Jim Denison explains why Matthew 18 does not apply to child abuse

Jim Denison seemed to alleged that rape victims should approach their rapists in private according to Matthew 18.  Last  November, he explained himself.  He does not think that Matthew 18 applies to child abuse.  I, however, still maintain that any "no" to an attacker counts as meeting in private under Matthew 18.  This is a good example of common sense theology.

(ABP) -- On Nov. 14 the Associated Baptist Press published an essay I wrote on Herman Cain and Joe Paterno. Here's the background behind my article.

I write a cultural commentary for our ministry each weekday morning based on that day's news. On Nov. 8 I responded to the Herman Cain allegations by quoting Matthew 18:15, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you." Jesus' words were clearly intended for adults, describing the process by which Christians who are dealing with relational problems can initiate reconciliation.

The next day I wrote an essay titled "The tragedy of Joe Paterno." In it I said, "The greatest tragedy is that on his watch, eight boys were allegedly abused by Sandusky over a 15-year period. They are innocent victims who will live with the scars of their abuse for the rest of their lives."

I stated that Coach Paterno "should apologize personally and directly to the men victimized by his employee. He should lead Penn State to take steps ensuring that such a failure of accountability does not happen again. And he should resign for the sake of his players, protecting them from this scandal and its repercussions."

On Nov. 10 I combined my previous Cain and Paterno essays into my FaithLines submission. Then I made a mistake. When I came to the statement from my Herman Cain essay that cited Matthew 18:15, I combined the Paterno story by including these words: "It would have been best for the alleged abuse victimsat Penn State and the NRA to go directly to those who wronged them." I was writing on deadline; had I checked the essay before submitting it, I would immediately have omitted those three words. Nonetheless, the mistake was mine alone.

Today I want to describe what I have taught for many years on the subject of child abuse, not only to set the record straight but also to set out clear biblical guidelines for dealing with such tragedy.

First, our Lord made very clear his love for children: "Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there" (Matthew 19:13-15).

Jesus taught his disciples to "change and become like little children" if they would enter the kingdom of heaven. He then declared that "whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3-4). When we love children, we prove that we love their Father. Anyone who abuses children has committed the most heinous crime imaginable.

Second, Jesus condemned those who would harm a child: "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Matthew 18:6). Child abuse is a horrific crime. It leaves deep scars that can last a lifetime. There are no words to describe adequately the tragedy of this depravity. Or God's anger against those who commit it.

As a result, it is always wrong for institutions to shelter those who abuse children. Always. In the churches I pastored, adults who worked with children were subjected to periodic background screening and monitored carefully. Anytime a school, church, or other organization learns that a child entrusted to its care has been harmed, it must take immediate, proactive steps. It must remove the adult from any contact with children, initiate every means of helping the child and his or her family, and notify legal authorities about the crime committed on its watch.

The only currency for ministry is trust. In a culture that views people as commodities and measures success by possessions, we are entrusted with the good news that God loves us personally and passionately. But people will believe that God loves them only if we do. [1]

Matthew 18 and Rape

"Jim Denison is president of the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture and theologian-in-residence for the Baptist General Convention of Texas."  As "theologian in-residence" Denison wrote an op-ed in the Associated Baptist Press, in which he stated the following:

First, God's word tells us what to do when we have been wronged: "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you" (Matthew 18:15). It would have been best for the alleged abuse victims at Penn State and the NRA to go directly to those who wronged them. If they were refused resolution, they should then have informed others and finally made the matter public if necessary (vs. 16-17).[1]

Now Denison is trying to apply the infamous Matthew 18 passage to this situation.

18:15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. 18:16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector. 

Matthew 18 says,

1. Talk to your brother in Christ alone 
2. If that does not work, take one or two witnesses
3. If that does not work, tell the church
4. If that does not work, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector.  

In Denison's interpretation, he condenses steps 2-4 into "they should then have informed others and finally made the matter public if necessary".  One, what does it mean for a rape victim "to go directly to those who wronged them"? I would submit that begging or saying "no" fits the Matthew 18:15 requirements.  By resisting, the victim showed their attacker their "fault".  Rape and molestation can be disgustingly private, private enough that you are "alone".  

Even if we do not adhere completely to Matthew 18 in the cases of sexual assault, these are not just sins.  Like in the Langworthy story, they are crimes.  As with all crimes the state has a responsibility to execute justice.

Update November 9, 2013

I apologize for not putting this update in sooner.  For the last two years, I have been meaning to update this post with Denison's clarification.

November 23, 2011, Denison clarified his position.  Matthew 18 does not apply to child abuse and he miswrote what he meant.

In the churches I pastored, adults who worked with children were subjected to periodic background screening and monitored carefully. Anytime a school, church, or other organization learns that a child entrusted to its care has been harmed, it must take immediate, proactive steps. It must remove the adult from any contact with children, initiate every means of helping the child and his or her family, and notify legal authorities about the crime committed on its watch.
The only currency for ministry is trust. In a culture that views people as commodities and measures success by possessions, we are entrusted with the good news that God loves us personally and passionately. But people will believe that God loves them only if we do.[2]

Still, his position seems to remain, if you are sexually harassed by your boss, you must still address him/her in private.  However if you are below the age of sexual consent, then you do not have to address your harasser/molester in private.