Nearly 700,000 Children in America Are Abused Each Year

According to the National Children’s Alliance, nearly 700,000 children in our country are abused each year. Sixty-five percent are sexually abused and 20% are physically abused. The youngest children have the highest rate of being hurt. Ninety percent of child mistreatment comes from a parent or a close relative. High-profile abusers make headlines, but many more go unnoticed. Sadly, abuse of children is a serious problem not only in our country but all over the world. Jesus reserved his strongest condemnation for those who mistreat children. In Luke 17 we read, “It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. So watch yourselves.” It’s clear that our Lord that God is deeply concerned about the way we treat children. He wants them to grow into maturity—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. For that reason, followers of Christ must dedicate themselves to shaping little ones—in families, churches, and schools, knowing that when we fail to do so, we dishonor our Lord.