This week’s sermon, “Disgrace and Grace” is based on chapter 7 of Real Marriage , by Pastor Mark and Grace, which she wrote. In the book, the Driscolls draw on another book by a Mars Hill pastor and his wife: Justin and Lindsey Holcomb’s Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault . Both the Holcombs have extensive professional and academic experience working with those who’ve been assaulted.

So what’s the book about? It’s a biblical and pastoral response to the issue of sexual assault in light of the gospel of Jesus. Below, are excerpts from a series of posts we ran when the book came out last year that will give you an overview of the the scope of the book. We hope it’s beneficial for those who’ve been victims of sexual assault, and for those who know someone who’s been assaulted and want to support and love them in the grace of Christ.

What Is Sexual Assault?

A definition:

Sexual assault is any type of sexual behavior or contact where consent is not freely given or obtained, and it is accomplished through force, intimidation, violence, coercion, manipulation, threat, deception, or abuse of authority. There are three main parts to this definition and we will look at each of these separately. […]

2. Consent

Consent is when an individual is freely able to make a choice based upon respect, equal power, and with the understanding that there is the freedom to change her or his mind at any point. There are three main considerations in judging whether or not a sexual act is consensual or is an assault:
Are both people old enough to consent?
Do both people have the capacity to consent?
Did both agree to the sexual contact or behavior?
If any of these are answered “No,” it is likely that sexual assault has occurred. […]

Why the Definition Matters

There is an epidemic of sexual assault and victims need the kind of hope and healing that only the gospel of Jesus Christ can provide. Tragically, most churches and Christians are woefully unprepared to help the one in four women and one in six men who have been abused sexually. Helping victims of sexual assault starts with knowing what “sexual assault” is.

What Does the Bible Say about Sexual Assault?

Sexual Assault Is a Sin against God

Sexual assault is a sin against God because the blessing of sexuality is used to destroy instead of build intimacy and because it is an attack against his image in his image-bearers. The ability of sexual assault to obscure internal and external relationships makes it a cosmic affront to the Creator and the order of his creation (Genesis 6:1–3). Sexual assault is a sin against God because it violates his most sacred creation—human beings made in his image. […]

Sexual Assault Is a Symbol of Sin

Sexual assault is a common and disturbing symbol of sin in the Bible. It is a complete distortion of relationship, a mockery of the original intent of being made for relationships with God and others. References to sexual violence is a way that God, through the biblical authors, communicates that sin and depravity have progressed so far that sex, an expression of union, peace, and love, is now used as a tool for violence.

Prevalence, Myths, Effects, and Trauma of Sexual Assault—and Healing From It

Myths about sexual assault:

Myth: *Sexual assaults are usually reported.
Fact: *Sexual assault is probably one of the most under-reported crimes. Researchers estimate that 50–90% of sexual assault cases go unreported.

Myth: *Most sexual assaults occur in dark alleys or to hitchhikers.
Fact: *Most sexual assaults (60%) occur in a private home, and the largest percentage of these assaults (38%) occurs in the victim’s own home. The idea that most sexual assaults fit the “stranger-in-a-dark-alley” stereotype can lead to a false sense of security.

Myth: *Men who rape other men are homosexual.
Fact: *The vast majority of males who sexually assault other males (including children) are heterosexual. Men and women are assaulted for basically the same reasons: so the assailant can vent hostility and feel a sense of power. Fear of homosexuality ironically leads some men to sexually assault gay men. The motivations for same-sex assault are power and anger. Sexual orientation is not a motivation for sexual assault. […]

6 Devastating Effects of Sexual Assault, and How the Gospel Answers Them

[…]

6. Despair

Sexual assault can fill you with despair. Feeling that you’ve lost something, whether it’s your innocence, youth, health, trust, confidence, or security, can deepen into hopelessness and despair. And then depression can add seemingly inescapable weight to the experience of despair.

The gospel gives you hope. Biblical hope is sure because God is behind his promise of a future for you. The hope you need right now is grounded in God’s faithfulness in the past and anticipation of it in the future.

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, all threats against you are tamed if you trust in Christ. Jesus conquered death and evil, so evil done to you is not the end of the story and you can have hope.
Because Jesus rose from the dead, he ascended to heaven and is “making all things new.”

Your God is strong, and he—not the evil done to you—will have the final say about you. That hope animates the “groans within ourselves” that everything will someday be renewed. We will be delivered from all sin and misery. Every tear will be wiped away when evil is no more.

Read the whole series. You can follow Pastor Justin and Lindsey on Twitter.