is meant for good, not harm. Understanding these Scriptures won’t undo your abuse, but it may bring relief to see that God does not stand behind it, contrary to how his Word was weaponized in it.

(2) Pastors. Even if you don’t agree with everything in this book (I didn’t), I think you will be helped as you’re challenged to wrestle more carefully with interpretation and application of some critical passages. This book is essentially a hermeneutics text focused specifically on interpreting and untangling passages that are often misused in regards to abuse or those who have experienced abuse. Many of the passages dealt with in the book were ones I’ve witnessed firsthand being misused in abuse.

[HelenA33 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts by explaining hermeneutics, and why it is so important to clarify the context. It then looks at scriptures which have been used to harm people - passages on marriage (for example, is it true that wives should always submit?), children, the church, abuse victims and spiritual life. It explains things such as biblical hyperbole and common misconceptions. It then looks at God’s response to abuse, His mandate and His commitment to heal, redeem and restore. And then there are appendixes; it’s worth buying the book just for these! The book also contains some interesting quotes, as well as examples of where scripture has been weaponised, and then it explains what the scripture’s proper meaning is. It clarifies so many things, for example:

“Failing to repent prohibits reconciliation. This is reiterated in Luke 17:3: “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and IF they repent, forgive them.” The father of Anna’s rapist wholly ignored and violated this portion of Matthew 18 and incorrectly deduced that biblical forgiveness simply means letting go of all consequences for another person’s destructive sin. This is a grave misunderstanding of biblical teaching.” (Page 175)

I loved this book. It took me ages to read, because there were so many things that I wanted to write down. How I wish this book had been around 30 years ago, when I was naïve and foolish and had no solid biblical grounding. It contains nugget after nugget of truth, it uses scripture to interpret scripture and the heart of God comes through so clearly. If you’ve been in an abusive situation and the church has made it worse, there is hope. I could feel my spirit soar, and I wanted to jump up and down and shout, “Yes!”. I know that this will be a book I will want to turn to again and again, and one I want to share with others. I am so thankful to Steven R.Tracy for writing it.

Buy this book! I cannot recommend it highly enough. If, like me, you’ve previously been under any wrong teaching (‘Jesus wants you whole’, word of faith, Bethel, Hillsong), or been in a sound church and had scripture used against you, this book will help you heal. You will understanding the error. You will grasp the truth like a precious jewel - may it set you free and bring you closer to the Lord.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well written and documented book. It is split into three sections: the hermeneutics of Scripture, the harmful uses of Scripture, and the healing uses of Scripture. The author's speaks from his decades of work with abuse victims within the church. His tone is gentle and understanding. He constantly reminds the reader that the Bible is God's love letter to Christians, which is a foreign concept to those who have been abused by the church or "Christians." I appreciate that the first section breaks apart the principles for interpreting Scripture. He takes apart various passages and thoroughly dissects them and how they have been misused and also how God brings healing through particular passages. This is a much needed book for the Christian community. What a gift to us all. The expertise and experience of the author make this a book to keep on the reference shelf for easy access.

[Chris Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly all the accounts of abuse that survivors have disclosed to me were made exponentially more excruciating by a parent or pastor's misuse of Scripture. In To Heal or Harm, Steve Tracy empowers survivors to reclaim God's word as medicine rather than poison and equips all believers to rightly interpret the Bible. This is essential reading if the church is to offer protection for the vulnerable and healing for the abused.

[Elizabeth Riendeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very helpful in many respects AND I would recommend looking into a different take on corporal punishment. The author states that the book of “Proverbs allows for non-abusive corporal child discipline,” which doesn’t reflect the cultural context of the “rod” passages. A better and more thorough explanation can be found in “The Myth of Good Christian Parenting” and “Thy Rod and Thy Staff They Comfort Me.”

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid and interesting

[Sara Unger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for Christians everywhere. It should be top of the pile for Pastors and anyone who counsels individuals in a Christian setting where scripture is used. The truth is, we’ve probably all harmed someone in our lifetime by misusing scripture. This book is a reminder to take care in how we treat and support others so that we are not causing further trauma and injury to already hurting individuals. Let us use scripture to heal, and not harm.