Help me do this?

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. I’m left with more questions than answers.

This topic is more than a blog post, I understand.  I am not an expert, and I do not have all the answers, but I want to find them and I want to help women fight for the next generation of girls with a bold faith, tender hearts and tent peg in their hands. I might have more questions than answers, but I know this. 

*When I use the word Church it’s the Big “C” church as in the body of Christ not the localized brick and mortar church in your town (though there is overlap) 

Why this conversation? I believe, eventually it will edify and build up the body of Christ as a whole.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up”

1 Corinthians 14:26 – Let all things be done for building up.  

I am not looking to tear down the church or leaders or previous generations on what could have been done. I am looking ahead. What CAN we do to serve His daughters, to fight back the enemy and to bring the darkness to light especially in the complex conversation of sex and the church?

Here’s the question:

Are we discipling the next generation of women and girls so well, that when they need to talk about sex, boundaries and sexual assault they have the space to do it?  

Are women ready to cover those who have been hurt, love them and give them the words they need to tell their story or struggles with great compassion and great biblical wisdom?

Are we equipped to prepare our daughters for these hard conversations in preparation for the enemies attacks?

This is where I revert to my plea from the beginning: are we discipling the next generation of women and girls so well, that they can voice their pain?  Can we raise up BRAVE voices? 

 I think we have plenty of Bible studies and book clubs and small groups ( those are all great by the way), but discipleship is deeper and much more intentional. I think we confuse the two. You can push back on that for me.  

Discipleship is hard, messy and sacrificial. 

How powerful would the body of Christ be if women did not shy away from sexually tough conversations, but went right for the jugular?  Can you imagine women ready to circle the camp as the enemy comes for our girls and we step in His way with our tent pegs and hammers.  (Judges 4 reference)  

We fight because we know who we are in Christ, we have a solid grip on our identity and we have accepted our anointing as watchmen. So we fight for them.  We are willing to create BRAVE discipleship that builds strong voices and restores identity in Christ in EVERY generation? 

Here are some questions I am asking:

1. Are we locally as a church serving, discipling and teaching women and girls?
2. Have we verbalized to our girls that their bodies are precious, and their hearts are to be guarded and if that has ever been abused, they can come to you? 
3. Have we shared our stories and struggles in a way that honors God but serves our girls in a way the know they are not alone?
4. Is there a way we can do this well, so our girls know what assault is? Do they truly understand what it means to have boundaries crossed? 
5. Are we ( you and I) fearful of opening this conversation? 
6. Are we so protective of our own hearts, we are fearful to be vulnerable?
7. Are we hiding behind a good a Bible study and calling it discipleship?

Here is what I want to hear from you….

1. What are some healthy conversations we should be having to be proactive vs reactive? (We know there were missteps in the purity culture conversation in the 90’s, so how can we do better? )  
2. If you came forward to someone, what made you trust them to do so ?
3. What are some examples of great questions to ask girls and women in light of this topic?
4. Does anyone have examples of harmful questions or statements?
5. How do we create discipleship relationships strong enough to confront sexual assault and restores identity? 

Sincerely Amber J

PS you can post anonymously to these answers. Please be wise, kind and helpful. Thank you 🙂

Email Amber at amberj518@gmail.com