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To Heal or Harm: Scripture's Use as Poison or Medicine for Abuse Survivors
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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.
- Print length368 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherZondervan
- Publication dateJanuary 6, 2026
- Dimensions6 x 0.76 x 8.98 inches
- ISBN-100310121302
- ISBN-13978-0310121305
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Steven R. Tracy (PhD, University of Sheffield, England, MDiv, ThM Western Seminary), is the president and international director for Mending the Soul Ministries, and professor of theology and ethics at Phoenix Seminary. He and his wife Celestia co-founded and co-lead Mending the Soul, a global mission dedicated to resourcing and equipping community and faith leaders in informed and compassionate responses to those impacted by abuse. Steve and Celestia bring over 40 years of pastoral, classroom, and clinical experience to their work. Their sustainable trauma care models and resources are now being implemented successfully around the world.
Product details
- Publisher : Zondervan
- Publication date : January 6, 2026
- Language : English
- Print length : 368 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0310121302
- ISBN-13 : 978-0310121305
- Item Weight : 1.1 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.76 x 8.98 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #103,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #110 in Religious Counseling
- #117 in Christian Counseling (Books)
- #150 in Ethics & Moral Teaching in Christian Theology
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors

Steve is the President and International Director for Mending the Soul (MTS), a global Christian nonprofit organization founded in 2003. The MTS mission is “to offer psychologically sound, Christ-centered resources for healing abuse and trauma.” Steve served as a church pastor for fifteen years and in 2025 retired as professor of theology and ethics at Phoenix Seminary where he taught for 30 years. Steve received a M.Div. and a Th.M. from Western Seminary and a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from the University of Sheffield (England). Steve, along with his wife Celestia, spend 4-8 weeks a year in East Africa overseeing outreach to trauma survivors. Steve is the author of ten books and numerous book chapters and journal articles.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Integrating theology and spirituality with cultural sensitivity is at the center of Dr. Metzger's vision and vocation. Dr. Metzger is Professor of Christian Theology and Theology of Culture at Multnomah Biblical Seminary of Multnomah University where he also directs The Institute for the Theology of Culture: New Wine, New Wineskins. He has been active in intercultural work in the States, Japan, and England.
Dr. Metzger is the author of Connecting Christ: How to Discuss Jesus in a World of Diverse Paths (Thomas Nelson, 2012); New Wine Tastings: Theological Essays of Cultural Engagement (Cascade, 2011); The Gospel of John: When Love Comes to Town (InterVarsity Press, 2010); Exploring Ecclesiology: An Evangelical and Ecumenical Introduction (co-authored with Brad Harper; Brazos, 2009); Consuming Jesus: Beyond Race and Class Divisions in a Consumer Church (Eerdmans, 2007); and The Word of Christ and the World of Culture: Sacred and Secular through the Theology of Karl Barth (Eerdmans, 2003). He is co-editor of A World for All?: Global Civil Society in Political Theory and Trinitarian Theology (co-edited with William F. Storrar and Peter J. Casarella; Eerdmans, 2011); editor of Trinitarian Soundings in Systematic Theology (T&T Clark International, 2005), and editor of Cultural Encounters: a Journal for the Theology of Culture. Dr. Metzger is a member of the Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton, New Jersey, and has developed a strategic ministry partnership with Dr. John M. Perkins titled, "Drum Majors for Love, Truth and Justice.". He is married with two children. Dr. Metzger has a keen interest in the art of Katsushika Hokusai and Georges Rouault and in the writings of John Steinbeck.
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