Another gem from the Gems page….
“To those who abuse: the sin is yours, the crime is yours, and the shame is yours. To those who protect the perpetrators: blaming the victims only masks the evil within, making you as guilty as those who abuse. Stand up for the innocent or go down with the rest.”
(Flora Jessop, Church of Lies)
A Cry For Justice 
It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the innocent of justice. Prov 18:5
Rescue those being led away to death, hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “but we knew nothing about this” does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done? Prov 24:11-12
Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day or like vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. Prov 25:20
Speak up for those who can not speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Prov 29:21
Great selection of verses, Valerie! May the day come when the response of the church to abuse is based on them.
The abuser XH abandoned me and our young babies. We stay separated for a long while. He began to play house with me at one point. Winning back my trust and acting somewhat changed from his abusive ways even (although he did not hide all his control and abuse during this time- I was in shock that he wanted me back for he had hated me without reason for so incredibly long- I was relieved at this shift and I see I was eager to worth thru his abuse b/c I didn’t have a name for it and still thought it was my fault). He was playing on my willingness to take the blame for the reason for his abandonment (I wasn’t godly or good enough, I was “sick” etc. I slept with him during this time of intense charm (think Prince Hanz from Frozen) and even felt horribly guilty that I wanted to use protection after seeing the look on his face when I kindly said something. This reinforced my belief that he would never sleep with someone else.
Well guess what? He did. He had deceived me and shamed me for wanting to protect myself sexually. Yet he HAD slept with another woman multiple times! He even arrogantly said to my face that he planned it all out and that I can never separate from him again or else he’d do it again.
Anyone who’s been violated by infidelity knows the horror and shame and incredible pain involved. It’s an incredibly and total shattering event. I never screamed in such agony. And I’m certain he enjoyed knowing the pain he caused. This is why an abuser lives. For evil power and control. To utterly destroy.