It is a shame to even mention what the disobedient do in secret.
It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.
It is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
The things that they do in secret are shameful even to mention.
The thing that they do in secret is an abomination to mention.
That’s five different translations that represent a dozen or more translations of Ephesians 5:12.
On the basis of this verse, many church leaders have said, “Don’t talk about the evils of sexual abuse, especially sexual abuse in the churches.”
But I’m about to go to what Boz Tchividjian called a “historic” conference called “Open Your Eyes,” presented by G.R.A.C.E. (Godly Response to Abuse in a Christian Environment) and the Julie Valentine Center, the local rape crisis center in Greenville, SC.
They’re going to talk about it.
But what about Ephesians 5:12?
Are we really supposed to keep our mouths shut?
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This article has now been incorporated into the book . You can find that book here.
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Go here to download your free Guide, How to Enjoy the Bible Again (when you’re ready) After Spiritual Abuse (without feeling guilty or getting triggered out of your mind). You’ll receive access to both print and audio versions of the Guide (audio read by me). I’m praying it will be helpful.
[…] For a more lengthy discussion of this Scripture, see this blog post. […]
Thank you for this post. It has much meaning for me. It is an encouragement at this time and stage in my life.
Jaycee Lee Dugard was kidnapped and abused for 18 years by her kidnapper. How can she heal her ordeal if we tell them to keep it a secret?
Why do we have courts then? The devil destroy God’s children and the Pharisees of our churches do not want to hear what happened to them. If they have no families who love them and heal them where do they go to heal?
Hello sister. Thanks for your article/blog. I haven’t had a chance to read it through yet since I’m at work. The subject is what caught my attention. If I mention something you’ve already covered, forgive me.
What this verse has always spoken to me is not that we shouldn’t talk about the sins they do in secret (although we shouldn’t gossip anyway), but the verse is communicating that the sins they do are so vile and nasty (so as to HAVE to be done secretly) that we shouldn’t even SPEAK about them. It is the degree of the transgression, the exacerbation of the iniquity that makes it unspeakable. In other words, we should not only not participate in such things, but we shouldn’t even talk about them.
Blessings to you!
I think it would be good for you to read the post before responding, though, Ken, since I address what you say here. God does say to expose the wickedness, and if we never talk about it, we can’t expose it.
I thank you for speaking on this subject. I believe what Paul is saying let me give an example ;a person steal in secretly ,sexual abuse in the church are done in secretly. We is to point out both sin but the sexual abuse sin is not to be talk about in great detail because of the darkness of the detail in order to keep the communication Holy both is to be pointed out.
God blessing
I see a little different slant on this. I am certainly for exposing sexual abuse without going into specific details of the acts themselves. However, it has always bothered me that some people go into unnecessary details about their past lives when giving their testimony. Just say that I was in darkness and sin instead of memorializing the events to be played out in the thoughts of others. Some folks make a shrine of their past which I am sure Satan loves. I think this may be one thing the verse in Ephesians was referencing. Don’t keep concentrating on your past, or speaking about in detail to others. Put off the events done in darkness and walk in the Light as He is in the Light. Focus on Him, not them.
That’s not what is meant in these verses at least in my interpretation, to each his own. Also, child rape, torture and sacrifice has nothing to do with Churches anymore or less than Hollywood, the ultra. Elite, and yes in our Government. Your thinking is to small because everything you know, which is only a little, everything you have pretty much been taught and understand is a lie. That’s not bold statement. Its the TRUTH.
It does seem like quite a bold statement that everything I have been taught and understand is a lie. And if you believe child abuse has nothing to do with churches, then at the very least you are not paying attention to the news.
Rebecca… not going into details at present? But wanted you to know- finding this post, you and your mission — are a multifaceted answer to prayer! Thank you – for all you are doing!
Ah yes, I did go into plenty of details. It’s just that I’m now truncating the blog articles that became book chapters. You can get that particular book here: https://amzn.to/43FfGOQ
And thank you and welcome!