Article September 2, 1996 Issue

Healing child abuse

Julio C. Rivas T.

CHILDREN represent some of the best in humanity because they are naturally pure, innocent, and receptive to spirituality. While what's evil in the world would abuse them or warp their innate goodness, they have a strong defense in the teachings of Christ Jesus. The Master loved children, and he regarded any harm done to them as a sin. He 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).

Perhaps you and I have never been abused or been tempted to hurt these young ones. Yet our prayers for society are much needed in order to help humanity be free from the tragedy of abusive relationships. Prayer based on an understanding of man's relation to God as His child helps us to care unselfishly for children everywhere. It also eliminates the effects of abuse by revealing that man has always been the spiritual child of divine Love, the ultimate Father and Mother of all. Far from the mortals people appear to be, they are, in truth, immortal ideas of one parent Mind. Therefore a child of God is defined not by any material developmental stage, but by man's spiritual, continuous unity with His divine Parent, God.

This relation—of Parent and child—impels in us the expression of the spiritual qualities that make up the child of God. These include innocence, purity, receptivity, joy, goodness, and dominion. And because they are spiritual, they are indestructible and inviolate. Therefore, to identify oneself and others as God's child promotes genuine goodness in everyone. In that sense, when Christ Jesus warned those around him not to harm children, he was also asking them to protect and nurture their own God-given qualities.

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