“Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence” (Matt. 19:13-15).
Why Are Children Abused?
It is all because of sin, whatever the excuse. “Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked” (I Sam. 24:13). If sin is not condemned, repented of and forgiven, it gets worse. A sinner who hardens his heart against God does not know the extent to which he will go into sin. A nation that turns her back on God will be abandoned to her own ways as Israel was. A society that does not recognize sin for what it is will become more depraved and perverted (Rom. 1:21-32).
Child abuse is caused by selfishness. Some who bring children into the world do not want to be bothered with them. Children require time that parents could spend in the pursuit of pleasure, money they could spend on themselves and work some want to avoid at all costs. Those who abuse children could not be thinking about the welfare of others (unless they are thinking about the welfare check that the children make available). They seem to think of nothing except gratifying their own lusts.
Child abuse is caused by sadism. One who can get pleasure of any kind from hurting others is sadistic. Grown men take advantage of helpless children. Wicked people take pictures of all sorts of child abuse. Those who make those pictures and those who take any pleasure in seeing them are about as low as one can get. Mothers beat their children, not to make them better but to satisfy their rage.
Child abuse is caused by sickness. That may be nothing but sin-sickness which can be cured by conversion to Christ, but surely some of the child abuse must be the result of mental illness, maybe even demon possession. One who is guilty of abusing little children is not controlled by sound reasoning.
By Whom Are Children Abused?
The Bible gives some examples of child abuse. Tyre and Zidon (cities on the Mediterranean coast) were condemned because they sold the children of Judah and Jerusalem to the Grecians (Joel 3:4-6). Perhaps it is not uncommon in many parts of the world today for captives of war to be sent into slavery. Some countries still have concentration camps that no doubt make use of slave labor, and children may be involved.
King Manasseh “made his son pass through the fire” as a religious ritual (II Kings 21:6) and Judah did the same. As wicked as that was, it is not uncommon to hear of some child’s murder and mutilation in connection with suspected devil worship today. Pharaoh ordered the death of newborn Jewish boys. Herod caused the death of the children around Bethlehem in an effort to kill Jesus. Hitler also had political reasons for trying to wipe out God’s chosen people, the Jews. Thousands of children were sent to death.
Matt. 18:6 — Whoso
Joseph was 17 when his brothers sold him into slavery. Most child abuse is still perpetrated by relatives. Children are beaten, battered, starved, neglected, sexually assaulted, burned, cursed and exposed to all kinds of ungodliness — and much of it by those who claim to love them.
God remembers those who abuse children. Pharaoh lost his firstborn. Manasseh’s and Herod’s names have gone down in infamy. Joseph’s brothers had to face him and “fess up.” Judah went into captivity. Hitler died in the ruins of his country. Jesus said, “Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt. 18:6).
