LYNN SHARON HIGGS
SUFFERING OF TRAUMA There are many in society that are suffering from experiences of traumatic abuse. Brewer-Smith and Koenig describes trauma as, “Trauma is a precursor to many mental health conditions that greatly impact victims, their loved ones, and society. Studies indicate that neurobiological associations with adverse childhood experiences are mediated by interpersonal relationships and play a role in adult behavior, often leading to cycles of intergenerational trauma.Childhood abuse is a problem in American society. Abuse is a form of evil that causes many to suffer pain throughout their lives. It hinders the individuals in many aspects of their life. Many individuals do not experience a freedom from the abusive acts until they begin to take on the saving attitudes expressed by Jesus during his crucifixion. Some continue the abusive practices with their children. It is important to also note, exposure to adversity or trauma does not lead to mental health impairment, psychopathology, or violent behaviors in all people. Daniel Goleman reports in the New York Times article, Sad Legacy Of Abuse, The Search For Remedies , “indicate that about one-third of people who are abused in childhood studies will become abusers themselves .Two-thirds of those with trauma abuse experiences are not repeating the abuse but many of them are struggling with the suffering experience. Adult survivors of adverse childhood experiences(ACE) attend church and continue to suffer from the memories of experiences. Research reveals that the Church has the tools to assist those in overcoming some of the suffering from the traumatic abusive experiences. Increasing evidence is proving the effects of spirituality and belief system on individuals assist in overcoming negative experiences of abuse. “ Faith-based groups may build positive emotional experiences and social bonds, similar to those reported in studies of secular groups, which have demonstrated broad benefits such as alleviating anxiety and depression and improving positive emotional and cognitive function. How can the Church become an alleviating factor in the suffering from abuse? Understanding the suffering from the point of the person is important if the Church is going to supply the individuals with the saving attitudes that will help heal the pain cause by abusive experiences. Brewer- Smith and Koenig believed that religion and spirituality may promote resilience through internal process and an external process. Internal support coming from the religious beliefs the person comes to share within the Church community and the relationship developed with Christ. The external support from those individuals seeking to connect, pray with, provide comfort, and encourage a community that assist each other in developing ways to grow in Christ together. Research has reveal that suffering from violent childhood abuse affects adults in their lives. Faith provides some with a resilience to overcome the suffering cause by adverse childhood experiences. Beker explains that our past suffering impacts our present and future .This paper will explore suffering from memories of past traumatic abuse experiences with the Body of Believers, God’s response to the suffering caused by violent abusive childhood experiences, and the ways that the Church can assist people in receiving the saving as attitudes of Christ. The paper will use the following last statements of Christ to provide people with a guideline on adapting the attitudes that will bring healing to those suffering from abuse memories: My God, My God, why have you forsaken me, (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34), Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46), Father forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34), and It is finished (John 19:30). To gain the perspective of how the last saying of Christ will help the individual gain a basis understanding of suffering and God. Suffering has an impact on the individuals regardless of what may be preached or believed by the person or group of people. McGill informs that suffering is from violence a person endures. We live in a world where violence is faced everyday by each person in differing ways. Evil is a term that can describe many violent acts including abuse endured during childhood. The reaction from evil acts committed against someone is suffering. Suffering does not have to be something that is held onto. When someone holds onto suffering, they limit their possibility in developing hope. Beker reports that the intensity of suffering suffocates hope from being connected with suffering.The Church identifies the redemption from suffering coming from Christ. Humans are set free from evil through Christ. Suffering helps us to define and strengthen our hope in God. Even with the suffering from past memories we find ways in the Bible saving attitudes to apply to help us deal with the past memories of hurt caused by others. These saving attitudes are keys to help us overcome the suffering cause by evil acts. It is important for us to address those memories of past hurts so we will not manifest the same or similar violence against another person or group of people. One consequence of how adverse childhood experiences is consistently fueling battles between people, is justifying reasons to participate in violence against another person or group. Ross shares that many times people will find a common enemy outside of their family to avoid speaking about the violence committed inside of the family unit.People use others to deflect the pain from their suffering. Many times dysfunctional violent families will join together against another group to avoid dealing with the suffering caused by the violence within their own family. When we seek to find peace by projecting our own hurt onto others, we are deceived into thinking we had found a state where our pain will dissipate. Part of stopping the cycle of violence that continues to grow and create evil acts against others, is acknowledging the lie that supported the evil acts. Ross describes how we can become so caught up in finding others to blame for violence we participate and support through our own misconceptions. Many victims of abuse(oppression) become locked into battle with their abuser in determining their self-worth. When an adults who has not dealt with their pain from child abuse does not seek to alleviate and become free from trying to prove themselves to the abusers, they react to many situations in anger. Until the victim of abuse begins to see the actions perpetrated against them does not define who they are, they will not see the actions of the abuser as harmful to others. Many of those who would not abuse others will suffer from a misconception that using violence against people who abuse is right. It is not until the person realizes that the actions of the abusers were not what define them or were the correct way in eliminating the violence from abuse. Once the individual let’s go and allows for another process to begin, their healing journey begins. What are some of the key components in the Bible that give clues to how to overcome traumatic abuse? The Bible speaks about many aspects to help people through the healing process. While many will say forgiveness is the beginning of the journey to becoming a healthy person, I believe there is a step before forgiveness that has to happen. Adult victims of abuse suffer from many things. This is express in a variety of ways. The adult victim may display the effects in a combination of different ways. Trusting others is a problem that is evident for all victims of childhood abuse. Some adults trust to much seeking to find favor among humans. These adults will do things just to please the group. Many people manipulate others to do things by attaining their full trust. Then there are those who suffer from past abuse who decide to not trust anyone. These are the people who try to control every aspect of every environment. Neither group receives the healing or begins the journey to receiving the healing until they let go and begin to trust in something differently. While the people who trust everyone may share parts or even the whole story of abuse in an attempt to receive some kind of solace from others, some find their identity in being a victim. They protect themselves through the guise of manipulated others to provide sympathy or to not say anything that may be criticism of them. Forgiveness of the perpetrator does not happen as it would take away the identity of the victim. The person has to let go in order to come to a place to forgive. Then the other group has to let go of the fear to begin to trust the process of healing to begin. Jesus statement recorded in Luke 23:46 Father, into your hands I commit my spirit, expresses this letting go of self-protection necessary for the adult victim to come to a place of trust that God will provide the healing of the damage done from the violence experienced in childhood. It plays a vital element in healing from past violent experiences. It begins the process but it also ends the bitterness or the anger from the experience. Beker states that the commitment to God provides the hope to endure the suffering. It reveals the triumph of God over the suffering. As the statement begins the process, it also provides the saving attitude that seals the experience so it no longer has a negative effect on the survivor of the abusive experience.
Cont. on part 2
SUFFERING OF TRAUMA There are many in society that are suffering from experiences of traumatic abuse. Brewer-Smith and Koenig describes trauma as, “Trauma is a precursor to many mental health conditions that greatly impact victims, their loved ones, and society. Studies indicate that neurobiological associations with adverse childhood experiences are mediated by interpersonal relationships and play a role in adult behavior, often leading to cycles of intergenerational trauma.Childhood abuse is a problem in American society. Abuse is a form of evil that causes many to suffer pain throughout their lives. It hinders the individuals in many aspects of their life. Many individuals do not experience a freedom from the abusive acts until they begin to take on the saving attitudes expressed by Jesus during his crucifixion. Some continue the abusive practices with their children. It is important to also note, exposure to adversity or trauma does not lead to mental health impairment, psychopathology, or violent behaviors in all people. Daniel Goleman reports in the New York Times article, Sad Legacy Of Abuse, The Search For Remedies , “indicate that about one-third of people who are abused in childhood studies will become abusers themselves .Two-thirds of those with trauma abuse experiences are not repeating the abuse but many of them are struggling with the suffering experience. Adult survivors of adverse childhood experiences(ACE) attend church and continue to suffer from the memories of experiences. Research reveals that the Church has the tools to assist those in overcoming some of the suffering from the traumatic abusive experiences. Increasing evidence is proving the effects of spirituality and belief system on individuals assist in overcoming negative experiences of abuse. “ Faith-based groups may build positive emotional experiences and social bonds, similar to those reported in studies of secular groups, which have demonstrated broad benefits such as alleviating anxiety and depression and improving positive emotional and cognitive function. How can the Church become an alleviating factor in the suffering from abuse? Understanding the suffering from the point of the person is important if the Church is going to supply the individuals with the saving attitudes that will help heal the pain cause by abusive experiences. Brewer- Smith and Koenig believed that religion and spirituality may promote resilience through internal process and an external process. Internal support coming from the religious beliefs the person comes to share within the Church community and the relationship developed with Christ. The external support from those individuals seeking to connect, pray with, provide comfort, and encourage a community that assist each other in developing ways to grow in Christ together. Research has reveal that suffering from violent childhood abuse affects adults in their lives. Faith provides some with a resilience to overcome the suffering cause by adverse childhood experiences. Beker explains that our past suffering impacts our present and future .This paper will explore suffering from memories of past traumatic abuse experiences with the Body of Believers, God’s response to the suffering caused by violent abusive childhood experiences, and the ways that the Church can assist people in receiving the saving as attitudes of Christ. The paper will use the following last statements of Christ to provide people with a guideline on adapting the attitudes that will bring healing to those suffering from abuse memories: My God, My God, why have you forsaken me, (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34), Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46), Father forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34), and It is finished (John 19:30). To gain the perspective of how the last saying of Christ will help the individual gain a basis understanding of suffering and God. Suffering has an impact on the individuals regardless of what may be preached or believed by the person or group of people. McGill informs that suffering is from violence a person endures. We live in a world where violence is faced everyday by each person in differing ways. Evil is a term that can describe many violent acts including abuse endured during childhood. The reaction from evil acts committed against someone is suffering. Suffering does not have to be something that is held onto. When someone holds onto suffering, they limit their possibility in developing hope. Beker reports that the intensity of suffering suffocates hope from being connected with suffering.The Church identifies the redemption from suffering coming from Christ. Humans are set free from evil through Christ. Suffering helps us to define and strengthen our hope in God. Even with the suffering from past memories we find ways in the Bible saving attitudes to apply to help us deal with the past memories of hurt caused by others. These saving attitudes are keys to help us overcome the suffering cause by evil acts. It is important for us to address those memories of past hurts so we will not manifest the same or similar violence against another person or group of people. One consequence of how adverse childhood experiences is consistently fueling battles between people, is justifying reasons to participate in violence against another person or group. Ross shares that many times people will find a common enemy outside of their family to avoid speaking about the violence committed inside of the family unit.People use others to deflect the pain from their suffering. Many times dysfunctional violent families will join together against another group to avoid dealing with the suffering caused by the violence within their own family. When we seek to find peace by projecting our own hurt onto others, we are deceived into thinking we had found a state where our pain will dissipate. Part of stopping the cycle of violence that continues to grow and create evil acts against others, is acknowledging the lie that supported the evil acts. Ross describes how we can become so caught up in finding others to blame for violence we participate and support through our own misconceptions. Many victims of abuse(oppression) become locked into battle with their abuser in determining their self-worth. When an adults who has not dealt with their pain from child abuse does not seek to alleviate and become free from trying to prove themselves to the abusers, they react to many situations in anger. Until the victim of abuse begins to see the actions perpetrated against them does not define who they are, they will not see the actions of the abuser as harmful to others. Many of those who would not abuse others will suffer from a misconception that using violence against people who abuse is right. It is not until the person realizes that the actions of the abusers were not what define them or were the correct way in eliminating the violence from abuse. Once the individual let’s go and allows for another process to begin, their healing journey begins. What are some of the key components in the Bible that give clues to how to overcome traumatic abuse? The Bible speaks about many aspects to help people through the healing process. While many will say forgiveness is the beginning of the journey to becoming a healthy person, I believe there is a step before forgiveness that has to happen. Adult victims of abuse suffer from many things. This is express in a variety of ways. The adult victim may display the effects in a combination of different ways. Trusting others is a problem that is evident for all victims of childhood abuse. Some adults trust to much seeking to find favor among humans. These adults will do things just to please the group. Many people manipulate others to do things by attaining their full trust. Then there are those who suffer from past abuse who decide to not trust anyone. These are the people who try to control every aspect of every environment. Neither group receives the healing or begins the journey to receiving the healing until they let go and begin to trust in something differently. While the people who trust everyone may share parts or even the whole story of abuse in an attempt to receive some kind of solace from others, some find their identity in being a victim. They protect themselves through the guise of manipulated others to provide sympathy or to not say anything that may be criticism of them. Forgiveness of the perpetrator does not happen as it would take away the identity of the victim. The person has to let go in order to come to a place to forgive. Then the other group has to let go of the fear to begin to trust the process of healing to begin. Jesus statement recorded in Luke 23:46 Father, into your hands I commit my spirit, expresses this letting go of self-protection necessary for the adult victim to come to a place of trust that God will provide the healing of the damage done from the violence experienced in childhood. It plays a vital element in healing from past violent experiences. It begins the process but it also ends the bitterness or the anger from the experience. Beker states that the commitment to God provides the hope to endure the suffering. It reveals the triumph of God over the suffering. As the statement begins the process, it also provides the saving attitude that seals the experience so it no longer has a negative effect on the survivor of the abusive experience.
Cont. on part 2