See, Hear, Heal: The Church’s Call to Action

Every church is called to be a beacon of hope—but are we truly a safe harbor for those seeking refuge from life's storms?

For many, the church represents a place of sanctuary and healing—a refuge from life’s storms. Yet too often, survivors of abuse come to the church seeking refuge, only to be silenced, blamed, or dismissed. Their stories are met with skepticism, their pain overlooked, and their dignity diminished.

The story of the blind man in John 9 challenges us to confront these harmful responses. It offers a powerful blueprint for how spiritual leaders should respond to stories of suffering and abuse.

Jesus’ encounter with the blind man reveals four key lessons every church leader must embrace to become a safe harbor for the vulnerable. These lessons include:

• Confronting harmful narratives,
• Restoring dignity,
• Addressing abusive systems,
• Offering healing and hope.

1. Confronting Harmful Narratives

As Jesus and His disciples walked past a man who had been blind from birth, the disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2). Their question reveals a deeply ingrained belief that suffering is a result of sin—a narrative that blames the victim for their hardship.

This same harmful narrative is often present when survivors of abuse come forward. Instead of being met with empathy, they are frequently questioned with statements like, “Why didn’t you speak up sooner?” or “What did you do to provoke it?” These questions, even if unintended, shift the focus away from the harm done to the survivor and place the responsibility for the abuse on their shoulders.

Imagine the courage it takes for someone to share their story—to re-live their pain and vulnerability—only to be met with suspicion or blame. The injustice is not just in the original abuse but in the way their story is received.

For many survivors, this secondary wounding by spiritual leaders can be more devastating than the initial harm.

Instead of being a refuge, the church becomes another place of rejection and silence.

Jesus immediately rejects this way of thinking. He responds, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). Jesus shifts the focus from blame to purpose—from condemnation to redemption. He sees the man’s suffering not as a consequence of sin, but as an opportunity for God’s restorative work to be revealed.

Inspiration for Leaders:

When someone shares their story of abuse, reject any impulse to question or blame. Instead, focus on how God’s healing and redemption can unfold in their life. The question is not, “Why did this happen?” but rather, “How can we walk with you toward healing?”

2. Restoring Dignity

The blind man in John 9 was not only physically impaired but also socially marginalized. In his community, he would have been viewed as an outsider, someone to be pitied or ignored. But Jesus saw him—not as a sinner or a burden, but as a person with inherent worth.

By healing the man’s blindness, Jesus did more than restore his sight; He restored his dignity. After being healed, the man boldly testified before the religious leaders, saying, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25). Jesus gave him a voice and a place in the community.

Inspiration for Leaders:

Abuse survivors feel invisible and silenced. Spiritual leaders must follow Jesus’ example by restoring dignity to survivors. Listen without judgment, believe their stories, and affirm their worth. Help them find their voice and their place in the community of faith.

3. Confronting Abusive Systems

The story of the blind man takes a dramatic turn when the religious leaders become more concerned with the fact that Jesus healed on the Sabbath than with the miracle itself. They interrogate the man and his family, trying to discredit his testimony.

Their focus on rigid rules over compassion reveals the abusive nature of their religious system. Similarly, church leaders today often find themselves more preoccupied with how a situation might harm the church's reputation than with how they can bring hope and healing to the survivors standing before them. This misplaced focus can perpetuate harm, leaving survivors feeling unseen and unheard, and it underscores the urgent need for spiritual leaders to prioritize care over image.

Jesus doesn’t shy away from confronting these leaders. He calls them out for their spiritual blindness, saying, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains” (John 9:41). He exposes their hypocrisy and their failure to care for the vulnerable.

Inspiration for Leaders:

Spiritual leaders must be willing to confront systems within the church that perpetuate abuse. This includes addressing policies that prioritize the church’s reputation over the safety of survivors and holding accountable those who misuse their power. Confronting these systems is uncomfortable, but it is necessary to create a truly safe harbor.

4. Offering Healing and Hope

After the man is cast out by the religious leaders, Jesus seeks him out and asks, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” When the man expresses his desire to believe, Jesus reveals Himself as the Messiah. The man responds with faith, saying, “Lord, I believe,” and worships Him (John 9:38).

This final encounter shows that Jesus offers more than physical healing. He offers the man a relationship, belonging, and eternal hope.

Inspiration for Leaders:

Survivors of abuse need more than surface-level solutions. They need holistic healing—emotional, relational, and spiritual. Spiritual leaders must create environments where survivors can experience God’s love, grace, and restoration. This means walking alongside them, offering hope, and pointing them toward the ultimate healer, Jesus.

Are We Truly a Safe Harbor?

Too often, survivors of abuse come to the church seeking refuge, only to be silenced, blamed, or dismissed. These responses can deepen their trauma, leaving them feeling isolated, ashamed, and unworthy of care. The story of the blind man in John 9 calls us to reject harmful narratives, restore dignity, confront abusive systems, and offer healing and hope.

As spiritual leaders, we must ask ourselves: Are we truly a safe harbor? Are we willing to listen without judgment, to stand against injustice, and to walk alongside those who have been wounded?

Let us be leaders who follow Jesus’ example—leaders who see the image of God in every person and commit to creating spaces of safety, healing, and restoration. In doing so, we can turn our churches into true beacons of hope for all who seek refuge