Recently on Facebook, a slew of posts with the simple words, “Me Too” have filled my timeline. Its an unfortunate reminder of the epidemic of sexual harassment incidences that occur amongst our men, women and young girls in our society today.
88% of women are harassed at some point in their lives. That’s an unsettling amount of women who have been violated, beyond their control and without their consent. Lupita Nyong’o is one of those women. She discusses her repugnant encounter with Harvey Weinstein, a well known (now former) movie company executive and film producer.
“I had shelved my experience with Harvey far in the recesses of my mind, joining in the conspiracy of silence that has allowed this predator to prowl for so many years.”
I, too, have been a victim of unwanted sexual advances and harassment. My earliest recollection of it was with a family member who used to watch my sister and I when our parents couldn’t pick us up right after school. This particular family member would make strange comments and use things like spoons as an excuse to be near me (i.e. keep crying so I can collect your tears). I don’t remember when the inappropriate sexual advances turned into molestation but I know first hand the absolute necessity of choosing to speak, when you’d rather stay silent. It’s acts like these that afflict the minds of young men into believing that their capacity to disengage our feminine essence is justified, simply because they are the more dominate sex.
Proverbs 27:19 says, “As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man.” How can a man, created in the image of the Almighty, get so far away from his identity? The answer is simple: Sin. In a world where sex is portrayed as the total antithesis of what it was intended to be, you’ll find men like Harvey, who struggle with their identity so much so, that they fear their true value. its in that fear, where Satan reigns. The ruler of darkness; where his life’s work is to destroy your essence and character, is a mastermind when it comes to identity issues. He strategically manipulates the minds of God’s children through the deceptive lens of premarital sex, molestation, pornography, sex trafficking and homosexuality.
By making these things acceptable in just ONE person’s eyes, he succeeds in setting off a chain reaction of deep hurt and pain. This is how Satan maintains his power. This is also his weakest tactic. If believers, around the globe, will stop allowing small, unclean things be acceptable, we can literally dismantle the Kingdom of Darkness. Being mindful of what you allow into your spirit and being cautious about what you put on the television or on your iPod are effective ways of combatting the enemy. Also, not allowing what is done TO you define WHO you are (not adopting a “victim mentality”) will strip the only bit of power the enemy has over you.
Please hear me clearly: I am NOT saying that your experience should be muted, discredited, shunned or not taken seriously. If you have been sexually harassed, please know that there are resources out there designed to help you. What I am saying is that you shouldn’t allow your experience to become your identity. You cannot help others overcome their anxiety if you constantly batter, embarrass and abuse offenders of sexual harassment. Take back your authority and stand up against these attackers but with a heart full of compassion and love. You don’t have to exploit people. You don’t have to shame people. You can address the situation with grace and show them the love of Jesus, who ultimately is the only one who can save them and change their lives. Anger never healed anyone.
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” – Luke 6:27-28 NKJV
If Jesus Himself would choose to love us, after all of the heinous injustice that was done to Him, we can choose to unconditionally love one another. It’s only through godly love that any of these horrific situations will cease to continue.
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