TRAUMA And ACE’S, What The Bible Says About It

TRAUMA And ACE’S, What The Bible Says About It

What is an ACE?  A-Adverse  C-Childhood  E-Experience.

Adverse Childhood Experiences often caused Developmental Trauma, which is a physical change in brain development that resulted from adverse childhood experiences.

Ecclesiastes 7:7a – “Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason,”

Adverse Childhood Experiences are one of many forms of oppression that destroys one’s ability to reason.  It is not only proven medically, but also shown in the scripture.

Here are the common list of ACE’S and what the scriptures say about it:

1. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… Swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? or Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __

Galatians 6:1 – “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

1 Cor. 6:10 – “Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor REVILERS, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

There is a reason scripture says that revilers will not enter the kingdom of heaven in 1 Cor 6:10.  Reviling children traumatizes them.  Any harsh form of treatment traumatizes children and violates Galatians 6:1.

2. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? or Ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __

Exodus 21:22-25 - “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if anyharm follows, then you shall give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

God values even the unborn children.   No where in scripture does it promote harming a child.  In Jewish law, any harm done to a child, unborn child or adult will be brought to court and the courts will appoint the same type of harm done to the one inflicting the harm.

Ephesians 6:4 – “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

We should not take our wrath out on our children.

The rod verses in Proverbs does not necessarily mean a physical rod with a physical beating.   There are symbolic meanings also in the original Hebrew definitions of the words.  What is the rod?

A kings staff – symbolizes authority.  Parents are to be in charge of their children for their well being, health, and safety.

The rod of a shepherd – shepherds used their rods to prod their sheep to guide them in the right direction.

Shepherds also used their rods to fight off wolves, thus they protected their sheep.

A branch used for grafting – we are wild olive branches being grafted into the cultivated olive tree.  We are to graft our children in Christ.  See Romans 11.  We are to train them up in the way they should go – see Proverbs 22:6.

What is the rod?

Authority,  guidance, protect, and graft into Christ.  The rod is not to cause harm or hurt.  There may be consequences for willfully doing wrong, and facing consequences may not be pleasant, but consequences should not cause harm.  Harming children traumatizes them.

3. Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever… Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way? or Attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __

According to 1 Thessalonians 4:3, we are to abstain from sexual immortality.  We are not even to uncover the nakedness of children.  See Leviticus 18.  Sex is a sacred thing reserved for marriage.   Touching children sexually is a trespass against them and very traumatizing.  

4. Did you often or very often feel that … No one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? or Your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __

Matt 22:37-40 – “37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[d] 38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[e] 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

We are to love others and love our children.  They matter.   They are just as important as we are.  Jesus gave His life for them just as He did for us.  When children are not loved, or when they don’t matter, or when they are not important,  they are traumatized.

5. Did you often or very often feel that … You didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you? or Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __

1 Timothy 5:8 – “if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his  household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

This is a serious statement for those who neglect their children.  It is not love, and causes trauma. 

6. Were your parents ever separated or divorced?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __

1 Cor 7:12-16 – “But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believed, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?”

There is a reason that the scripture says that the children would be unclean.   It is very traumatizing to a child to face divorce.  It destroys their families and sense of safety.  They are often confused.   God hates divorce (Mal 2:16)

7. Was your mother or stepmother:
Often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her? or Sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard? or Ever repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __

Ephesians 5:25-29 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.”

Violence is not love.  Children witness that violence, and causes huge disruptions in their sense of safety and connection in the family.  

8. Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or who used street drugs?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __

Ephesians 5:18 – “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit”

Drunkenness and altered states of mind and consciousness from drugs and alcohol causes all kinds of foolishness to come out of a person.  They are not the same person as they are sober.   Children see that, and are harmed by it.  It can cause them to feel unloved, unsafe,  and neglected. 

9. Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide?                        No___If Yes, enter 1 __

Mental illness can be caused by a person going through trauma,  and it can be biological or result from chemical imbalances.   Even obesity can cause depression because the body has a different chemical balance.  We can avoid many mental illnesses by not traumatizing our children and spouses.

10. Did a household member go to prison?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __

Romans 13:1-7 – “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to executewrath on him who practices evil.5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.”

Acts 5:27-29 – “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

The Bible is very clear that we should obey the law, unless the law causes us to sin or disobey scripture.  People being jailed is caused by wickedness on done by the person jailed, or by wickedness or injustice done by the law.  In both cases,  children are effected and traumatized.

Now add up your “Yes” answers: _ This is your ACE score.

There are many other things that can cause ACE’S,  studies are being done.   Example is parents being divorced or separated, but children are also traumatized by the death of a parent when you read the full description closely.  Accidental death and other types of accidental trauma often cannot be prevented. The above 10 often can be prevented.   ACE’S are not limited to these 10 things.   Other sinful things are being studied, and may be included in ACE scores in the future. 

All sin has adverse effects on children and people in general.  

To help prevent ACE’S,  it is best to turn away from sin and turn to Jesus.

I am praying for you if you have experienced any types of ACE’S. 

Rodney Calmes