Churches Silencing Abuse Survivors Recently, a church in Tennessee, Fellowship Bible Church went to court to maintain a non- disclosure agreement that silenced the parents of a child who was sexually abused. The church states on their website: “Join a welcoming church family committed to following Jesus and helping others do the same.” The attorney representing the church, Allan Hall, is also a member of a Bible-believing church, volunteers at a homeless shelter, and has served as director of the shelter. The church lost, and the survivor and his family are thankfully free to disclose their experience and find the healing the church and attorney tried to deny them. How Churches Rationalize Silence Somewhere there is a huge disconnect when a church and a Christian attorney can work to silence the parents of a survivor of child sexual abuse. This silencing is known to be destructive, and John 10:10 says “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.” What is happening here? I have not interviewed the church leadership or Mr. Hall, but am willing to grant that they most likely conduct themselves honorably and even with love in other ways. However, they appear to be able to rationalize silencing these parents. Perhaps they said to themselves, with positive self-talk, “You’re a good person.” Or: “These people suing to disclose sexual abuse would disturb our good ministry.” None of us can know what the church leaders were thinking. What they said to the Tennessean was, "We respect the family’s privacy and will continue to do all we can to honor them in this matter." They really did say they were trying to honor the family by going to court to keep an NDA in force that silenced the parents. Accountability Done Right Broadmoor Baptist Church made a very different choice. On their website, there is a document entitled ‘Addressing Our Past’ that describes the abuse of a minor by a former youth leader. The church chose to support the survivor and offered to pay her legal expenses for breaking her NDA with him. In Luke 4, Jesus announces to the world that he is anointed to set people free. Jesus did this, at a cost. Broadmoor Baptist Church did this, at a cost. Fellowship Bible church tried to bind a child survivor’s parents to silence. The mother involved in the Tennessee case said (The Tennessean), “I read the Bible, I know what it says the rules and responsibilities of the church are,” she said. “It’s to protect the sheep. To lay down their lives for the sheep. I feel like, in a way, I have stepped into a place that the shepherds of the church should have done in the first place.” Integrity Beyond Good Intentions There is an important lesson for all of us here. Integrity, obedience to the word of God, and basic human decency are limited to what you cannot rationalize. That means engaging in some tough thinking that holds on to truth, even when it is not comfortable. It means keeping a clear conscience every day, before the scandal strikes. In I Timothy 1:18-19, Paul gives his son in the faith an important word: Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. © Robert Leland, PhD NDAFreeCampus Also By Robert Leland: 📖 Biblical Teaching on the Misuse of NDAs: Part 1 — What Scripture reveals about silencing, reconciliation, and speaking truth. 📖 Biblical Teaching on the Misuse of NDAs: Part 2 — Church leadership, faithfulness, and why institutional rationalization contradicts God's standards. References: The Tennessean. "Tennessee Court Rules Against NDA in Child Sexual Abuse Case." June 5, 2026. Roy's Report. "Now the Victims Can Speak Out: Tennessee Court Rules Against NDA in Child Sexual Abuse Case." Leland, Bob. "What the Bible Says About the Misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)." Medium. Images StockCake. "Trapped in Glass." Accessed [current date]. https://stockcake.com/i/trapped-in-glass_1020536_1001721 Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

Understanding Our Spiritual Blessings in Christ From the Editor: I want recommend reading and sharing this article because I think we forget how deeply God loves us. This is a good reminder of that. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians opens not with complaint or request but with a song of praise. From the confines of a Roman prison, he lifts his voice to declare, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) It is as though Paul is reminding the church, and every believer since, that our truest wealth is not measured by what we hold in our hands but by what we possess in Christ. Brought To Fullness Paul’s words overturn the world’s economy of worth. He doesn’t say God will bless us someday; he says we have already been blessed. Every spiritual blessing (past, present, and future) is ours because of our union with Christ. Nothing is withheld, nothing rationed. We live from divine abundance, not from scarcity. Peter echoes this truth: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life.” (2 Peter 1:3) And Paul affirms it again in Colossians 2:10: “In Christ you have been brought to fullness.” The believer’s life begins not with striving but with receiving. We are not beggars hoping for crumbs from heaven’s table; we are heirs seated at the feast of grace. Set Apart Before Time Began Paul then reaches back before time itself: “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4) Before the first sunrise, before Eden’s garden bloomed, God set His love upon us. His choosing was not random or reactionary. It was personal, intentional, and gracious. Jesus told His disciples, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16) To be chosen by God is to live with unshakeable security. Our identity is not built on performance but on divine purpose. The Father’s choice means we belong to Him forever, and His plan cannot be undone. Paul’s assurance echoes through the centuries: “My sheep hear My voice… I give them eternal life, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27‑28) The seal of the Spirit guarantees that what God began, He will complete. We are held by hands that never let go. Given a New Name, a New Family In verse 5, Paul uses a word that carried immense meaning in the Roman world — adoption. When a child was adopted, he received full legal rights, a new name, and a permanent inheritance. The old debts were erased; the old life was gone. Roman adoption was irrevocable. Paul applies that image to our salvation: “He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:5) God did not reluctantly accept us; He delighted to make us His children. We are not guests in His house. We are family. Galatians 4:4‑7 expands the picture: “Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts… you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.” The believer’s identity is not defined by failure or fear but by belonging. We are sons and daughters of the King. The Debt That's Already Paid Paul continues: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Ephesians 1:7) Redemption means liberation at a cost. Christ paid for our freedom with His own blood. Forgiveness is complete, not conditional. Grace is lavished, not rationed. Psalm 103:12 paints the picture beautifully: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” The cross does not merely cover sin. It cancels it. The debt is paid, the record erased, the prisoner set free. When we grasp this truth, guilt loses its grip. We no longer live under condemnation but under grace. The redeemed heart learns to rest in the finished work of Christ. Marked as His, For Good Finally, Paul describes the believer’s security: “You were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:13‑14) In the ancient world, a seal signified ownership and protection. When a king sealed a document, it carried his authority. God’s seal upon us is His own Spirit. It is as if He declares, “You are Mine.” The Spirit is the mark of authenticity. He’s the proof that salvation is genuine. He is also the guarantee of our inheritance until the day of redemption. Romans 8:16 confirms it: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” This seal cannot be broken. The same power that raised Christ from the dead now dwells in us, ensuring that our salvation is secure and our future certain. Blessing as the Starting Point, Not the Goal Paul’s opening chapter in Ephesians is a symphony of grace. He piles truth upon truth until the reader is overwhelmed by the richness of God’s mercy. We are blessed, chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, and sealed. Each phrase builds upon the other, forming the foundation of Christian identity. To live from blessing rather than striving for it changes everything. It frees us from the exhausting pursuit of approval and anchors us in the assurance of grace. We serve not to earn favor but because we already have it. We love not to gain acceptance but because we are accepted. The believer who understands this walks with quiet confidence. Life’s storms may rage, but the soul remains steady, rooted in the unchanging truth of God’s Word. Where This Leaves Us Paul’s prison cell could not silence his praise. He saw beyond the chains to the riches of heaven. His heart overflowed with gratitude because he knew who he was and whose he was. So it is with us. God’s grace is abundant. His blessings are secure. His riches are already ours. We are not defined by scarcity but by sufficiency. We are not striving for blessing. We are living from it. You are chosen. You are adopted. You are redeemed. You are sealed. You are blessed beyond measure. © 2026 Randy DeVaul, MA Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Knowing God. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

A testimony of searching, deception, and grace In my 20 years of life, I have gone through many changes in my spiritual beliefs. From being a ‘Christian’ as a child, but not really knowing what it meant, to not believing in God, to considering myself ‘spiritual’ but not Christian, and now, the present: considering myself a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. It is crazy to think about all the changes in my spiritual lifestyle within two decades. It is crazy to think about how much has happened in just a decent amount of time. Time has always been strange to me, and especially so when I reflect on spirituality. Lately I’ve been having a lot of faith challenges: I’ve had some smart thinkers debate me on the evidence of Christianity– and they’ve made a lot of good points. I think a challenged faith is healthy: it helps one grow stronger and think more critically about who and what they are following. While I don’t have all the answers, and certainly never will, I continue to do research– hoping that my faith isn’t a lie. As of now, I continue to pray and dive deeper into research and His Word. And as I do this, I can’t help but reflect on my past with spirituality. My faith has never been this strong, and I do think that is something to hold onto. So without further ado, here’s a bit of my spiritual history up until now. Growing Up ‘Christian’ But Not At The Same Time My childhood experience was pretty common among many Christians. I was baptized as a baby, but never attended church as a child. I never had a full Bible; I only had a pocket New Testament that was given to me by family friends. I rarely opened it– I think one time I did because I was curious, but the language in the Bible was too confusing for me to understand, so I closed it and went on my merry way (lol). I was a child; I was not concerned with who God was or what would happen after I died. I was much more concerned with playing outside and the natural curiosities children have. I had a wonderful childhood. I am not angry whatsoever that I didn’t go to church or read the Bible… I truly think this was God’s plan for me, not to be a devoted follower from the start, but to grow into it as an adult. Atheism? Only When It Was Convenient As I grew older into middle school and the beginning of high school, I claimed not to believe in God. Again, I wasn’t extremely concerned with all of the details, but my brain was definitely more developed than before. I recall having a conversation with a friend about God around this time: we came to the agreement that we didn’t want to believe in God because, after all, slavery and genocide existed. I couldn’t possibly believe in a God that would allow violence. So, I went on my way, unbothered (for the most part) and didn’t believe in God. I was too caught up in my popularity in school, my grades, and the friends I was making. But what’s curious is that while I claimed not to believe in God, at any minor inconvenience I had, I would immediately shed that skin and pray to God. I kind of laugh about it now… I remember my prayers going something like this: “God.. I know I said I didn’t believe in you… But I really need help with this problem in my life. Please help me out… I’m struggling, and I need this.” Of course, I’m sure those weren’t my exact words, but they were pretty similar. I often feared that God would hate me because of this. I feared He wouldn’t want to help me because I had ignored Him, but I’m glad to know that I was so wrong. Becoming A Part Of The New Age Moving forward, my freshman year of high school was a huge turning point in my life. I became more self-aware, and I also began struggling more and more mentally. I’ve always struggled with anxiety in my life, but in high school, it ramped up. Although I LOVED freshman year, it was also a year filled with many, many challenges. Everything started changing in early November, when I started to have darker thoughts concerning my life. I had thoughts such as “every day feels the same”, “I feel like I’m living the same day on repeat”, “what if I just died right now?” I never had active suicidal thoughts at this time, but I definitely began to have some passive ones, such as the last question. I wouldn’t consider myself depressed, but I definitely wasn’t my normal self, if that makes sense. Additionally, my anxiety started getting pretty bad to the point where I would ask to skip school. I wasn’t taking care of myself, and I often sat in bed scrolling on social media. Spiritual, Not Religious This is what partially led me to a very big spiritual change in my life. It was on Christmas Day (maybe Christmas Eve?) that I received Doreen Virtue’s “Archangel Oracle Cards." I had someone close to me who introduced me to them– way back when I was in eighth grade. I was absolutely fascinated by these cards, and they seemed to resonate a lot, especially because the day that I first used them, I was bullied on the bus by a kid much bigger and stronger than me. The cards I pulled resonated deep within me. I felt comforted by them, and I even prayed to the angels listed on them. Although at that time I claimed not to believe in God or spiritual powers, I prayed anyway. Flash forward to my freshman year in high school, I once again pulled those cards when visiting the person close to me. Again, the cards resonated, and I felt seen. So, I asked her to gift me them for Christmas. Everything changed when I received those cards. I began to become more interested in tarot and oracle cards– feeling that what I pulled showed truth in my life (and for some parts, it absolutely did). Coincidentally, on TikTok, the new age movement was becoming more popular. I would often see videos of influencers pulling cards, meditating, and charging crystals. And on Christmas Day of 2020, I began to meditate. I absolutely loved it. It calmed my nerves, helped with anxiety, and helped me feel more grounded and thoughtful. I also learned about “shadow work,” which basically was writing down answers to deep, insightful prompts that revealed character insights, past traumas, and behavioral reactions. On my birthday of that year, I received crystals and charged them with intentions and often carried them around with me. I believe at this time, I was on what you would call a spiritual high. I was so excited to be doing something unique and very, very different from the ‘mundane’ high school life I was in. I began to be highly involved with the new age movement, but instead of calling it that, I was ‘spiritual,’ not religious. I began to manifest, read new age/spiritual self-help books, and I won’t lie, my life changed A LOT. When It All Started Falling Apart Before I go into the doubts I started experiencing, I do want to admit that this kind of spirituality did change me in many ways, both negative and positive. For starters, I became a lot more mature and kinder, and I actually discovered many root problems from my past. I definitely became more insightful about myself and the world, and because of this, I became more confident. While these qualities are still with me today (for the most part), the spiritual high subsided after three to four months. I started feeling exhausted… I felt dragged down by all of the things I was doing. I had so many things; it was getting overwhelming. I felt that I was overanalyzing every single thing about myself and others. I felt like I was my own therapist, and I felt like I was a therapist to my friends. I started to believe that I knew more about others than they knew about themselves. I absolutely hated feeling that way, and my anxiety actually got a lot worse during this time. While it initially subsided when I was first drawn to the new age, it came back in waves, usually each time it worsened. This kind of spirituality helped my problems in the short-term, but they always got worse in the long-term (new age is well known to cater to the human desire for immediate gratification). I also noticed that I drifted away from many of my friends… I often felt extremely lonely in high school because of this. This kind of spirituality began to make me feel more superior to others, and because of that, I would end friendships over tiny things I disliked about my friends. If they had very different lifestyles from my own, they would be out of my life. If they did something that my spirituality didn’t agree with, I would distance myself from them. To put it plainly, I was picky, and not in a good way. I thought this was better for me at the time, but now I realize it has caused me more anxiety and more issues with making strong friendships. It’s gotten better, but I still struggle with the implications of this past issue. Another issue I had during this time was that I was extremely paranoid. I prayed to the ‘divine’ rather than God or Jesus because I believed that the divine included all of the gods, goddesses, and the earth/universe. I had a very hard time meditating and pulling cards because I often feared that demons would intrude. So, I always envisioned a large protection bubble around me… but it never would help me feel better. What’s interesting is that when I would meditate, I would often see strange figures/illusions that were dark and evil-looking. I often waved them off, thinking that it was just a trick of the light on my closed eyes… but it didn’t matter where I would be, or if the lights were off, I would see them. I also felt that I had to speak a protective ‘claim’ into existence whenever I woke up or was about to meditate. This was definitely tied into OCD (which I’ve had since I was younger), and I never truly felt safe or protected when involving myself with the ‘divine.’ I was also very impulsive and all over the place. Not too long ago, I read some journal entries from my old notebooks/computer from this time, and my words were frantic and paranoid. Even some of my old Medium articles expressed this (some are still up). To an outsider, it looked like I was having a manic episode. I do not have bipolar disorder, but I genuinely seemed unwell. To put it plainly: I was extremely paranoid during this part of my life, and it stressed me out very, very badly. I had many ebbs and flows while in this spiritual phase; sometimes I would be very disciplined: meditate, pull cards, shadow work, etc. And other times I was too exhausted to do anything. While it was originally fun, it became a chore. I often would reminisce about the days when it was fun and exciting, even getting teary and emotional over it. I wanted to go back into the past so badly… because somehow I knew I would never get that back. As time went on, I slowly got rid of my crystals, cards, and books. I still considered myself ‘spiritual,’ but I was not a fan of all the materials that were a part of the brand. God Was Moving It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I began to question this spirituality. Now, I’m going to segue a bit. If you’re familiar with Doreen Virtue, she used to be a spiritual medium. She created the angel cards that I first received, and I also had many other cards/books of hers. In my senior year, I was very close to a Christian friend of mine. I have known her since middle school, and became very close to her at that time. She invited me to church, and while I was obviously okay with her being a Christian, I felt uncomfortable with the religion and the church. Because of this, I started thinking more critically about the new age community. Crazily enough, I remembered that Doreen Virtue became a born-again Christian, and she ditched the new age community. I started researching more about this transformation, and I even listened to her podcast about it on YouTube. While I listened to it, I was very stubborn and disagreed with her points. But, at the same time, something in me told me to continue to listen and research. I began searching more about Christianity, and I also wanted to know why Christians were against the new age. I looked at Reddit posts, blogs, and websites, reading different opinions on the matter. I mostly remember many of them equating new age spirituality to Satan. I recall feeling very convicted at this point. I didn’t believe in Satan or sin, but something in me kept telling me to keep an open mind. While I didn’t change my opinion right in that moment, this was a crucial point where seeds were planted. Later in mid-January, my good Christian friend published a book about Jesus, titled “Jesus, It’s You.” Of course, I read the book, and what’s crazy is that it totally planted seeds within me. I was still involved with the new age, but this book opened my eyes to how much simpler life is with Jesus. After reading her book, I prayed to Him and Him alone (for a short amount of time before I went back to the ‘norm’), but I noticed a huge difference. I felt much safer, more protected, and it just felt simple! After years of praying paranoidly and exhaustingly, I actually felt calm and safe. I had no idea why, but I did. And a few months after, a different friend of mine got baptized, and I went to watch it. Originally, I felt very stubborn about going, and on the way, I complained about the hypocrisy of Christians. This new age spirituality made me very hostile to Christianity, and while I accepted those in the faith, I personally vowed to not be apart of it. However, when I went to the church to witness her baptism, I immediately felt tears in my eyes during the ceremony. I also fought hard (like really hard, y’all) not to cry when they sang in worship. I had no idea why I was having this sort of reaction: I was hostile towards Christianity and its people. I had no reason to feel emotional about any of it. I believe this moment also planted seeds within my soul. Of course, I still considered myself to be ‘spiritual.’ Finding Jesus — The Present A couple of months after her baptism, I graduated and went off to college. The first few months were rough, but I adjusted. I barely had the time or energy to involve myself with the new age, and I am glad I didn’t bother with it. If you haven’t read my testimony… now’s the time to do so because it fits within this story. As I mentioned in it, I was depressed during this huge change in my life. I did have active suicidal thoughts, and if I wasn’t so afraid of the pain/or the implications of a failed attempt (of suicide), I honestly think I would have done it. I found Jesus in the most random time of my life… literally an hour before I was about to go partying at school. I had never had such bad suicidal thoughts until that night, and He met me where I was and took them away. He answered my initial stubbornness with mercy, and when I finally asked Him for help, He responded with grace. He took all of the thoughts away, and you wouldn’t believe how relieved I was to go to sleep that night, not thinking about how awful I felt or having to ignore how I wanted to die. I do believe in miracles, and this definitely was one. And clearly, my life changed from there onwards. Obviously, my faith has been challenged, but I seriously have never had this strong a faith at any time in my life. I’ve tried so many things: the ‘somewhat’ Christian, partially an atheist?, new age, and now I’m here. Nothing else has made me as grounded or secure in my sense of myself and the world. And Jesus genuinely is the only one who has given me such a solid foundation. I still have issues. I struggled A LOT this school year. I definitely did have a spiritual high when I first came to Him, and it wore off in my second year of college. But instead of feeling exhausted, I actually wanted to go to Him, and I felt relieved. I’ve never felt like praying to Him or talking to Him is a chore. I was just thinking last night, how grateful I am to not feel paranoid anymore. I feel safe, simple, and complete in Him. I don’t have to pretend like I’m hot you-know-what with Him. I’m just me… and that’s perfectly fine because Jesus is here and He’s not going anywhere. A Changed Perspective I just want to finish this article by explaining some extra things. I do not think I am better than anyone else. I don’t think I am better than the atheists, agnostics, new agers, or any other people from different religions. I’ve been humbled a lot since I’ve surrendered to God. Jesus and His word have called me out on my poor behavior… and always will. I straight up know that most of the people I surround myself with don’t agree with me. But I take that as an opportunity for growth rather than being a brat about it. I will not distance myself from anyone who disagrees with me, unless it becomes genuinely unhealthy or dangerous for either of us. Because I’ve switched up my spiritual lifestyle so much, I understand what it feels like to be a part of those different communities. I definitely don’t have it all right either. While this post isn’t really trying to convince you of anything, it is more a reflection on the spiritual changes in my life. And to my atheists/agnostics reading this, I know y’all might find everything in here ridiculous, especially if you don’t believe in spiritual powers whatsoever. I wanted to explain why I am where I am, especially to those who really don’t understand. Who knows where I will be in a couple of years? Some may argue that I may move on to the next big thing, but I do hope that I stay as a devoted follower of Jesus. I’ve never been more challenged, uncomfortable, and curious about life. This should theoretically push me away from Him, right? But for some reason, millions of others and I continue to pick up their crosses and follow Him. My faith is stronger than it ever has been, and I don’t feel scared anymore. I truly do believe He is the way, truth, and life. © 2026 Sienna Krieg. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Knowing God. 📖 Recommended Read: Mikiyas Astatke explores how the gospel ends the endless chase for hidden spiritual knowledge in A Christian Response to New Age Spirituality: What a $5 Million Dollar Book Burning Reveals Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

A Scriptural, Historical, and Observational Perspective You’ve Probably Never Considered I’m not a flat‑earther, but I do hold a belief that’s just as unconventional in today’s world: I think Earth sits at the center of our solar system. Yes, I know how unhinged that sounds. For thousands of years, people assumed the heavens revolved around us. That wasn’t due to a lack of intelligence, it was simply what they observed daily, what they lived under, and what Scripture consistently portrays. There’s also a passage in Scripture that has stayed lodged in my head: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon… and moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped." Josh. 10:12–14 And that’s where the rabbit hole begins. If you’re still with me, settle in. This topic deserves at least a glance, especially if you follow it all the way to the final point. And I’m not alone in considering an Earth‑centered model, several historical systems were built on this very idea. Keeping It Real I am not an astronomer, scientist or used to writing this complex of a topic, I pulled all my notes, research, and sources from over the years and have been getting help from Copilot to even begin to try and keep this from being a bad scrambled egg. I personally believe in an Earth‑centered solar system, and this makes logical sense to me because of what we actually see going on in the sky at night, the heavens move around us, not the other way around. As a child, without any prompting, I always believed this based on what I saw at night and read in the Bible. These models (image below) take our observations literally and align more naturally with Scripture’s Earth‑based perspective, the way the world looks from the viewpoint of someone actually standing on it. I think Scripture is far more literal than we tend to give it credit for, and this also helps explain a few other very important things in Scripture that most people never think about. The Three Historical Models Here are the three frameworks that treat Earth as the central reference point, and show I’m far from the first person to think this way: Neo‑Tychonian Model: A modern reinterpretation where Earth is treated as the stationary frame, and the motions of the heavens are understood relative to it. Tychonian Model: Earth remains fixed at the center; the Sun orbits Earth; the planets orbit the Sun. Ptolemaic Model: Earth sits motionless at the center while the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars move in complex circular paths around it. The Shifting Sun Now we’re going to rabbit‑hole into some Scripture and history, and I’m going to begin unwrapping a concept about satan that I doubt many people have ever considered. What pushed me to finally write this was an article by Paul Ian Clarke, "The Line in Genesis Most People Read Too Quickly." He points out something almost everyone skims past in Genesis 1:16, the quiet understatement of “he made the stars also.” Clarke explains that in the ancient world, the sun, moon, planets, and stars weren’t just objects; they were treated as divine powers. Entire cultures named them, feared them, and worshipped them. Yet Genesis refuses to play along. It doesn’t even call the sun and moon by name, just “the greater light” and “the lesser light,” stripping them of status. And the stars, which many believe control fate, are mentioned casually. The understatement is intentional. Genesis demotes the heavens on purpose, placing them firmly inside creation, not above it. And now I want to take that idea a step further. In Genesis 1, God creates the heavens and the Earth first, not the sun or moon. Light itself comes before they do. Then in Genesis 2, the focus remains on Earth and the heavens, with almost no attention given to the sun, moon, or stars again. There’s a reason for that. By the time the Torah was written, people everywhere were already looking to the sky for guidance instead of to God. God‘s Focal Point Was Us Genesis makes something very clear. God’s focus was on Earth and on us. Scripture gives far more detail about the formation of land, life, and humanity than it does about the sun, moon, or stars. In fact, compared to the attention given to Earth, the heavens receive almost nothing, and the planets aren’t mentioned at all. Scripture repeatedly warns Israel not to be drawn into the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, the very things their neighbors treated as divine. “And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars… do not be enticed into bowing down to them.” Deut. 4:19 “contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars in the sky,” Deut. 17:3 “[…] I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place… those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host…” Zeph. 1:4–5 These weren’t small warnings. They were direct confrontations against a world obsessed with celestial powers. Genesis intentionally keeps the heavens in the background because God was establishing a different center, not the sun, not the stars, but Earth, and the people He placed on it. History Meets The Deceiver Both the Ptolemaic and Tychonic models dominated for centuries, but everything began to shift in the 1500s and 1600s, one of the most volatile periods in human history. Religion, politics, philosophy, and culture were all being torn apart and rebuilt. And when the world is crumbling, people become vulnerable to new ideas, new authorities, and new “truths.” For more than a thousand years, the Ptolemaic model went virtually unchallenged. Then, in 1543, right in the middle of the Protestant Reformation, the first major attacks appeared. The Renaissance was also reshaping the intellectual world, elevating human reason, mathematics, and classical philosophy. The heavens were no longer viewed through Scripture but through geometry and speculation. That shift opened the door for alternative cosmologies, including the Tychonic system, which still kept Earth fixed at the center while accounting for new observations. Then came the Scientific Revolution. Truth was no longer defined by Scripture but by what could be measured, predicted, and mathematically modeled. At the same time, Europe was tearing itself apart in the Thirty Years’ War, a conflict so devastating that by the end, people were desperate for stability. Religious authority was collapsing. Intellectual authority was rising. And into that vacuum stepped a new worldview that felt orderly and predictable. By the late 1600s, the Enlightenment was gaining momentum. Reason became the highest authority. Faith was pushed to the side. God was no longer seen as actively governing the world; He became a distant idea. New astronomical discoveries added fuel to the shift, not because they disproved an Earth‑centered system, which they didn’t, but because they destabilized the old framework and made heliocentrism one of several possibilities. In other words, the world didn’t simply “discover” heliocentrism. It was primed for it. The groundwork had already been laid by upheaval, conflict, and a cultural drift away from God. And when a society is spiritually disoriented, satan doesn’t need to invent new tricks. He only needs to redirect human attention toward anything that isn’t God. The Century That Lost Its Center All of that had to be utterly mind-blowing to live through. Just reading all the mass upheaval going on around the world, all around the same time, affecting people’s long-held beliefs, makes me wonder some things. I don’t believe satan chooses some random eras to stir chaos. He started in the garden and never stopped. And because he cannot see the future, he floods the world with distractions, distortions, and half‑truths, letting humanity do what it does best: elevate anything and everything except God. So no, I don’t think the shift to a sun‑centered solar system was a coincidence. The world was primed for it; it was spiritually exhausted, intellectually prideful, self-centered, and eager for a worldview that felt predictable, self‑contained, and more redefinable. And today, we’re still seeing the fallout. More than half of the world’s national flags contain a sun, moon, or star. Entire industries revolve around the heavens. In 2024 alone, the United States spent over $55 billion on space‑related activity. And while that number climbs, another industry is booming alongside it: astrology. It’s now a $3‑billion‑a‑year online market in the U.S. alone, and projected to triple. The scale of it shows how deeply this fixation runs and how deeply the diversion has unfocused and blinded people. The same ancient temptation, dressed up in new language and fancy schmancy technology. Old Temptation in a New Form From the earliest pages of Scripture, God warned His people not to let their hearts drift toward the sun, moon, or stars. Over and over, Israel was cautioned not to be captivated by the heavens or drawn into the worship of what God created (Deut. 4:19). The prophets even rebuked those who turned their backs on the temple and bowed toward the rising sun (Ezek. 8:15–17). It was idolatry then, and it hasn’t changed. When I look at our world today, I don’t see coincidence. I see the same pattern resurfacing, the same seeds the enemy has been sowing since Eden. Satan doesn’t need new strategies; he only needs to keep our attention fixed upward in all the wrong ways. A tiny shift away from Scripture is all he requires, a sliver of misalignment that grows over time. At the end of the day, it doesn’t bother me if someone thinks I’m unhinged for believing the solar system is centered on Earth. I’m not campaigning for converts. I’m simply asking people to consider the possibility. Because if this perspective is even partly true, then it exposes just how deep and far‑reaching the enemy’s influence has been from the beginning of human history to now. And that realization should sober anyone. © Jane Isley Want more content like this? Check out more articles in Exploring Scripture. For the full list of sources, citations, and research notes behind this article, you can view the complete documentation here. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

Church Leadership and the Cost of Silence NDA misuse goes against the Bible’s teaching on Church leadership, faithfulness and integrity. It frequently involves a rationalized ‘institutional thinking’ and represents hypocrisy by ministries that may be doing good in other respects. NDA misuse looks so very different from the bible’s teaching on leadership. 1 Timothy 3:2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. 1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. Christian leaders must not only be gifted, they must be of good character, and be well thought of because of their actual lifestyle, not because they are covering up their own or others’ behavior with NDAs. Once a leader starts using NDAs, it raises questions about their character. Overlooking character flaws and covering them up with NDAs to protect a popular or charismatic preacher or powerful leader is contrary to the Bible’s clear teaching that character is essential. Servant Leadership, Not Seized Authority I Peter 5:2-3 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. Leaders should care for and seek the best interests of those under their care, not do harm by silencing them with NDAs. They should lead by setting a good example, rather than being domineering and emphasizing control by fear and intimidation. Luke 4:5-8 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” Jesus was offered power and money. Think of all the good he could have done. And all he had to do was bow down and worship the father of lies. He could have rationalized, ‘It’s not the best thing, but …’ Instead, he said, ‘It is written’ and that settled who he was going to worship. He didn’t have to think about it. When NDAs are misused to silence people whose experiences might damage an institution’s reputation, this places power, position, and fundraising above the people and the integrity of the institution. This requires living a lie and worshipping the father of lies, who has very bad intentions toward all. NDA Misuse vs. Biblical Integrity James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. The wisdom from above is pure, with no moral compromise. It does not need to be rationalized. It is full of mercy and good fruit, not harm. Sincere means ‘without wax’, which was used to cover up flaws. The wisdom from above is sincere, the opposite of using an NDA to cover-up wrongdoing. Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Jesus says to do good works, and people will see it and give glory to God. This is the opposite of harming people and hiding it with an NDA so people will think well of you. 2 Peter 1:5-8 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The message is to grow in integrity, character, and love, which will make you effective. If these qualities are abandoned, to silence people with NDAs to manage the reputation of the organization or leader, that effectiveness can be lost. God's Truth Over Institutional Loyalty Exodus 20:1-3 And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. Our loyalty should always be to God first, and not a leader or organization. When an institution demands silence, they are asking people to violate their conscience and relationship with God. Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. NDAs require omission, and sometimes overt misrepresentation of fact. Omission requires falseness and can be considered a form of perjury in a court of law. I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil. This includes not silencing people with NDAs, which means harming them, and maintaining a falsified reputation. Photo by Lorin Both on Unsplash When Institutions Rationalize Compromise Institutional thinking seeks to preserve image, status, and power, and rationalizes following 'standard practice' rather than the Bible. Organizations frequently respond to critical disclosures with officialese statements that make their decisions sound like prudent leadership. Silencing someone who has been hurt with an NDA is considered an informed business decision that is standard, rather than something unethical and destructive. I Kings 12:26-28 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” Jeroboam had taken ten out of twelve tribes of Israel away from Rehoboam, and was worried they would turn back if they worshipped at the temple in Jerusalem, where Rehoboam was king. Rather than trust God, he engages in ‘institutional thinking’ where a leader thinks about maintaining their position, authority, or reputation, rather than thinking about what God wants. ‘It's not the best thing, but …’ This kind of rationalization is behind most uses of NDAs, and the cover-up response to abuse in churches and Christian organizations. Whoever the king took counsel with gave him very bad advice. Rachael Denhollander is a Christian attorney and the first woman to go public about the abuse of Larry Nassar. She advises: Pastors, if you are working with attorneys that suggest NDA's, you [are] getting counsel and guidance that is not asking what is right, good, or true. You need new counsel that will tell you the law accurately, but challenge you to do what is right. The Cost of Rationalization John 11:50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish. Here, Caiaphas rationalizes killing one man, Jesus, to protect an organization. Another example of ignoring biblical truth to protect an organization. In contrast, the good shepherd leaves the 99 (the organization) to protect the one (the individual). Mark 7:10-12 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, This ‘standard practice’ legal maneuver to avoid caring for a parent goes against God’s clear command. Rationalizing NDAs by calling them standard practice ignores what God has said. I Kings 15:30 Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.” After Saul disobeys God and Samuel tells him his kingdom is taken from him, Saul asks Samuel to walk with him (for others to see) to worship YOUR God. God is no longer Saul’s God, but he wants the people to still think well of him. Saul seeks to preserve his image by giving a false impression. He still loses the kingdom. Silencing and Hypocrisy in the Bible Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Stoning the prophets was done to silence them and stop them from speaking the truth, especially speaking truth to power. NDAs silence those who could effectively speak to correct and reverse an organization’s misconduct. V.P. Scott Lamb at Liberty University began raising objections to Liberty’s mishandling of sexual assaults. He was fired, and Liberty attempted to silence both him and the survivors with NDAs. Liberty was fined $14M for violating the Clery Act, which requires accurate reporting of violent crime, such as sexual assault. Whitewashed Tombs: Appearance vs. Reality Matthew 23:27-28 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. They looked good on the outside, because what was wrong was hidden. NDAs used to manage a reputation can create a good public image, when the reality behind the scenes is wrong and destructive. Continue Your Reading: This is Part 2 of a two-part series on biblical teaching regarding the misuse of NDAs. In Part 1, I explore what Scripture reveals about silencing, reconciliation, and speaking truth. Biblical Teaching on the Misuse of NDAs: Part 1 Also by Robert Leland: 🔗 When Positive Self-Talk Tells You It's OK to Silence Church Abuse Survivors — How churches rationalize silencing survivors and why institutional silence contradicts Scripture. Author: © Robert Leland, PhD NDAFreeCampus Scripture Attribution Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Sources Legal Services Board (UK). "The misuse of NDAs: Call for evidence themes and summary of evidence." February 2024. Chan, A. L., Nichols, B. J., Daub, A., & Crossley, A. D. "Assessing the Impact of Non-Disclosure Agreements and Forced Arbitration Clauses on Survivors of Workplace Sexual Harassment and Discrimination." Clayman Institute for Gender Research, Stanford University, July 2024. Can't Buy My Silence. "Story 90." Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

When the Faithful Are Called the Enemy As the end times draw near, moral and spiritual confusion may grow so deep that genuine devotion to Christ gets mistaken for defiance, intolerance, or even rebellion against God himself. Cultural shifts, political influence, and compromised religious movements can quietly reshape what society accepts as "Christian," setting the stage for Spirit led believers to be pushed aside by institutions that claim Christ's name while working against his true purposes. Drawing on the warnings in Revelation about spiritual deception, along with the historical account of Constantine's vision of the cross, this piece calls believers to stay alert to religious and political manipulation. It urges a return to Scripture and dependence on the Holy Spirit, and prepares readers for a future where the name of Jesus could be invoked to defend systems that stand in opposition to his genuine followers. Confusion On Many Fronts The times are confusing on many fronts. We are seeing what was once called immoral behaviors normalized. There is little shock or awe regarding media announcements of behaviors that were once unthinkable. Even our elected officials conduct themselves in aspects of behaviors that would never have been easily tolerated. This has become so normalized that it is becoming nearly impossible to label or get attention when immoral and unethical behaviors occur. These are signs of the coming end of days, when cultural and public definitions of right and wrong become confusing and even exchanged. It is an age of rapid corruption of societal good and malalignment of what is truly godly behavior and evil masquerading as good. In such a world, those who are truly faithful to scripture—and more importantly, led by the Holy Spirit—can be called out for unchristian-like behaviors and attitudes. True believers must prepare for their worldview to flip upside down as the trials of the last tribulations approach. The central concern of this article is not merely that society is changing, but that corrupted definitions of Christianity may eventually cause true believers to be viewed as enemies of the very faith they are committed to following. How Society Redefines Right and Wrong We have to face the fact that we in the Western worldview are influenced by societal and cultural norms. We expect others in our social structure to see, hear, and accept a collective understanding of what we accept as societal norms. The American way is just assumed to be true for everyone—or at least it was until now. Some are awakening to the fact that not everyone in America shares the same ideas and values, even to the point of noticing that not everyone calling themselves American looks like or holds true American values. This has become a hot issue and is leading toward fragmentation and discord within the nation and undermining its heritage as a beacon of hope to the nations. This writing isn’t a focus on social ills or grievances. The purpose of this article is to shine a light on how norms within societies change, and how points of view become corrupted as gradual and steady pressures are applied by influential thought leaders and those with power to infiltrate a society with changes that slowly poison the collective normal shared values. This has serious implications for those who are committed to Jesus and called to follow his ways. How Society Redefines Right and Wrong One of the reasons I stress opposition to movements like Christian Nationalism or Civilizationism is that the combination of geopolitical alignment with religious perspectives inevitably leads to oppression based on the normalized perspective of what is defined as Christian at the time. Those outside of the religious norm become ostracized or even forced to convert to assume the image of the social norm. There are many snares and traps in this perspective that can be manipulated by the cunning and those who are insincere. The Antichrist and Christian Nationalism In Revelation 13, we see a description of a beast rising from the sea and being given authority to conquer the saints of God. He forces those who follow him to have a mark that allows them to belong to his society and conform to his norms. He, or “it,” is compelling and highly persuasive, even having a religious leader or false prophet leading his church and leading people to worship him rather than Christ. What this does visually is show how a social standard and viewpoint can be corrupted to a point where right is wrong. Even today, those calling themselves Christian follow many different voices and perspectives. If anything, the religion is more divided than ever and speaking in many different voices—a kind of “babel” situation and, as such, an open door for manipulation. A simple perspective is that the antichrist will be obvious, like he will have a badge pinned on his lapel with the words, “I am the antichrist.” Or he’ll come with red skin and horns. This is naive and Middle Ages thinking. He will not come professing to be the antichrist; he will come claiming to fulfill the biblical perspective of a returning messianic character. He will manipulate the weak and misguided into thinking he really is the returning messiah and that to worship him is obedience to God—and, in fact, that he is God! The mystery is that it won’t be another made-up religion, as it will be a corruption of the very Christian foundation created in the biblical text. His prophets and ministers will be well trained in the letter of scripture and able to manipulate those who are not marked by the Holy Spirit of God. Revelation 7 describes the marking of the people of God in verse 3, which symbolically identifies the true followers from the false. These will not be deceived by the antichrist or his prophet. When True Believers Become the Outsiders What if those in the majority calling themselves Christian became the opposition to the elect of God, marked on their foreheads by the angels of God? What if the churches that align themselves with the antichrist on a nationalistic and global agenda begin to purge out those believers who refuse to align with their corrupted worldview? What if the true believers become labeled as the real enemies of God? This will happen when such true believers stand up and refuse to adapt to the growing new world order, and that order could very well be called a Christian-based civilization under the rule of a charismatic and powerful leader. This leader, in time, will claim to be the returned Christ of the Bible and exert his authority to mark his followers to identify those who have rights and privileges in his new world order as the new Christ under the Christian banner of the cross. Constantine's Cross: A Warning for Today Like Constantine of old, who saw a vision of the cross of Jesus and the saying, “By this sign, conquer!” this historical episode, traditionally associated with Constantine’s vision before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in A.D. 312, is important because it illustrates how a religious symbol could become tied to imperial power and military conquest. Lactantius, writing soon after the event, says Constantine was instructed in a dream to mark his soldiers’ shields with the heavenly sign of Christ before battle; Eusebius later gives a fuller account in which Constantine saw a cross of light above the sun with the words commonly rendered, “By this sign, conquer,” followed by a dream in which Christ commanded him to use the sign as protection. The lasting effect was profound: the cross, once a sign associated with suffering and execution, became linked in the imperial imagination with victory, legitimacy, and the expansion of Christian influence within Rome. [1] [2] [3] This type of occurrence could happen again! The current trends are definitely in favor of that happening. As in the days of Constantine, the church leaders relaxed as imperial power started to protect them and their authority. Such events should be a note of caution to the serious not to easily support or bless new social movements simply because they use the name of Christ. Such similar occurrences, both large and small, have repeated over the vast time since then. Preparing for What's Ahead As we near the end time, we should expect such masquerades to pick up, including the merging of religion and governance to create the most powerful alignment possible. And where would this be more suited than in the most powerful nation on the planet, one that controls monetary systems and vast resources on earth, the heart of power that can influence global activity? Sadly, that nation, despite its claim to fairness and freedom, is a prime target for usurpation in the name of Jesus. The American and Western Christian churches should strive to guard themselves from the potential for corruption with the understanding that they are the guardians of Jesus’ investment in the most powerful asset in the world. Failing to do this will open the door for further corruption and a global spiritual contagion. I make this warning without any expectation that it will go heeded, but the wise will understand and should be preparing for when the world and the written scriptures themselves become weapons in the hands of the ungodly, even those calling themselves followers of Jesus. References [1] Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors, ch. 44, describes Constantine’s dream and the marking of the soldiers’ shields with the sign of Christ. [2] Eusebius of Caesarea, Life of Constantine, Book I, chs. 28–31, records the later account of the cross of light and the command to conquer by that sign. [3] Modern summaries of the Milvian Bridge tradition note the differences between Lactantius and Eusebius and the historical importance of the phrase commonly rendered “In this sign, conquer.” More on This Topic "The Truth About Christianity and America's Founding: Separating Faith from National Myth" — Jane Isley Read more → "Do You Want a Christian Nation or a Feared Nation Wearing a Cross?" — Joel Sarfraz Read more → "Stop Idolizing Your Political Party" — Sienna Krieg Read more → © 2026 A Voice First published in The Dove on Medium. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in End Times. 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What Scripture Reveals About Silencing Through Confidentiality Agreements The Bible is surprisingly unsilent about the misuse of NDAs to silence people. NDAs that protect confidential information such as intellectual property, donor lists, or counseling records are legitimate. NDAs are misused when they prevent individuals from disclosing their lived experience, especially sexual abuse, discrimination, retaliation, bullying, and other misconduct. Much NDA misuse is based on rationalizations that do not consider biblical teaching or the harm done by silencing people. “I need to protect the reputation of my organization, which is doing good work.” “Our attorney is recommending an NDA.” “The insurers require us to use NDAs.” In order to make good, responsible, and humane decisions, it is essential to have a clear picture of both right and wrong related to NDAs and the damage they do. The reader is asked to keep in mind that personal integrity, obedience to the word of God, and human decency are all limited to what we cannot rationalize. Jesus said one of the most important commandments is to love your neighbor as yourself. This may be the most important principle to keep in mind when thinking about NDAs. Fundamental Ideas: The value of a person. Jesus brings abundant life and sets people free. Love your neighbor as yourself. Choose truth over rationalization. Every Person Has Worth Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Both men and women are created in the image of God and have incredible worth. Harming a person by silencing them to protect the reputation of a leader or organization violates this principle and denies their worth as a person. Although women are created fully in the image of God, they are more likely to be silenced by an NDA (Can’t Buy My Silence/Speak Out Revolution survey)1. Two statements that align with this principle: The first core value of NDAFreeCampus: Value of a person over the reputation of an institution. The first fundamental canon of the National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics: Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall: Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. NDA misuse harms both the individual and the public. Photo by Ammar Sabaa on Unsplash Community Heals What Silence Damages Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” God puts us in families and communities. Relationships of all kinds help humans meet a basic need for connection that He has designed into us. NDAs isolate people so they cannot share significant life experiences with friends, family, or colleagues at work, or even within a support group. This isolation short- circuits the healing that family, friendship, community, and support groups are intended to provide. Love Does No Wrong to a Neighbor Romans 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Many of the Ten Commandments are summed up by loving your neighbor, and love does no wrong to a neighbor. Silencing through NDAs is known to harm people. In one study, 93% of people who signed NDAs reported negative mental health consequences.1 Individuals who have signed NDAs have also spoken of the harm done to them: “I wanted to speak out. And I was reminded—I signed an NDA and not to speak, not to disclose what happened.… I was already down. I was already devastated.”2 “I just kept [my feelings] in… [to] myself and just [thought] about it at home, but it felt like it was kind of ... consuming my mind.”2 “I think back a lot to the beginning. I never would have agreed to be silenced if I knew the long-term impact it would have on my health, my personal relationships, and the safety of others. It should be over by now; I should have healed and moved on with my life. The reason it isn’t over, is because I was silenced.” 3 Love sets people free and helps them find healing. NDAs and silencing harm people. They violate this fundamental commandment to love our neighbor, and instead do them wrong. This commandment should not be set aside by rationalizations like ‘NDAs are standard.’ Jesus Brings Abundant Life John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. NDAs steal people’s voices and their capacity to be honest and forthcoming in their relationships and networks. They cause and compound harm by preventing people from sharing significant and often painful events or warning others, which allows abuse to continue in an organization. An NDA prevented Trey Carlock from telling even his own family about the childhood sexual abuse he had experienced. The NDA caused him to lose hope that he would ever be free, and he took his own life. NDAs can kill. In contrast to the death—of voice, hope, and connection—that NDAs bring about, Jesus brings abundant life. Jesus Sets People Free Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Jesus sets people free. He offers forgiveness to all who believe in him and sets them free from judgment and bondage to the past. He sets free the poor and oppressed, who are harmed and held captive by the powerful. He sets people free from addiction, hate, and harmful belief systems. Binding people to silence with NDAs is completely opposite to what Jesus himself is doing. Photo by Aditya Saxena on Unsplash Repentance and Restitution Luke 19:8-9 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. Something has gone wrong in your church, and someone has been hurt. Do you act ‘with an abundance of caution’ to protect the church's finances and reputation? As a dishonest tax collector, Zacchaeus had cheated people. Now he voluntarily repays those he cheated fourfold without anyone having to file a lawsuit or sign a settlement agreement with an NDA. In response to his genuine repentance, Jesus says that salvation has come to his house. Zacchaeus is an excellent model of repentance and making restitution for any church or organization where people have been harmed. For example, Broadmoor Baptist Church sided with a survivor of sexual abuse by a former youth pastor, publicly accepted responsibility, and offered to pay her legal expenses for breaking her NDA with him. Nothing Stays Hidden Luke 12:2-3 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. Jesus says those who believe that they can use NDAs to hide embarrassing information will be disappointed. Jesus states clearly that everything will be known and known publicly. NDAs did not ultimately hide the actions of Bill Cosby, Roger Ailes, Harvey Weinstein, Ravi Zacharias, Kanakuk Kamps, and many others. Speak for the Voiceless Prov 31:8-9 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. King Lemuel recites the good advice given to him by his mother. Whatever power to speak we have, we should speak to defend those without power. To enable the voices of the silenced to be heard. To defend the poor and needy, rather than enable the powerful to silence them with NDAs. Renounce Hidden Things II Corinthians 4:2 (NASB) but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. We renounce the cover-up of shameful things with NDAs and speak the truth openly. Reconciliation Over Silence Matthew 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Jesus places a high priority on reconciliation. Silencing with an NDA does not represent reconciliation; it represents an abuse of power and failure to reconcile. Seek Forgiveness and Healing II Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. NDA misuse occurs far too often in the church. Those in the church who misuse NDAs can stop this harmful practice, seek forgiveness, and free those who are silenced. Our Testimony Overcomes Revelation 12:2 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. We overcome by the word of our testimony. USAF Captain Ashton Alarcon, who had been sexually abused at Kanakuk Kamps, and at age 14 refused to sign an NDA, testified before the Texas State Senate. At age 19 he went on a short-term mission with his mother to Hungary. At the end of this trip, he felt the Holy Spirit ask him to share his story. “I told him no, that I was upset with Him and that if he wanted me to share my story, someone was going to have to come and ask me.” Someone did ask, and he said yes. “Little did I know the impact that that would have the next day. I stayed up all night thinking about how am I going to translate this into another language. The pastor also stayed up all night and couldn’t sleep, of that church that we were with. When I showed him my story, what I had written, he told me that this is the exact message that we had been praying for. That there had been generations of sexual abuse within Hungary. Generations. So when I got up and told my story, he said that never has his church been filled with people asking for healing, speaking out, that had never shared with anybody, that they had not seen anybody who has come forward about this, has healed from abuse like this.” Jesus heals and sets people free. NDAs bind people to silence and prevent healing. Continue Your Reading: This is Part 1 of a two-part series on biblical teaching regarding the misuse of NDAs. In Part 2, I explore what churches and organizations must do to stop NDA misuse, repent, and restore those who have been silenced. Biblical Teaching on the Misuse of NDAs: Part 2 Also by Robert Leland: 🔗 When Positive Self-Talk Tells You It's OK to Silence Church Abuse Survivors — How churches rationalize silencing survivors and why institutional silence contradicts Scripture. Author: © Robert Leland, PhD NDAFreeCampus Scripture Attribution Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Sources Legal Services Board (UK). "The misuse of NDAs: Call for evidence themes and summary of evidence." February 2024. Chan, A. L., Nichols, B. J., Daub, A., & Crossley, A. D. "Assessing the Impact of Non-Disclosure Agreements and Forced Arbitration Clauses on Survivors of Workplace Sexual Harassment and Discrimination." Clayman Institute for Gender Research, Stanford University, July 2024. Can't Buy My Silence. "Story 90." 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Randy DeVaul, MA (pastorintheword@gmail.com), is a pastor, Bible teacher, speaker, and author. He is also a retired 40+ year safety professional and EMT/BLS instructor/responder. He lives in central Florida, where he lives with his wife of more than 33 years. His ministry to senior adults has recently expanded with adding his weekly messages on YouTube (Randy DeVaul - YouTube) and Spotify (ForEVER READY SAM | Podcast on Spotify). In his pastoral teaching role, he invests in helping followers of Christ walk the Christian life as God intended, with Bible-centered teaching and practical life examples. He chairs the Spiritual Life department of the church’s Bible institute, where he teaches courses that equip believers for practical, everyday discipleship. He founded Pastor in the Word (Pastor in the Word - Home), for which he is available to assist pastors and churches with preaching, teaching, and conducting themed workshops and seminars on the Christian life. Randy holds both an MA and BS degree from Liberty University, majoring in Cross‑Cultural Studies with minors in Aviation and Sociology. Before being called to his current role, his ministry background includes missions work, young adult and singles ministry, and the forming of a thriving senior adults ministry. Beyond the church, Randy has served as a Rapid Response Team Chaplain with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association/Samaritan’s Purse, ministering primarily to first responders in communities facing crisis. Throughout his safety career, he has written dozens of articles, conducted over 600 national webinars, served as a safety expert for a national attorney firm, and served on federal and state legislative and training teams. He has held global leadership roles with Fortune 100 companies. Randy is the author of four workplace safety books, home safety books, and seven Christian Life series books, available on Amazon (Amazon.com: Randy DeVaul MA: books, biography, latest update) in addition to over 100 Christian Life articles at Randy DeVaul, MA – Medium. Want to read more from Randy? Here are a few places to start: Building Biblical Relationships in Daily Life Hallelujah: The Ancient Word of Praise That Still Echoes Today The Purpose of Jesus’ Miracles: What His Works Reveal About God

I am a 19-year-old Christian student at DePauw University, majoring in communications. In the past, I wrote about New Age spirituality, but after an encounter with Jesus during a breaking point in my life, I gave my life to Him. He took away the depression and gave me a purpose in life. I now focus on Christian-based writing to spread the word of God to as many people as I can. I became a Christian in the winter of 2025, and now I am incredibly passionate about planting seeds to both nonbelievers and believers. Through this, I've learned that God has blessed me with the gift of working with multimedia, including writing, photography, and podcasting. I also have my own website where I publish my works. I want to help others see His reckless love and His incredible power. He saved me. He can do the same for you. Sienna Krieg www.siennakrieg.com Want to read more from Sienna? Here are a few places to start: Women of the Bible: Their Faith, Strength, and Importance Stop Idolizing Your Political Party Staying True to Jesus in College: My Journey of Faith and Growth

From the Editor: Sabina tackles one of Christianity's hardest questions in this article, if God controls everything, not why does Satan still exist, but why he was created in the first place? Her answer might challenge how you think about God's sovereignty. Honest Questions and Wondering When God was creating Lucifer, I wonder what was going on in His mind. As He put the elements together to make him complete, was He sad? Did He feel pain, anger, or empathy? I ask this because God knew how Lucifer would ultimately turn out. He knew everything about his future; it was laid bare before Him. What baffles me is that it did not stop God from creating him. Lucifer served God, rebelled against Him, was cast down to earth, and eventually played a role in the fall of mankind. This became the story of Lucifer’s existence, yet the mystery remains: God knew this story before it unfolded. Since the beginning, he has always opposed God, trying to compete with the One who created him — a battle he could never win. Why would God create him, knowing he would one day come after the children He loves? Why allow him to exist among us when there are countless galaxies beyond our own? If God intends to save mankind, why allow something that would make the journey more difficult? When I ask questions like this, I sit still and look up, hoping God will give me a simple answer. Sometimes what comes to mind is: He is God, and He controls all things. That is true. But reflecting further always reveals something I may have missed before. The Judas Iscariot Parallel Thinking about this, I remembered the story of Judas Iscariot — a man whose actions were known to God before they happened. In John 17:12, Jesus says: “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.” Judas was part of the story of our redemption. He walked with Jesus, ate with Him, witnessed His miracles, and experienced His presence. Yet Jesus knew the role Judas would play. But this raises another question: Was there no other way for Jesus to be crucified except through the betrayal and destruction of a man? Why did God allow evil to become part of the story of saving mankind? Did Judas truly have a choice, or was everything destined to happen exactly as it did? I believe Judas did have a choice. God knew his future, but his decisions were still his own. He had opportunities to repent. He walked with Jesus and saw the works of God firsthand. Knowing the ending of a story does not mean forcing every action within it. It is like how God may call someone into ministry, but they choose not to follow that path. God’s purpose does not collapse because of human choices; He can still accomplish His will. If Judas had chosen a different path, Jesus would still have fulfilled His purpose. The plan of God was never dependent on one person’s failure. God Works Through Evil, Not Around It And this makes me wonder if we sometimes limit God in our minds. We often view Him as the author of only good things, but throughout Scripture, we see God working even in the midst of evil. Evil does not surprise Him. It does not overpower Him or stop His plans from being fulfilled. When God created the world, He created beings with the ability to choose. He did not create evil as something good, but He created a world where rebellion was possible. Yet even when evil entered that world, it never escaped His authority. I think of Lucifer in a similar way. His choices were not the same as Judas’, but both reveal a mystery: God can know the ending of a story without losing control of the story. The devil is not outside the boundaries of God’s rule. God is still in control. The devil’s future is already known, and his rebellion will not change the final outcome. He is not the author of the story; he is only a character within it. What makes us focus so much on him is the damage he caused, the separation between humanity and God. But even that did not remove God’s plan. God had already made a way. So should we be afraid of the devil? Absolutely not. Was Jesus afraid of Judas? There is no way He was. Jesus knew exactly what was happening and remained faithful to His purpose. The devil’s plans are not hidden from God. Jesus reminded us many times (John 8:44, Luke 22:31–22, Mark 4:15, John 12:31) to be aware of him, but awareness is not the same as fear. As we live our lives, we know he exists, but he does not have the power to destroy what God has spoken over us. The devil is like background music playing in a room. It exists, but it is not the focus. The moment we stop paying attention to the One leading the story and begin focusing on the noise, we allow it to influence us. The devil is not the main character. God is, and nothing can stop what God has already spoken. “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (Romans 8:38–39) © 2026 Sabina Kumi. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Rethinking Doctrine. Continue exploring God's sovereignty and Satan's limitations: The Sovereignty and Care of God in an Unsteady World by Randy DeVaul — Discover how God's control extends to every circumstance, even chaos. Is Satan the King of Hell? Not Even Close by Jane Isley — Challenge the misconception about satan's authority and learn what Scripture actually reveals. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.