I really appreciate the nuance you bring to this. So many trauma conversations online swing to extremes—either “everything is sin” or “nothing is.” You’re naming the complexity that most survivors actually live in: trauma shapes our reactions, and sometimes sin gets tangled inside those reactions. Both can be true at once.
As a psychologist, I see this all the time. A dysregulated nervous system can explain why a reaction happened without excusing every behavior that followed. Trauma explains, but it doesn’t erase responsibility—or the need for healing, repair, and grace.
Your analogy of the dog’s “DNA” is a beautiful way to capture that sanctification and trauma recovery often unfold together. Both require gentleness, patience, and a God who is not surprised by our mess.
Thank you for your comment! I’m glad you understood what I was trying to do here. It’s a nuanced conversation that requires a strong foundation of objective truth to help us through.
Gary, you and I are starting from two very different places. The Westminster Divines are not my authority on whether the Bible is the Word of God. Scripture itself is quite clear on this. They have merely succinctly summarized various doctrines found in the text of scripture.
I am also not suggesting that the Bible is a therapeutic text on its own. In this very article I mention that I did EMDR therapy and if you pay attention to other articles and my podcast, you will hear me mention over and over seeing professional counseling, particularly EMDR for trauma survivors.
My website is meant to be a safe place for survivors who are wishing to keep their faith and who believe the Bible is the Word of God.
I too had both parts — I needed to feel safe and loved FIRST. And then it was AFTER that that the Lord revealed my own sin in the matter.
You’re doing great work here, Sarabeth👏🏻
Thank you, Sarah!
I really appreciate the nuance you bring to this. So many trauma conversations online swing to extremes—either “everything is sin” or “nothing is.” You’re naming the complexity that most survivors actually live in: trauma shapes our reactions, and sometimes sin gets tangled inside those reactions. Both can be true at once.
As a psychologist, I see this all the time. A dysregulated nervous system can explain why a reaction happened without excusing every behavior that followed. Trauma explains, but it doesn’t erase responsibility—or the need for healing, repair, and grace.
Your analogy of the dog’s “DNA” is a beautiful way to capture that sanctification and trauma recovery often unfold together. Both require gentleness, patience, and a God who is not surprised by our mess.
This was thoughtful, brave, and deeply needed.
Thank you for your comment! I’m glad you understood what I was trying to do here. It’s a nuanced conversation that requires a strong foundation of objective truth to help us through.
The trouble is, the belief that "The Bible" is "the word of God" leads to much spiritual abuse and trauma, and is not supported by the facts. The Westminster statement was crafted by church leaders (all imperfect, all male) long after Jesus walked the earth. As a psychotherapist and active church member, I have seen much confusion and harm result from trying to use the Bible as a therapeutic text. I would highly recommend these resources to anyone open to detaching from this dysfunctional belief about the Bible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMXzqTxGnpA , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENR8E3v4syg&t=313s , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-bKSEZr_cs , https://www.patheos.com/blogs/freedhearts/2024/08/15/why-the-idea-of-a-literal-inerrant-bible-diminishes-god/?fbclid=IwY2xjawErEGpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcbnDMmbjpQ-kd5OFiEB3Mgz2oeeoDzk0xgAo_6TffbwgE3E4KoBtplS8Q_aem_iAU3JhSzHJqMNgGyhaRadg
Gary, you and I are starting from two very different places. The Westminster Divines are not my authority on whether the Bible is the Word of God. Scripture itself is quite clear on this. They have merely succinctly summarized various doctrines found in the text of scripture.
I am also not suggesting that the Bible is a therapeutic text on its own. In this very article I mention that I did EMDR therapy and if you pay attention to other articles and my podcast, you will hear me mention over and over seeing professional counseling, particularly EMDR for trauma survivors.
My website is meant to be a safe place for survivors who are wishing to keep their faith and who believe the Bible is the Word of God.