In the context of the Bible, "abuses" refer to the misuse or wrongful treatment of people, positions, or things, often resulting in harm or injustice. The Scriptures address various forms of abuse, including physical, verbal, spiritual, and systemic abuses, and provide guidance on how to recognize and respond to such behaviors.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is the infliction of bodily harm or injury. The Bible condemns violence and cruelty, emphasizing the sanctity of human life. In Genesis 6:11-13, the earth is described as being "filled with violence," leading to God's decision to bring about the flood. Proverbs 3:31 advises, "Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways," highlighting the rejection of violent behavior.

Verbal Abuse

Verbal abuse involves harmful or demeaning speech. The Bible warns against the power of the tongue to cause damage. James 3:6 states, "The tongue is also a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." Ephesians 4:29 instructs, "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen."

Spiritual Abuse

Spiritual abuse occurs when religious authority is misused to control or manipulate individuals. Jesus criticized the Pharisees for their oppressive practices, as seen in Matthew 23:4: "They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." This highlights the misuse of religious authority to burden others.

Systemic Abuse

Systemic abuse refers to the unjust treatment of individuals or groups within societal structures. The Bible calls for justice and righteousness, particularly for the vulnerable. Isaiah 10:1-2 warns, "Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of justice and withhold the rights of the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and rob the fatherless." This passage underscores the importance of fair and just governance.

Responses to Abuse

The Bible provides guidance on responding to abuse. Believers are called to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). In cases of personal offense, Matthew 18:15-17 outlines a process for addressing grievances within the community. Additionally, Romans 12:17-21 encourages believers not to repay evil for evil but to overcome evil with good.

God's Compassion for the Abused

Throughout Scripture, God is portrayed as a defender of the oppressed and a refuge for those who suffer abuse. Psalm 9:9-10 declares, "The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You." This assurance of God's presence and justice offers hope to those who have experienced abuse.

Articles in which are Reviewed the Abuses which have Been ...
... ARTICLES IN WHICH ARE REVIEWED THE ABUSES WHICH HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. Inasmuch,
then, as our churches dissent in no article of the ...
/.../various/the augsburg confession of faith/articles in which are reviewed.htm

Reformation of Abuses at Rome by the Emperor Theodosius.
... Book V. Chapter XVIII."Reformation of Abuses at Rome by the Emperor
Theodosius. The emperor Theodosius during his short stay in ...
/.../chapter xviii reformation of abuses at.htm

Church Abuses.
... CHAPTER VIII. CHURCH ABUSES. ... 'Church abuses' must still form a painfully conspicuous
feature in any sketch of the ecclesiastical history of the period. ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter viii church abuses.htm

Of the Jurisdiction of the Church, and the Abuses of It, as ...
... BOOK FOURTH. OF THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH CHAPTER 11. OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE
CHURCH, AND THE ABUSES OF IT, AS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE PAPACY. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 11 of the jurisdiction.htm

The Seventh Season,
... VII. The seventh season,. which requires more than commons diligence to keep
the heart, is when we receive injuries and abuses from men. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/vii the seventh season.htm

Article xxvii (xiii): of Monastic Vows.
... our knowledge, a monk, John Hilten, who, thirty years ago, was cast by his fraternity
into prison because he had protested against certain most notorious abuses ...
/.../the apology of the augsburg confession/part 35 article xxvii xiii .htm

Of the Mass.
... sake. Neither were the bishops ignorant of these abuses, and if they had
corrected them in time, there would now be less dissension. ...
/.../various/the augsburg confession of faith/article xxiv of the mass.htm

The Twenty-First Article they Absolutely Condemn, Because we do ...
... redemption. Here we do not as yet recite the abuses of the common people
[how manifest idolatry is practiced at pilgrimages]. We ...
/.../the apology of the augsburg confession/part 26 the twenty-first article.htm

Of the Mass.
... Since such innumerable and unspeakable abuses have arisen in the whole world from
the buying and selling of masses, the Mass should by right be relinquished ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the smalcald articles/article ii of the mass.htm

Memory, Hope, and Effort
... The one thing which will consecrate memory, deliver it from its errors and abuses,
raise it to its highest and noblest power, is that it should be in touch ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/memory hope and effort.htm

Abuses (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Abuses (1 Occurrence). Psalms 44:16 At the taunt of one
who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger. ...
/a/abuses.htm - 6k

Malachi (2 Occurrences)
... Serious abuses had crept into Jewish life; the priests had become lax and degenerate,
defective and inferior sacrifices were allowed to be offered upon the ...
/m/malachi.htm - 21k

Agape
... Paul's references to the abuses that had sprung up in the Corinthian church at the
meetings for the observance of the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20-22, 33 ...
/a/agape.htm - 15k

Altar (343 Occurrences)
... for other covenants that did not fall to be narrated (Exodus 24:4). 3. Dangers of
the Custom: But a custom of erecting altars might easily lend itself to abuses...
/a/altar.htm - 78k

Micah (54 Occurrences)
... 4. Contents of the Prophecies: Micah combats in his discourses, as does Isaiah,
the heathenish abuses which had found their way into the cult, not only in ...
/m/micah.htm - 38k

Corinthians (3 Occurrences)
... He had heard of the abuses and contentions that had arisen among them, first from
Apollos (Acts 19:1), and then from a letter they had written him on the ...
/c/corinthians.htm - 77k

Verbally (1 Occurrence)
... Verbally (1 Occurrence). Psalms 44:16 At the taunt of one who reproaches and
verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger. (WEB). ...
/v/verbally.htm - 6k

Visit (97 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To go or come to see for inspection, examination, correction of abuses,
etc.; to examine, to inspect; as, a bishop visits his diocese; a superintendent ...
/v/visit.htm - 36k

Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)
... He set himself with vigour to rectify the flagrant abuses that had sprung up, and
restored the orderly administration of public worship and the outward ...
/n/nehemiah.htm - 24k

Usury (17 Occurrences)
... has come to mean an exorbitant or unlawful interest. Abuses arose during
the exile. Nehemiah forced the people after the return to ...
/u/usury.htm - 15k

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