TGC carries my article this morning on the church and abuse, in which I discuss some experience of abuse that I had as a child and draw out implications for the church. I draw insight from Rachael Denhollander’s new book, What Is a Girl Worth?, which everyone should read without delay.

I told a friend that reading Denhollander’s story in What Is a Girl Worth? is in one way like watching Sherlock Holmes hunt down and finally trap Professor Moriarty. Later that day, I came to a sobering realization. In the end of that story, while Holmes does trap Moriarty, Moriarty also traps Holmes. The great detective has to sacrifice himself to bring the villain down.

There is a strong element of that in What Is a Girl Worth? Denhollander, with so many others, is made to pay the cost [of discipleship].

But there is one difference. When Holmes and Moriarty go over the falls and plunge to their deaths, that really is the end of their story. But we, as followers of Jesus, know that graves have exits as well as entrances.

Let me know what you think.