Naghmeh Abedini Panahi

To Heal or Harm

Counseling, Grief & Mental Health

“This timely book exposes the shame of those who misuse Scripture to justify the abuse of victims and in the process deepen the victims’ physical and psychological trauma. The anecdotes of those who have been on the receiving end of Bible bashing are heart wrenching. But this book offers far more. Dr. Tracy highlights how God sees, hears, feels, grieves, rescues, heals, and restores. He unveils the healing role of Scripture and God’s demand for justice and mercy and includes illustrations of compassionate ministry to those who have experienced trauma. Highly recommended. Like Jesus’s own mission, the purpose of Scripture is to transform and give life, but in the wrong hands the Bible has too often been twisted in order to steal, kill, and destroy. Too many people have been traumatized by Christians who have weaponized Scripture. Tracy has written a bold and necessary corrective, calling out harmful readings of Scripture and comforting the abused with the real message of the gospel, a message of the grace of God, the love of Christ, and the healing power of the Spirit. If you want to rightly handle the word of truth, read this book; it is the closest thing to a “safety manual” for the Bible I have ever read. And it is desperately needed. In a world of extremes, Steve offers a needed reminder: Scripture is meant to heal, not harm. This book equips pastors, survivors, and families to recognize the abuse of Scripture and rediscover God’s heart to heal and restore. Read it. Find freedom. And be healed. Steve Tracy offers us all a beautiful gift. To Heal or Harm helps those of us who have hurt and been hurt when Scripture is used to protect those in power rather than to faithfully serve the flock. In a time when it may be tempting to move away from Scripture because of its harmful applications, Steve passionately and practically teaches us how to rightly handle and interpret the word in ways that bring healing, hope, and life. Years ago, a woman I knew struggled to separate God’s voice from the voice of her abusive pastor-uncle. She believed God was disappointed with her fear, until she realized the condemnation she heard in Scripture wasn’t divine—it was human, distorted by abuse. It took years to reclaim the Bible from that voice. If you’ve had similar experiences—if Scripture has been used to wound or silence you—Steve’s book is a lifeline. With wisdom, compassion, and scholarly rigor, he walks beside survivors, exposing misused texts and restoring a picture of God as protector, healer, and advocate for the abused. Start with one passage or one chapter—this is a book to heal with, not rush through. To Heal or Harm is a much needed and deeply healing resource. Having been married to a “pastor” who used his Bible training to twist Scripture and control me, I know firsthand how disorienting and spiritually damaging this misuse can be. Reading this book helped me uncover hidden areas in my heart that still needed healing. More importantly, it helped me reconnect with the true heart of God—his justice, his compassion, and his great love for the abused. This book is a gift to survivors and to anyone seeking to understand the healing power of Scripture when it is rightly handled.”