Question 1

Where is God when rape happens? Doesn’t he care enough to prevent it?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 10:17Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.Psalm 55:17Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.Psalm 118:5In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.Psalm 119:76Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.We don’t know why God allows tragedies to enter our lives, especially when we have been faithful to him. But we can know that God hurts deeply with us and loves us more than we will ever know. God didn’t create sin and evil, nor does he condone it. As long as humans live on this earth, our sinful nature will cause some to do sinful and evil acts. God has chosen to allow sin to run its course for now, but that will not be the case forever. God cares so much for humanity that he offers anyone who follows him a future place where sin and evil will never exist again. In the meantime, he comforts us and gives us the strength to work through our pain.Genesis 37:28When the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt.Like Joseph, sometimes we may suffer because of the sins of others.John 9:1-3As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”Sometimes the suffering that comes to us is not our fault, as is the case with rape. It is a consequence of living in a sinful world filled with sinful people.

Question 2

What is God’s response to rape?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 11:5The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.Psalm 12:5The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”God hates sinful violence, and he hates it when his loved ones suffer at the hands of evil people. God sees all that happens, and he will remember those who have acted violently toward others and judge them accordingly.Psalm 118:5In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.God has a special place in his heart for those who are abused, oppressed, or victims of violence. He draws near to them, offering them comfort and healing.

Question 3

What is the relationship between evil desires and rape?

Accepted Answer

Romans 6:12Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.Galatians 5:19-21When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. . . . anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.Ephesians 4:22Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.James 1:13-15When you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.Lust and evil desires, left unchecked and uncontrolled, will fan into flames of violence, immorality, and rape. Mastering one’s desires is crucial to avoiding the terrible consequences of foolish and destructive actions.

Question 4

Does the victim of a rape share in the blame of the crime?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 22:25-26“If the man meets the engaged woman out in the country, and he rapes her, then only the man must die. Do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no crime worthy of death. She is as innocent as a murder victim.”Proverbs 16:29Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path.Proverbs 24:2Their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.Rape is a violent act against an innocent victim. The victim has no share in the blame and should not be made to feel any guilt. There is no excuse for such a terrible crime.

Question 5

How can a rapist possibly be forgiven? Is granting forgiveness necessary?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 5:44“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”Matthew 18:21-22Then Peter came to him [Jesus] and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”Mark 11:25“When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”Romans 12:21Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.Jesus forgave those who crucified him. There is nothing more difficult—or more healing—than forgiving those who have greatly wronged us. They should still have to face the consequences and punishment for their actions, but forgiveness frees us to move on with our lives.

Question 6

I was raped and now I’m pregnant. How can I possibly love this child?

Accepted Answer

1 John 4:7Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.Even though a child is conceived through a tragedy like rape, the child belongs first and foremost to God. He is the creator of life, even the life inside a woman. Only he can fill the rape victim’s heart with love for her child and create joy, even in the worst of circumstances.

Question 7

Is revenge the right answer for rape?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 34:2, 25-30When the local prince, Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, saw Dinah, he seized her and raped her. . . . three days later . . . Simeon and Levi, who were Dinah’s full brothers, took their swords and entered the town without opposition. Then they slaughtered every male there, including Hamor and his son Shechem. . . . Afterward Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have ruined me! You’ve made me stink among all the people of this land.”Psalm 94:1O Lord, the God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth!Romans 12:19Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.Regardless of the assault or injury, we should leave revenge to God, for he is the judge of the universe. A crime must be brought to justice, but personal revenge starts an ongoing cycle of sin and destruction.

Question 8

How can I let go of feelings of anger and hatred?

Accepted Answer

2 Samuel 13:11-20, 28-29As she was feeding him, he [Amnon] grabbed her and demanded, “Come to bed with me, my darling sister.” “No, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t be foolish! Don’t do this to me! Such wicked things aren’t done in Israel. . . .” But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her, and since he was stronger than she was, he raped her. Then suddenly Amnon’s love turned to hate, . . . When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry. And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister. . . . So at Absalom’s signal they murdered Amnon.Psalm 37:8Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.Ephesians 4:31-32Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.If we fill our hearts and minds with God and his good things, we will empty our hearts and minds of anger, hatred, and plotting revenge, which only continues the cycle of hatred and violence. Though entertaining feelings of anger and hatred may seem right, harboring such feelings will only cause wounds to fester, producing bitterness that blocks out joy and peace.