Rape as an Act of Warfare

I’ve been reading about the horrific conditions and social ramifications of rape as an act of warfare in the Congo and Rwanda. Most articles expose the problem and a few address the long-term effect it has on society and individuals. There is no justice to restore their dignity.

Rape as an Act of Warfare

In local groups and small villages, women of all ages and children, as young as infants have been victims of rape are ostracized and often abandoned. Children conceived by rape are hated by many. Their fate in the community is one of tragic despair and mental anguish, if they survive at all. Husbands and fathers abandon their damaged wives and daughters. It does happen to boys too, with no less trauma, but women are more likely to be victims in that culture.

Grandmothers are not spared. Infants are not spared. Many victims report that women are their attackers too. This is the real war on women. The terror and brutality shows up in the hospitals. Surgeons are repairing torn-up bodies every day. The victims are often left to die of their injuries and many wish they would have died, rather than live with the disgrace and shame of being ruined.

The constant pain and lasting damage cannot be hidden. They cannot just get over it. Many of the injuries have destroyed their ability to stay clean. Incontinence produces an invisible cloud of evidence around them. If they are not totally damaged, they may become pregnant. This has its own set of consequences. If are able to carry to term, friends and family often treat them and their children with disgust, rather than compassion.

Needed Compassion

We should discuss the need for compassion and community support. Some so-called advocates are calling on the UN and the USA to expand abortion to these areas. In a culture of terror and humiliation, they would expand the culture of death, murdering the children of these women.

In one article, the interviewed girl said that the child was her only family. The circumstances of her birth means the baby is her only friend. Because, her birth resulted from the rape as an act of warfare. Her family and friends had been killed by the marauders that had attacked her, only she survived.

I do realize that changing the culture will be more difficult than killing the yet unseen victims of this horrific warfare tactic, but that is what I’m advocating for. Yet, I am not able to do much right now but pray. At every opportunity, as soon as I am well enough, I will always advocate for a compassionate answer. In no other circumstance do we seek to kill a second victim of a crime.

Evil

The tactic of rape as an act of war is an evil straight from hell itself. Scriptures throughout the Bible tell us that people are created to be in the image of God. Revelation 12:19 tells us that Satan, formerly Lucifer, was cast down to earth after proclaiming that he wanted to be like the Most High and receive the worship exclusively designated to God.

The devil’s desire is to devour the people of God.  First Peter 5:8. There is a realm of activity that most people don’t acknowledge. This spiritual warfare is all around us according to Second Corinthians 10:4 and it involves angels and demons. These entities are spirits like us, but without the same kinds of bodies. They often incite people to do things against their fellow men and women. Ezechiel 38.

In the last days, it will get worse, but the people of God will still be needed to stem the tide of evil, to extend the culture of compassion, and to proclaim healing and freedom to the victimized.

Here in the US, the stigma is real, but the freedom we have to move from place to place and build new relationships doesn’t compare to what the people of central African nations face. I’m so grateful for Savethe1 and other pro-life, pro-family advocacy groups that extend a hand of compassion to hurting people.

Let US be that beacon of hope again to the world. Rise up, Church. Speak out, People of Grace. Bring light to this dark world.