“For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 6:13-15)

The false prophets of Jeremiah’s day kept announcing “peace and prosperity and God’s blessing on everyone” even though the thing was a fallacy. They minimized the seriousness of what was the real cause of troubles among them: “They have healed the wound of my people lightly.” They didn’t acknowledge the depth of their evil and be ashamed. They were arrogant.

I would suggest to you that this kind of thinking and utterance is characteristic of an evil heart. And I will suggest something else to you. Namely, that all of the minimizing and discounting of abuse victims in the “church” by leaders and members is a plain example of the very same cry of “Peace, peace” when there is no peace. There is NO peace in the victim’s life because her abuser is at war with her. But what is she met with when she calls for help? “You exaggerate.” They pronounce peace, you see, when there is no peace.

We must all take care in regard to how we deal with the oppressed. Not only because we should love them and want to help them, but because they are a special object of the Lord’s care. He announced to Jeremiah’s countrymen that he would bring these false prophets (and priests, religious leaders you see) down. Big time. He would punish them. They will be overthrown.

So don’t tell abuse victims “it isn’t that bad. He’s really a good guy. You just need to….”. Don’t do it, lest YOU join ranks with the phonies of Jeremiah’s day.