Sexual assault is not sex; it is nonconsensual abuse.

Rape is not sex; it is nonconsensual abuse involving penetration.

Both sexual assault and rape are heinous acts driven by lust, resulting in the desecration and violation of the victim’s body, dignity, and spirit without explicit consent.

These acts represent sinful violations of what is sacred, causing the abuser impurities of heart and condemning their spirit to the agonies of hell in perpetual damnation.

Without purity of heart, one cannot see the Lord**, enter Heaven’s Gate, or receive salvation.

Due to the severity of the harm caused by sexual abuse and violence, there must be strong measures to hold sexual abusers and rapists accountable for each count of their crimes and to deter any future desecration of the victim’s body (which belongs to the Lord).

**Note:**

Sexual assault is defined as sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the victim.***

Some forms of sexual assault include:

- Attempted rape

- Fondling or unwanted sexual touching

- Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, such as oral sex or penetration of the perpetrator

- Penetration of the victim’s body, known as rape

Rape is defined as "the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim." ****

*1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states, 

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies."

**Matthew 5:8 says, 

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” and

Psalm 24:3-5 states, “The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god, will receive blessing from the Lord.”

***RAINN definition of sexual assault.

****FBI definition of rape.