Doubts & Questions
"The Church covered up horrific child abuse - how can it claim moral authority?"
There Is No Excuse - And Christianity Itself Condemns It
The abuse that occurred within certain church institutions is horrific, evil, and indefensible. Survivors have every right to be outraged. Justice should be served, and those responsible should be held accountable.
But here’s the real question: Does this discredit Christianity itself?
Jesus Himself Condemned Abusers
The actions of corrupt church leaders do not reflect the teachings of Christ. In fact, Jesus gave some of the strongest warnings in all of Scripture against harming children:
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea” (Luke 17:2).
He condemned religious leaders who used power for personal gain (Matthew 23:27-28).
He called out hypocrisy and corruption in religious institutions (Matthew 21:12-13).
Jesus did not cover up sin - He exposed it. The fact that religious leaders failed to act in His name is not an argument against Him - it’s proof that people need Him.
The Sin of Leaders Does Not Invalidate Truth
The betrayal by church leaders was devastating, but it does not mean that Christianity itself is false.
Do we reject all medicine because some doctors have been guilty of malpractice?
Do we reject justice because some judges have been corrupt?
Then why reject Christ because of sinful individuals who acted in opposition to His teachings?
The moral standard by which people condemn church abuse comes from Christianity itself. It is precisely because Jesus and the Bible uphold justice, love, and protection for the innocent that people rightly call these crimes evil.
The Church’s Response: Sin Should Be Exposed, Not Covered Up
In some cases, the institutional church failed - badly. Some leaders covered up abuse instead of confronting it. That was not just a legal failure - it was a moral and spiritual failure. But this does not mean Christianity is false; it means Christian institutions must be reformed to reflect Christ’s teachings better.
Many churches today have taken serious action:
Zero-tolerance policies for abuse
Survivor advocacy and justice efforts
Increased accountability and transparency
True Christianity does not protect abusers - it exposes them and seeks justice.
What’s the Alternative? Is a Godless Morality Better?
Rejecting Christianity because of sinful church leaders does not solve the deeper problem: evil exists, and justice must be served.
But without God, on what basis do we call anything "evil"?
If morality is just a human invention, then right and wrong are subjective.
If morality is just about "survival of the fittest," then why is abuse objectively wrong?
Christianity teaches that justice and moral truth exist because God is just. That’s why people rightly demand that abusers be punished.
The Real Question: Should We Walk Away or Return to Christ’s Teachings?
The greatest tragedy would be to let the sins of men drive people away from the truth of Jesus. The failures of some church leaders should push us closer to Christ, not further from Him.
The problem isn’t Christianity - it’s people failing to live by it. And the solution isn’t abandoning Christ - it’s returning to Him.
Final Thought: If You Are Angry About This - So Is Jesus.
Jesus was the fiercest defender of the vulnerable. He came to bring justice, to expose hypocrisy, and to bring healing to the broken.
Christianity doesn’t stand or fall based on sinful leaders. It stands on Christ Himself - who is without sin, without corruption, and who will bring ultimate justice.