The phrase “child abuse” is not used in the Bible expressly. The Bible does, however, make clear that God holds a particular place in his heart for children and that anybody who damages one is certain to face God’s wrath. “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,” Jesus said in response to His disciples’ attempts to bar the children from approaching Him. After that, He blessed the kids while holding them in His arms. The Bible advocates for blessing children, not abusing them.
There are many various ways that children are mistreated and abused, and God detests them all. The Bible warns against inappropriate anger and forbids abusing children. Far too many kids suffer from physical abuse, including beatings, as a result of their parents venting their own resentment and fury on them. While biblically sanctioned physical correction may exist, it should never be used in an enraged manner. “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold,” Paul urges the Ephesians. “An angry man sows discord, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins,” according to Proverbs 29:22. Anger that is not restrained or unjustified has no place in a Christian’s life. Long before anger escalates to the point of physically abusing a kid or anyone else, it should be acknowledged, spoken to God, and dealt with correctly.
The Bible also prohibits child abuse in its condemnation of sexual sin. Sexual abuse or molestation is particularly devastating, and warnings against sexual sin abound in Scripture. To force sexual acts upon a child is a horrible, evil offense. In addition to committing a sexual sin, the perpetrator is also attacking the innocence of one of the world’s most vulnerable persons. Sexual abuse violates everything about a person from his or her understanding of self to physical boundaries to spiritual connection with God. In a child, these things are so barely established that they are often altered for life and without appropriate help may not ever heal.
Another way the Bible prohibits child abuse is in its forbidding of psychological and emotional abuse. Ephesians 6:4 warns fathers not to “exasperate” or provoke their children but to bring them up in the “training and instruction of the Lord.” Harsh, unloving verbal discipline, emotional manipulation, or volatile environments alienate children’s minds from their parents and render their instruction and correction useless. Parents can provoke and exasperate their children by placing unreasonable requirements on them, belittling them, or constantly finding fault, thereby producing wounds that can be as bad as or worse than any physical beating can inflict. Colossians 3:21 tells us not to “embitter” our children so they will not become discouraged. Ephesians 4:15–19 says we are to speak the truth in love and use our words to build others up, not allow rotten or destructive words to pour from our lips, especially toward the tender hearts and minds of children.
What the Bible says regarding the subject of child abuse is quite evident. Child abuse is wrong in all its forms. It is the duty of everyone who has reason to believe that a child is being mistreated to notify the relevant authorities. Jesus Christ offers forgiveness, healing, and hope to everyone who has mistreated children or been the victim of abuse themselves. Finding a Christian counselor, a support group, or a pastor to speak with might be a wonderful place to start on the path to recovery.