To Heal or Harm: Scripture's Use as Poison or Medicine for Abuse Survivors

By Steven R. Tracy

Empowers survivors to interpret Scripture in healing ways while unlearning harmful biblical perspectives.

Scripture plays an unique and profound role in the lives of many abuse survivors. It can be a powerful instrument for healing. Unfortunately, it is often wielded against survivors as a weapon, causing great and long-lasting harm.

In over two decades of abuse ministry Steve Tracy's ministry, Mending the Soul, has found that some of the most extensive trauma harm is experienced by survivors who had Scripture misused against them by abusers or the abusers' collaborators. Sometimes survivors have inherited harmful ways of reading Scripture from well-meaning family members, pastors, or religious communities.

To Heal or Harm is a lifeline for survivors and their loved ones that will quickly help you:

Refute the most common, harmful misuses of Scripture.Decontaminate broader biblical perspectives that have been used against you.Allow you to experience more of the beauty and healing power of Scripture.

This book is divided into three sections:

Lays the foundation by briefly surveying the complex richness of Scripture and then giving basic principles for proper biblical interpretation.Dismantles poisonous interpretations of passages commonly misused against survivors (passages on marriage, children, church, abuse victims, and spiritual life).Surveys, by category, key biblical texts which are most helpful for abuse survivors' protection and healing.

With compassion and deep insight, Steve Tracy will show you how key biblical texts have been typically misused, and he explains what those texts do and do not mean. The book includes appendices surveying biblical teaching on various abuse-related topics.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310121302
• ISBN13: 9780310121305
• Release Date: January 2026
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.4"