To Heal or Harm: Scripture's Use as Poison or Medicine for Abuse Survivors

Empowers survivors to interpret Scripture in healing ways while unlearning harmful biblical perspectives.

Scripture plays an unique and profound role in the lives of many abuse survivors. It can be a powerful instrument for healing. Unfortunately, it is often wielded against survivors as a weapon, causing great and long-lasting harm.

In over two decades of abuse ministry Steve Tracy's ministry, Mending the Soul, has found that some of the most extensive trauma harm is experienced by survivors who had Scripture misused against them by abusers or the abusers' collaborators. Sometimes survivors have inherited harmful ways of reading Scripture from well-meaning family members, pastors, or religious communities. 

To Heal or Harm is a lifeline for survivors and their loved ones that will quickly help you:

• Refute the most common, harmful misuses of Scripture.
• Decontaminate broader biblical perspectives that have been used against you.
• Allow you to experience more of the beauty and healing power of Scripture.

This book is divided into three sections:

1. Lays the foundation by briefly surveying the complex richness of Scripture and then giving basic principles for proper biblical interpretation.
2. Dismantles poisonous interpretations of passages commonly misused against survivors (passages on marriage, children, church, abuse victims, and spiritual life).
3. Surveys, by category, key biblical texts which are most helpful for abuse survivors' protection and healing.

With compassion and deep insight, Steve Tracy will show you how key biblical texts have been typically misused, and he explains what those texts do and do not mean. The book includes appendices surveying biblical teaching on various abuse-related topics.

Steven R. Tracy (PhD, University of Sheffield, England, MDiv, ThM Western Seminary), is the president and international director for Mending the Soul Ministries, and professor of theology and ethics at Phoenix Seminary. He and his wife Celestia co-founded and co-lead Mending the Soul, a global mission dedicated to resourcing and equipping community and faith leaders in informed and compassionate responses to those impacted by abuse. Steve and Celestia bring over 40 years of pastoral, classroom, and clinical experience to their work. Their sustainable trauma care models and resources are now being implemented successfully around the world.