When the Church Protects Wolves and Silences Sheep

He steps onto the platform. Polished. Charismatic. Applauded. A Bible in one hand, sin buried in the other. He smiles as the congregation nods in agreement with his words. He preaches fire while living in filth.

Behind closed doors, this same man lives a double life:

• He manipulates, gaslights, and lies to the woman who once trusted him with her heart.

• He sexually harasses or grooms subordinates, both at church and in the workplace.

• He’s addicted to pornography—and far worse, he secretly possesses child sexual abuse material.

• He commits adultery, not once, but habitually.

• He emotionally, verbally, spiritually, and sometimes physically abuses his wife and children.

• He abandons his family emotionally, spiritually, and physically—while performing spiritual “leadership” in public.

And yet—he is honored.

He is celebrated.

He is protected.

Meanwhile, the woman who prays. Who endures. Who breaks. Is discarded like dust under their religious rug.

She spends years begging for help.

Years crying in the night, fasting, praying, submitting, shrinking herself just to survive.

She pleads with the church to intervene—only to be sent home to “win him with her quiet spirit.”

She is told to be patient, forgiving, and sexually available to a man who breaks her spirit and body daily.

She’s gaslit in the name of God.

She walks on eggshells while trying to raise children under the shadow of chronic trauma.

She gets sicker by the year. Her body breaks down from the emotional warfare.

She suffers from C-PTSD. She has no money, no help, and no safe place to run.

But when she finally escapes? Leaves the toxic marriage and the institution that covered it up?

She is the one judged.

Shunned.

Labeled.

Seen as rebellious.

Ungodly.

Unforgiving.

Dangerous.

This is why so many women are walking away from the modern “church.” Not because they don’t love Jesus—but because the place that claims His name is protecting wolves while crucifying His daughters.

If Jesus were physically here today, walking among the broken, how would He respond?

He already showed us.

He flipped tables when the temple became a marketplace. He called out religious leaders for abusing power and appearing righteous while harboring corruption. He confronted sin with truth, not silence. He elevated the status of women, listened to their stories, defended them in public, and healed them in private.

He chased after the lost sheep while calling out the hired hands who fled when the wolves approached.

Jesus would not platform the abuser.

He would remove him.

He would protect the victim.

He would gather the bleeding women and speak life over their crushed spirits.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”— Psalm 34:18

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs...”— Matthew 23:27

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”— Ephesians 5:11

So why are so many churches doing the opposite?

Why are leadership boards complicit in silence?

Why is image preservation more important than soul preservation?

Why are men quick to call out immodesty but silent about sexual abuse?

Why are women still being told to “submit” to sin instead of being protected from it?

This isn’t just a leadership issue. It’s a theological crisis. It’s a misrepresentation of the heart of Christ.

Women are bleeding in the pews. Children are terrified in the homes of church leaders. Survivors are told they must stay because “God hates divorce”—as if God loves abuse.

No, beloved. God hates what is done to the marriage covenant even more than what breaks it.

He does not stand with the predator in the pulpit. He does not honor a man who dishonors his wife and children. He does not ask women to sacrifice their sanity or safety for the sake of church optics.

To the woman reading this…

You are not crazy. You are not rebellious. You are not unfaithful. You are not the problem.

You are seen. You are believed. You are worthy of safety, healing, and restoration.

Jesus does not shun you. He weeps with you. He walks with you. And He will vindicate you.

If you’ve ever been told that God wanted you to stay silent, suffer, or submit to abuse — that was never the voice of Jesus.

The Lion of Judah defends. He delivers. He heals.

He is still flipping tables. He is still setting captives free.

You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are not the rebel — you are redeemed.

If you’ve left the church building but still long for Jesus, you are not alone.

If you feel safer outside those walls than you ever did within them—your discernment is working.

The same Jesus who met the woman at the well, who defended the woman caught in adultery, who raised Jairus’ daughter from death—

That same Jesus is not behind the abuse, the coverups, or the spiritual manipulation.

He is not the voice that told you to stay while you were dying inside.

He is the voice calling you to rise.

To the Church:

Do. Better.

Stop protecting reputations over righteousness.

Stop defending wolves while crucifying the sheep.

Stop twisting Scripture into shackles.

Start honoring the heart of Jesus.

Start creating spaces where the wounded are safe, not silenced.

Start being the Church that Jesus bled for.

Because anything else is just a stage—and a mask.

Ready to begin your healing?

Download these free trauma-informed, faith-based resources to begin reclaiming your voice, body, and faith:

👉 Raising Her Worth – A movement-restoring eBook that calls men higher, heals wounds, and equips families + ministries. Includes a FREE 93-page workbook.

👉 The Inner Healing Journey Method™ – A self-paced, faith-anchored, trauma-informed course for women ready to move from survival to steady peace.

👉 Your Brain is Speaking: Truth About Trauma – How to Regulate Your Mind & Body

👉 What Stress and Trauma Do to Your Body

👉 Deceit Masked – A Faith-Based Guide to Protect Your Heart in Dating

👉 Redeeming Your Love Dating Guide (30+ or Young Women’s Edition)

👉 Healthy Happy Habits eBook – A mind-body-soul reset rooted in God's wisdom

👉 Visit www.innerhealingcoaching.com

You are not alone. You are not too far gone. Jesus is not finished with your story.

Jill | INNER HEALING COACH

@innerhealingcoach

Healing trauma with truth, compassion, and faith.

Deceit Unmasked: A Faith-Based Guide to Protecting Your Heart in Dating

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